Fabric Paint...Can I get some help?

[Shelsi]

I'm fairly crafty but not at all when it comes to fabric and stuff. I've just never done anything with it. Anyhow I am getting this baby carrier who's fabric print is black and white. I want to basically color in the white parts. I don't want anything puffy. In fact I envision it as being somewhat transparent, almost like a water color? Can anyone lead me in the right direction?

[ma2maya]

You could use dye if the fabric is all cotton. A simple thing to do would be to "overdye" the entire piece of fabric. Basically you would dye the whole thing and the color would show in the white areas. Depending on the color you might get a very slight hint of the hue in the black but nothing overtly noticeable.

Kathy

[Shelsi]

I thought of that but I want to do different colors. It's a black and white hawaiian print. The flowers and leaves are mostly white so I was hoping to color them in so to speak.

Does it make any difference that it probably won't be washed often?

Also I happen to see some Crayola fabric markers when out today...I wonder how those might work? That would be really simple if they work.

[hippiechickinsing]

Those Crayola fabric markers are actually quite good, so long as you're happy with the colors offered, they don't mix well. Make sure you follow the ironing directions.

You could also use Deka dyes. Mix, paint them on, then iron. I'd wash by hand the first time.

[beanma]

fabric paint is easy to use and there's really not much to it. you could try dharma. pretty much you can thin it like regular paint and then just go for it. i'd recommend playing around with it on a scrap piece of fabric of more or less the same type as your carrier and then just giving it a go. start in an inconspicous place and you should get a good feel for it pretty quickly. there's no rocket science about it. i'd recommend these or these. I'm sure you can pick up some decent ones at the craft store, too. have fun!

[Shelsi]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for!

[ma2maya]

Shoulda thought of pigment dyes but I haven't use them in quite awhile(despite the huge tapestry right behind me that I did with them!). Instead of ordering online you can head to the craft store and get liquidex medium viscosity paints. This is what I have used. I thin them down to a one to one ratio(water/paint) to tie-dye with em but if you are painting them on maybe thin them a little less.

Actually, speedball thinned out would work just as well.

Basically, after you paint and it dries, the pigments stay on the "surface" of the fabric. Then you heat set either with an iron or by tossing it in the drier(my method). Geez, given its summer I might just leave it out in the 110' sun and set it that way!! Depending on how thick the paint is when you apply it you will get a slight "hand" to the painted areas. Also, there will be an obvious right side to the fabric, but this shouldn't matter much on a sling.

Also, you are in Tucson right? Posners on Campbell just north of Grant has fabric paints and dyes.

Kathy

[Shelsi]

Originally Posted by ma2maya

Shoulda thought of pigment dyes but I haven't use them in quite awhile(despite the huge tapestry right behind me that I did with them!). Instead of ordering online you can head to the craft store and get liquidex medium viscosity paints. This is what I have used. I thin them down to a one to one ratio(water/paint) to tie-dye with em but if you are painting them on maybe thin them a little less.

Actually, speedball thinned out would work just as well.

Basically, after you paint and it dries, the pigments stay on the "surface" of the fabric. Then you heat set either with an iron or by tossing it in the drier(my method). Geez, given its summer I might just leave it out in the 110' sun and set it that way!! Depending on how thick the paint is when you apply it you will get a slight "hand" to the painted areas. Also, there will be an obvious right side to the fabric, but this shouldn't matter much on a sling.

Also, you are in Tucson right? Posners on Campbell just north of Grant has fabric paints and dyes.

Kathy

Thanks I'll check it out.

Oh and what do you mean there will be an obvious right side of the fabric? It's a soft structured carrier so it's not like I will just be able to reverse it. It's this carrier actually.

[ma2maya]

Originally Posted by Shelsi

Oh and what do you mean there will be an obvious right side of the fabric?

Yeah. Basically, the side that you apply the paint to will be the right side. Think about when you purchase yardage or even a screen printed shirt. On the front side you see the pattern color, whatever, and on the underside there is color but not as vibrant or obvious as on the front. KWIM?

Anyways...have fun!