Issue #22
Special Edition: Fabric Printing at Home Pre-Order Giveaway
A Personal Note from Julie
October 19, 2014
This month's newsletter has a special focus. In addition to the usual "how-to" project using kitchen materials to create beautiful fabric, I'd like to share with you an opportunity to take part in a fabulous pre-order giveaway for my book,
Fabric Printing at Home (available in mid-December). The giveaway takes place from Monday, October 20 through Monday, November 3, 2014 and includes autographed bookplates for the first one hundred who follow the steps below. Participants will also be entered into a drawing for a selection of hand painted and printed fabrics designed and created by me.
Steps for Entering the Pre-Order Giveaway for Fabric Printing at Home:
1. If you haven’t ordered
Fabric Printing at Home yet and want to take part in the giveaway, just click on the photo of my book in the left hand column (or the highlighted book title anywhere in this description of the giveaway) and it will automatically direct you to the Quarry Bookstore where you can choose your favorite online bookseller to pre-order my book. If you’ve already pre-ordered my book (thanks!), just continue with the steps below to join the giveaway.
2. After pre-ordering
Fabric Printing at Home, you’ll need to send an email with proof of purchase to
fabricprintingathome@gmail.com. Be sure to also include a mailing address and if you are among the first one hundred to respond, you will receive an autographed bookplate! Stick it in your book when it arrives and
viola, you will now own (or can gift) a copy of
Fabric Printing at Home signed by yours truly!
3. Whether or not you are among the first one hundred to respond, your proof of purchase automatically makes you eligible for the entry in the fabric giveaway.
4. The pre-order giveaway ends at midnight (Eastern USA time) on Monday, November 3, 2014. On Tuesday, November 4, a winner will be randomly chosen to receive the selection of hand painted and printed fat quarter fabrics. Good luck!!
Here is one of the fabrics I'll be giving away in the drawing on November 4th. I call it Aurora Borealis. Learn how I made it by following the steps in this issue's "how to".
Irresistible: Resist Designs with Liquid Dishwashing Soap
Use liquid dishwashing soap to paint designs on fabric. The soap designs will block or "resist" the paint from reaching the fabric's surface. Paint over the resist with black paint. Add more colors, after removing the resist, to create fabrics with pizazz!
The First Layer: Applying the Resist and the First Paint Layer
You will need the following materials:
1. Tape two pieces of cotton to each Padded Portable Work Surface. The bottom fabric will absorb some of the excess paint to help prevent breaching of (breaking through) the resist. This is also a way to get designs on two pieces of fabric at the same time.
Use two layers of fabric.
2. Optional: Use the disappearing fabric marker to sketch out a design on the fabric.
3. Squeeze some liquid dishwashing soap into one of the small plastic containers.
4. Use either the 1" foam brush or the soft bristle brush to paint designs on the fabric with the dishwashing liquid. I used the tip of the foam brush to make my designs.
5. Pour some black Pebeo Setacolor Transparent Fabric Paint into a small plastic container and dilute it so that it's the consistency of heavy cream (about 1 part paint to 1.5 parts water).
6. Use the 2" foam brush to apply the paint over the liquid dishwashing soap design. You can do this while the soap is still wet or wait until it is dry. I painted over wet soap.
7. Let the soap and paint dry completely before moving to the next layer of paint.
The Second Layer: Brayer Rubbings with Texture Blocks
For the second layer you will need the following:
- Padded Portable Work Surfaces (see above).
- Dry fabrics with soap and black paint (see above).
- Black Pebeo Setacolor Opaque Paint.
- Dense foam brayer (I used Rollrite).
- Glass or plexi-glass palette with taped edges.
- Optional: Small plastic container for paint.
- Plastic spoon.
- Flat texture blocks. I made mine using hot glue on cardboard but you can also use commercial texture rubbing plates.
- Masking tape.
- Paper towels.
1. Untape the two painted fabrics and separate them. You can add texture to either or both pieces of fabric with brayer rubbings. For this project, use the top fabric.
2. Tape three corners of the fabric to the Padded Portable Work Surface. Slip the texture block or rubbing plate under the fabric via the untaped corner.
Slip the texture under the fabric.
3. Pour or spoon about 1/4 teaspoon of black Pebeo Setacolor Opaque Fabric Paint onto the glass palette.
4. Use the dense foam brayer to roll out the paint on the glass until the brayer is evenly coated with paint.
5. Roll the paint over the area of the fabric that is covering the texture block. Shift the texture block and apply paint with the brayer until all areas of the fabric are covered with the texture design. You may have to adjust where you secure the fabric with tape while you are doing this.
6. Let the paint dry completely.
Setting the First Two Layers
The fabric paint will need to be set before removing the liquid dishwashing soap resist. If you are patient you can let the fabrics passively set by letting them sit for a week before continuing. Using an iron is another option for setting the paint. See the steps below.
1. Place the painted fabric between two pieces of muslin or two pressing cloths (a fabric "sandwich") to protect the iron and the ironing board.
Painted fabric "sandwiched" between two pressing cloths for ironing. This photo shows the three layers of the "sandwich". The top pressing cloth will be pulled over to cover the painted fabric before ironing.
2. Use the cotton setting on the iron. Iron this fabric "sandwich" for three minutes on one side. Flip the "sandwich" over and iron for three minutes on the other side. The fabric will now be set.
Washing out the Resist
1. After the fabrics are set, place them in a plastic container or bowl that will fit in your sink or put them directly in the sink.
2. Fill the container or sink with warm water. Agitate the fabrics to help remove the soap and excess paint.
3. Dump the dirty water and add clean water to continue until the resist and residual paint is removed.
4. Machine wash the fabrics (soap is not necessary) in a cold or warm water wash using the delicate cycle.
5. Machine or hang dry the fabrics.
6. If necessary, iron the fabric to remove wrinkles before painting the final layer.
The Final Layer: Adding Color
It's now time to add the color layer to your fabric(s)!
You will need the following:
- Padded Portable Work Surfaces (see above).
- Set , washed and dried fabrics (see above).
- Pebeo Setacolor Transparent Fabric Paints. I suggest these colors: Cardinal Red, Lemon Yellow, Turquoise, Cobalt Blue, Parma Violet.
- Container of water.
- Small plastic containers for mixing and holding paint. I suggest about eight containers.
- Plastic spoons for mixing paint.
- 1" foam brushes. One for each paint color.
- Optional: Soft, medium-sized bristle brushes for applying paints.
- Masking tape.
- Paper Towels.
1. Dilute each color of paint: Pour a small amount into a small plastic container and add water (ratio of 1 part paint to 2 parts water). Fill two or more additional small containers with water. Add small amounts of the diluted paint to create pastel colors.
2. Tape one fabric per work surface.
3. Start painting. Let colors blend as you go. Work intuitively!
4. Viola!
The finished fabric after the paint has dried.
An additional fabric using the same techniques. The brayer rubbing designs were created with a commercial texture rubbing plate.
Setting the Paint
After the fabrics are completely dry, the fabric paint needs to be set once again before washing. The paint can be set in one of the following ways:
1. Let the fabrics passively set by letting them sit for a week.
2. Iron to set. Place a piece of muslin or a pressing cloth over the printed fabric and iron for 5-6 minutes using the cotton setting.
3. Place the printed fabrics in a clothes dryer and dry them for 50 minutes on a high heat setting.
Once the fabric paint is set, the fabrics can be machine washed in a cold or warm delicate setting with a small amount of detergent.
