Fabric painting can be a really useful way to create custom designed fabric for your costumes. There are several different methods and techniques to fabric painting, which we will be exploring in this series. I hope you can find it useful in your upcoming projects!

In part 1 we will take a look at the products and supplies you can use for fabric painting.

The Brushes

You will need to invest in some decent brushes for painting, especially if you are going to be attempting freehand. You don’t necessarily need to spring for artist quality brushes, but a nice synthetic brush that is soft is the ideal for painting on fabric. You can get a brush set with assorted tips for under $10 at your local craft store. I like to buy a kids brush set like this because it’s usually cheaper than other sets but gives me a variety

The Paints

There are many options for paints you can use on fabric. Always be sure you test your selected paint on a fabric scrap before starting on a new project. Different paints can achieve different looks and textures on fabric. If you are new to painting take some time and experiment to see what you like best.

Fabric Paint: 

There are many brands of craft quality fabric paint out there, some common names are Tulip or Scribbles. Fabric paint usually comes in a 3D variety that is very useful for interesting detail work, but for large surfaces Tulip Soft is the way to go. It’s very similar to a regular acrylic paint.

For a more high end fabric paint try Jacquard Textile. Jacquard is a brand more geared toward fine art and their products tend to be a higher quality than what you find in the craft store. You can find Jacquard Textile online at Dahrma Trading

 Acrylic Paint + Fabric Medium

 Did you know you can turn any acrylic paint into fabric paint? Using a product called fabric medium that you mix into your paint you can turn any acrylic into paint that will work on fabric. This method is especially useful if you already have a collection of paint or want to save money by using the same paints you use for other projects on fabric as well. Fabric Medium can be found at most craft stores or at online art stores like Blick. Another pro to this method is that if you need something highly pigmented you can mix fabric medium with artist grade paint. Artist paint is much more pigmented than craft paint so you can get vibrant colors in less coats.

Fabric Screen Printing Ink

If you are looking at using a stencil for your painting then you can use screen printing ink made for fabric. This will be a little more flexible than fabric paint and offer some nice bright pigments. Since it is designed for screen printing it’s best used with a screen printer or a stencil. You can get screen printing ink at Blick art stores.

Jacquard Lumiere

If you are looking for a metalic paint for your fabric there is nothing better than the Jacquard Lumiere line. These paints offer rich metalics while leaving fabric flexible and soft. These are the paints I used on Yukari’s dress and Vivi’s sarong. You can get Jaquard Lumiere online at Dharma Trading or in person at Asel Art Supply.

Other Supplies

  • Plastic Cups and Paper Towels: It’s important to keep your brushes clean while painting. Have a cup of water and paper towels available to rinse and wash out brushes in between colors.
  • Paint Palette: You will need a paint palette to mix and pour your paints onto. You can purchase a plastic palette at any arts and crafts store or a paper palette pad which consists of several sheets of thick waxed paper you use and then tear out and toss when you are done. Of course you don’t have to buy a special artist palette, you can also use things you might already have around the house like paper plates. Just make sure whatever you use can stand up to the paint you are working with.
  • Scrap Fabric: Make sure you test your paints and techniques on a scrap of your fabric before you start your project. Paints can change the weight and drape of a fabric once they have dried, so it’s important to see what the finished product will be like before you paint your piece.
  • Hairdryer: You can use your hair dryer to help speed along the drying process.

Basic Painting Tips!

  • Mix paint with the wrong end of your brush, this will mix the paint better and keep your brush in better shape longer
  • Brush up on your color theory! Understanding how colors work together will help you mix your paints much easier. Here are some links:
    Basic Color Theory, Color Theory on Wikipedia, Color Mixing Guide from Golden
  • Freeze your acrylics when you mix too much! When you mix a color it’s nearly impossible to get that exact color again so it’s best to mix large batches to make sure you have enough, but what do you do in between when you are waiting for paint to dry? You can freeze your paint and let it thaw back out for later use. Just make sure you warn everyone there is paint in the freezer~
  • Always follow the setting instructions! Whichever product you use, if it is intended for fabric it will have setting instructions. Be sure to follow them carefully to ensure your paint is set and will not was out.

In Part 2 we will explore various fabric painting techniques, stay tuned <3