| Painting on fabric is easy and inexpensive, and it opens | | | | As long as you follow the paint manufacturer's |
| up exciting new creative horizons for sewers and | | | | instructions for drying and curing the paint, most painted |
| quilters, fine arts painters, scrapbookers, and | | | | fabrics can be washed. The paints will typically last as |
| mixed-media artists.. | | | | long as the fabric does. The more gently you wash |
| If you've never tried painting on fabric before, you may | | | | (hand washing and drip drying instead of machine |
| have questions about how to get started. Here are the | | | | washing, for instance) the better the paint should wear. |
| answers to some frequently asked questions about | | | | For most fabrics, the paint can be machine washed or |
| fabric painting. | | | | dry cleaned. To iron acrylic painted fabrics, use a low |
| What kinds of paint can I use to paint on fabric? | | | | heat setting. |
| Oil paints and acrylic paints can both be used for fabric | | | | Do I need other equipment or supplies to paint on |
| painting, but acrylic fabric paints are much easier for a | | | | fabric? |
| beginner to use than oils. They are inexpensive, they | | | | A set of good acrylic paint brushes, a sponge or two, |
| don't require any chemical solvents for cleanup (unlike | | | | and whatever stamps, stencils, and other applicators |
| oil paints), and they are easy to find at art stores, large | | | | you have around the house (Q-tips, pens, |
| craft stores, or even quilt shops. | | | | scrunched-up plastic wrap, you name it!) will come in |
| What's in an acrylic fabric paint? | | | | handy. If you want to blend colors, a painter's palette |
| Acrylic paints consist of colors mixed into an acrylic | | | | might be useful, although you can also use a china |
| fluid that is designed for use on fabric. Some acrylic | | | | plate for that. You really don't need anything more to |
| paints are stiff enough to create 3-D brush stroke | | | | get started. |
| effects on the fabric. Others are thin and have a | | | | How should I get the fabric ready for painting? |
| watery consistency, like watercolor paints. Acrylic | | | | If the fabric is new, always prewash it to remove any |
| paints can be thinned with water, but that makes the | | | | sizing, which can keep the paint from adhering properly |
| color paler. You can also thin or thicken your paint | | | | to the fabric. You may also want to protect your work |
| without changing its color by mixing it with a fluid called | | | | surface with newspaper or cardboard to keep paint |
| fabric medium or gel medium. | | | | from getting on things you don't want to paint. |
| What types of fabric can I paint? | | | | What's a good first project for me to try? |
| Really, you can paint just about any woven, knitted, or | | | | How about adding some pizzazz to a pair of canvas |
| nonwoven fabric. The list includes cotton, linen, rayon, | | | | sneakers, a silk scarf (you may want to try a paint |
| wool, silk, most synthetics, terry cloth, and velvet or | | | | specially formulated for use on silk,) a t-shirt or |
| velveteen. You can also paint with fabric paints on | | | | sweatshirt, a canvas tote bag, a baseball cap, or a |
| many interfacings, quilt batting, leather, or suede. When | | | | small wall quilt? The possibilities are endless. Start with |
| in doubt, test the surface before you start a full-scale | | | | something small and inexpensive, so you can |
| project. | | | | experiment without fear. |
| Can I wash painted fabric? How long will it last? | | | | |