How to Use Fabric Paint
If you were an artistic or crafty child, you might already know about fabric paint. Maybe you used it in 4H or for craft projects. Fabric paint is paint that can be applied to most natural fabrics that won’t wash off when put through the laundry. You can use it on shirts, pants, hats, or just about anything made from most fabrics.
If you want to begin using fabric paint, you need the right supplies. Good fabric paint will be easy to apply with an applicator pen or bottle and won’t crack or peal over time. Of course, there are projects you can use fabric paint for other than clothes such as curtains and tablecloths.
The following are some fabric paint kits that are great for starting out. You can use puff paint that comes out of the bottle similar to glue or paint that can be applied with a paint brush.
How to Use Fabric Paint
You can try a variety of different fabrics, but most people recommend using 100% cotton tight fabric. A tighter woven fabric will produce brighter results. If you do choose to try different fabrics, start with a sample and see how it comes out.
Wash and dry the fabric before applying paint. This avoids problems with shrinking affecting the paint. Prewashing also takes off the sizing that was added to the material by the manufacturer. This must be removed so that the paint sticks to the fabric.
Iron the fabric to get rid of all the wrinkles. Put parchment paper or cardboard underneath the cloth to prevent bleeding. A sturdy piece of cardboard makes painting easier. I suggest securing it with a binder clip to make sure it doesn’t shift while you paint.
Painting Techniques
Be creative with your painting technique. Use a paint brush, try puff paints to draw with, dampen the cloth to get a watercolor effect, use stencils, etc. If you’re painting a t-shirt or another important piece of cloth, experiment with new techniques on a scrap cloth first. You don’t want to ruin a perfectly good t-shirt.
Finishing your Fabric Paint Art
Let the paint dry for at least 24 hours. Turn the cloth over (or turn the piece of clothing inside out) and use an iron on low heat to iron over the design. This will ensure that the paint completely sticks to the cloth. The instructions that come with the paint will tell you specifically how hot to make the iron and how long to iron it.
Wait at least 3 days before you wash the cloth. You must make sure the paint is completely set or else you could ruin your new masterpiece.
