how-to of the day – sun printing on fabric
August 7, 2008 by Chloe Findlay-Harder
Filed under Home & Living
We’re going through a heat wave in my neck of the woods – what does that make me want to do?
Why sun print on fabric of course!
To sun print using acrylic paints, you’ll need cotton fabric (I like a densely woven quilting cotton) Pebeo Setacolor transparent textile paint (only the transparent colors will work for sun printing). You’ll also need a work surface outside, paint brushes, and objects to sun print with.
- Mix the paint half and half with water (it won’t work otherwise).
- Lay the fabric down on your work surface and either spray or brush it with water, until it’s evenly coated, but not dripping.
- Use paint brushes to paint the color on – be creative, use different colors and brush strokes!
- Lay the objects on top of the fabric that you want to sun print with. I personally find that flat items work the best. In fact, I’ve had really good luck with inexpensive foam cut-outs from craft stores. Any item that you lay on the fabric will leave a white area after the paint dries – almost a batik-like effect.
- Let the fabric dry thoroughly, and then remove the masking items.
- Heat-set the fabric and be creative with it
Thanks for this how-to! I’ve always bought those expensive kits for my kids to do this with. I never knew you could do it with transparent acrylic textile paint. Trying this weekend for sure.
Cool idea and tips! Thank you Chloe.
Nice tutorial.
Can I do this in the winter? If we have a nice sunny day?