I’d like to try some different printing methods on fabric, but I always thought that screen printing would need too many gadgets or would be too expensive.
Especially when you look at the cost of some of the new printing systems that have just come on the market!

I’ve stuck to my tried-and-true methods of printing on fabric.  Things like stencilling, image transfers or just plain old painting directly onto the fabric itself.  Of course, appliqueing painted motifs also works…
I’m reconsidering my position after reading this great tutorial for DIY screen printing from Craftgrrl.  She’s broken down the process into easy little …read more

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 …read more

You’ve got lovely flowers growing in your garden – like these pansies perhaps?

And you want to make something that captures their beauty.  How about using the flowers themselves?
Flower transfer or flower pounding, allow you to use the natural pigments in the flower to transfer directly onto paper or fabric.
I’ve taken a flower and laid it face-down on a piece of duppioni silk (cotton broadcloth works beautifully as well):

Cover it with a piece of paper towel and start whacking away with a hammer!  Okay, so you’re not trying to pulverize it… be gentle and tap it

Keep tapping until the …read more

I showed you the process of using bleach pens to print fabric yesterday, but how did those samples turn out? Here’s how the green print looks after being soaked in the bleach neutralizer, washed, dried & ironed:

I love how this swatch turned out… but the bleach didn’t do a darn thing on the other two!  So be forewarned, do your swatches first before you start bleaching yards of fabric for your next project

As, promised – here’s the slightly-overdue tutorial
Did you know that you can use those bleach gel pens to print on fabric?  That’s right, I’m abusing fabric again!  Depending on the fabric you can get anything from dramatic white lines to soft, hazy marks on the fabric.

You’ll need fabric (cotton is the safest to start with, bleach will destroy certain man-made fibers), a bleach gel pen (in the laundry aisle of your grocery store) and a bleach-neutralizing chemical.  You can get expensive ones from dyeing & fiber art supply companies – but I’ll let you in on a secret…  …read more