Fabric Paints help

When I made Mum's "Bill & Ben" wallhanging, I used regular acrylic craft paints with textile medium mixed in. It worked like a charm and the cost was minimal. I also used the same type of acrylic paints to decorate the tiles of my kitchen backsplash after I had painted them out using regular house paint - jennellh

I do lots of that, Mickey. Anita's All Purpose acrylic craft paint from Hobby Lobby is nice to work with and holds up very well. Method of application - shake well, pour about a teaspoon on a paper plate, apply with a fine short bristle brush (mine says 10 on top of a 0) or toothpicks or straight pins. Stir the paint now and then, add a wee bit of water if needed or pour another spoonful. One bottle will probably do hundreds of kitty noses, eyelashes, whatever. You'll probably want to buy a bottle of hot pink too, and a bottle of white to add a highlight to eyes on another one day project. Pay attention when you're choosing the paint. You don't want the puffy, glitter or the other wild and crazy paints. I guess. Polly

I've occ. used PIGMA pens for small areas. Works well. I have a stained glass pattern that actually says to us a Sharpie marker for the leading in small spaces. Worked so well I have to really look to find marker vs. bias leading. Gen

I use regular acrylic craft paint on fabric also. I haven't used it on quilts but have painted on jackets and sweatshirts and it works wonderful and doesn't wash out or bleed. Donna

I have used quite and assortment of paints depending on the purpose. At this point I have enough types around that I can mix and match at will.

For something like this I would probably use Neopaque and Dye-Na-Flow in combination. Dye-Na-Flow has the best hand, but it does behave like a dye, the Neopaque has good hand, but is still somewhat stiff. If you use the Neopaque on the outter edges of the vaious color sections of the work, it will keep the Dye-Na-Flow contained to the area you want it in. They are both Jaquard products and totally compatible with each other. Most acrylics are actually compatible, but sometimes you get a freaky reation between pigments, particularly combining very high end brands, or very low end brands. Setting time can also vary between brands sometimes. If you want something a little less expensive than Neopaque you could use the Jaquard Traditional Textile colors, they are quite as good, just not quite as opaque.

My second choice would be a decent screen printing ink. If you can find the smaller tubes. Often you can only find those in pints or quarts since they are mostly used by silk screeners.

Third choice would be Dr.PH Martin's Spectralite acrylic airbrush ink. It sets beautifully, comes in wonderful colors, and has a great hand. You do not have to add fabric medium to it, though as I recall they make a medium that eliminates the need to heat set. It is also very expensive by comparison, and is a little tricky to use by hand.

NightMist

Over here we have fabric paints by "Stewart Gill" sp! They work very well. Don't know if you have that brand, but they have improved in general.

Forgot to warn you, Mickie. If you have a feline QI who likes to participate in all matters, do Not leave wet paint within reach (whatever that may be). A kitty could have unlimited fun with a wee puddle of wet paint . . . and it could be a forever memento. Polly

2 kitties = double mementos Thanks for the warning! LOL Mickie

Would acrylics be soft enough for a bed quilt? I don't think stiff bits would be desirable, but good choice because permanent and waterproof. Mickie

I don't remember where I heard it, but isn't Sharpie supposed to be a no-no in the quilt world? Probably fine for a wallhanging but this is a quilt that will be (I hope) used on a bed. I remember doing Gladys Grace's stenciling and the paint was pounced in the stencil spaces - sharp edges and softer in the center. That is the effect I want - PIGMA sounds good, and the white and black pens I have will work for the eyes (sleeping) and the mouths. I will get a grey one too!

This will work on the ears and noses, I think, if I "pounce" it on with a semi-dry brush through holes in the stencil. Thanks! Mickie

I use regular acrylic craft paint on fabric also. I haven't used it on quilts but have painted on jackets and sweatshirts and it works wonderful and doesn't wash out or bleed. Donna

Choice #2 seems the most doable. I only have to buy black and white, will mix the shades of grey, so the cost wont be a big issue. The cats are all black or grey on a white background. I sugested spots of pink or beige for the ears and noses, customer says no, has to be all black and white and shades of grey. Thank you for your suggestions Mickie

Will be doing the fabric paint aisle at JoAnns today, now I have all the advice and suggestions I will be an informed shopper! We have a lot of the same brands as UK, but you guys seem to have a better selection over there ;) I will look for Stewart Gill. Thanks, Estelle! Mickie

I guess there is just a little bit of stiffness involved right at first - but we're only talking about kitty noses and whiskers and the like, right? Probably you wouldn't want to do a life-size painting of Elvis on a quilt with acrylics but you weren't going to paint anything big were you? Naaaaah. Also, I've been going through my quilt magazines on an inspiration dig and always enjoy seeing your quilts. They are all so wonderful. Polly

"Mickie Swall" Would acrylics be soft enough for a bed quilt?

I'm glad you enjoy seeing the quilts I made for the magazines, but you won't be seeing any more of them in the future, as I quit accepting projects from them in January. As always, thanks for the kudos ;) Mickie

Howdy!

Sounds like a challenge, Mickie: making a quilt w/ 48 cats

- and only one sewing machine? How do you keep all those tails off the throat plate? Do they fuss over fabric choices? Voice loud opinions over who gets to spin the hand wheel, who sits on the foot pedal?

How many cats does it take to power a treadle s.m.? Constantly nag to go play w/ the mouse under the pretense of looking up the pattern online? - so easily distracted from quilting: You better get a lot of paint, 'cause cats aren't real good at sharing, and they're going to waste a lot of paint (you aren't doing this project over carpet, are you?). Oh, just thinking of all those furry little painted footie print all over the place... are notorious paint thieves: Good luck, Mick! Be brave; quilting w/ cats is a learning experience to help you in your personal growth... or something like that.

R/Sandy - imag> I'm making a quilt with 48 cats and as I prepare the heads for turned-edge

From the Sanford Sharpie FAQ:

"We do not recommend the Sharpie for letter writing as it is solvent base ink and will soak through paper. We also do not recommend the Sharpie for use on cloth as it may fade or bleed in the wash. Also, over time a yellow halo may appear around the marking"

In addition the solvents in question will indeed degrade the fabric over time. First contact weakens the fabric significantly, and then as the ink degrades it takes more and more of the fabric it is in contact with with it.

NightMist

Mickie: Once I used marker fabric paints (similar to magic marker) to accentuate flower petals. Worked very well. PAT