fabric painting

I did some fabric painting with Dharma dyes and used their 'thickener' product. It gives rather blurry lines when changing colors- not for a sharp crisp look. You can make the dyes runny or thicker to get a less distinction when changing colors. I also used colors that were very intense and different, so I didn't really get the blend I was going for that time. Next time I would use more water or soak the fabric or something to blur the edges where I changed colors. It was my first try and I enjoyed it as a learning process and learned what I should not do. I was going for an blurred English flower garden look and planned to MQ the flowers and leaves to bring out the shapes, but didn't quite get that result in the fabric. I guess I need to experiment more. Just about anything you do with dyes has a positive outcome.... even if you need to chop it up to use it! Or applique some flowers over the dyed area and use the blurry part for the less distinct background??? The possibilities are endless!

I've been playing with Setacolor by Pebeo. The colors are bright and remain true. Fabric hand remains unchanged. It's fun!

We never know just what you might be up to, Sunny, since I think you're the one who asked about stretching something on canvas and calling it a quilt. =) With that warning in my mind, do let me help you with success. Be sure to allow yourself time to prepare your fabric as directed by the paint maker. This is probably to wash the fabric and not use fabric softener in the rinse. Also, many paints want you to use their 'medium' - which may thin the paint to a well-behaved consistency or it may have some effect on the longevity of the production. Good luck with your creation. Polly

I've got Setasilk by Pebeo, and have used them successfully on cotton. There are gorgeous pictures, and some 'handy hints', especially on using gutta so colours don't run, at:

Forgot to say - you just apply the seta-paints with a paintbrush, and to set them you iron them. If you don't like what you've done you can rinse it away (just don't iron first!) You can mix colours just like ordinary paints.

I have used the Setacolor by Pebeo. It doesn't leave your fabric feeling funny.

Sherry Starr

Thanks for all the great advice and info. I also never know what I might be "up to." LOL. For the present, I am mostly up to de-toxing my sewing room and the downstairs bathroom. I am now facing what was UNDER the carpet in my sewing room. Don't ask. And worrying that my precious stash might have residual "fragrance" from the septic event that has consumed our household since Sunday night. I can only say, if you are in the middle of already doing renovation -- painting, tearing up walls, putting down new carpet......DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, allow your septic tank to back up and flood portions of your house. I seriously feel that more discipline would have helped, but the truth is that this was brought on by "repairs" to two leaking sprinkler units and a leak in the sprinkler control box. Seems enough water was allowed to run that it overwhelmed the drain field, filled the septic to the brim and set us up for major problems. Then, it rained.

Nevermind, yesterday I bought some adorable 30s prints and I'm working on some minatures. But I have plans......... oh yes, dear Polly, I have plans.

I'll have to second the Setacolor paints. They work wonderfully.

Juli