First Experiments - Samplers and Variations

I hope you can learn from my mistakes and successes.  Any helpful comments would be greatly appreciated.
These are some of the first steps I took in fabric painting.

I made a sampler of the colors I had of paints and markers on white 8mm Silk Stretched 10 inch Square Hoops that I purchased from Dharma Trading Co. http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/749797-AA.shtml

Experimenting with behavior of the inks, dyes and paints on the fabric squares was helpful.  As you can see some spread on the fabric while others stayed in the lines.  The paint as expected flowed rapidly and some of the markers flowed more then expected while the Marvy Uchida and Crayola permanent fabric markers did not flow and stayed in the drawn line.  Amount of pressure while applying can make a difference.

I then practiced using water resist to outline my designs.  I used an applicator bottle and different size tips. My attempts were clumsy and unsuccessful in obtaining a straight unblotchy line!  I had some small successes and will try again.  However I decided to try other methods.  Later I tried Nori Paste.

Thickening the Jacquard fabric paints was effective
Using Crayola, Marvy Uchida and Sharpie permanent fabric markers was successful and the results were very permanent while being soft and supple after washing.

Samplers of Jacquard Fabric Paint Dye Na Flow and Permanent Fabric Markers

Metal hoops painted with Jacquard Dye Na Flow paints.

Kosher salt sprinkled on the surface while still wet

1A)   Metal hoops painted with Jacquard Dye Na Flow paints.

After dry applied alcohol

2A)   Metal hoops painted with Jacquard Dye Na Flow paints.

While wet applied alcohol

This sampler was made to see if permanent fabric markers would be effective when applied on top of the fabric already dyed with Jacquard Green Label Cyan.  

Kelp & Fish Design

I created this sea kelp and orange fish design on a white 8 mm Hobatai silk from Dharma Trading Company.
I drew the kelp leaves with Marvy Fabrico regular permanent green markers. I filled in the kelp with Marvy Fabrico Florescent green permanent marker. The fish were created with Marvy permanent orange and ultra fine Sharpie black. I ironed the fabric on both sides and washed it using Milsoft NB textile softener. It is very soft and supple feeling. Hope this is helpful.

Sharpie Markers and Alcohol on Silk

I designed this silk scarf with Sharpie Permenant markers. Alcholol was applied with an eye dropper to encourage the colors flow on the silk. Hope this is helpful.

Multi Colored Hand Painted Silk Scarf - Fabric Painting - Mostly Silk

This experiment was made with a white piece of 8mm habotai silk. I had previously designed an image with clear water resist and decided to wash it out. It did not completely wash out and left a few designs underneath which I liked. I folded the material several times after it was dry. I placed my brush into the blue paint and laid my brush along one side. I repeated this with green, purple, green again and yellow and blue again. The paint soaked through all the layers. I unfolded it and hung it up to dry. After the scarf was dried I heat set it by ironing it.

After a day I decided on the design I want and painted them with Marvy Uchida DecoFabric markers and their fine point fabric markers. I heat set it with an iron to permanently embed the colors. I later washed the fabric in Synthrapol SP textile detergent and after rinsing I soaked it in Milsoft NB textile softener. It is very soft and supple with no feeling on any paint texture on the surface. Hope this is helpful.

Hand Painted Fabric - Green Pink Silk

One of my first scarf experiments was done with white 8mm habotai silk from Dharma Trading Company. I folded the long piece of fabric and with a foam brush added pink blotches of Jacquard Dye na flow magenta diluted. Because it was folded the paint seeped through the layers of fabric. I then hung the fabric in my shower to dry.

After two days I ironed the fabric to heat set the color.

I took a small sponge brush and dipped the side into Jacquard Emerald Dye na flow paint and sponged the leaf design on.

After it dried I let it sit for a day and then ironed it.

I waited a few more days before I washed it in very mild detergent called synthroapol and then rinsed it with Milsoft a professional textile softener. It came out very soft and supple with no indication of paint having been painted on to the surface.