Fabric painting: step by step with photos and videos

Fabric painting is a craft that has become very popular. The art consists of transferring a design, called in practice a “scratch”, to a certain type of fabric and painting it, using specific inks for this technique.

Usually, the fabrics most chosen for the application of art are the dish cloth, tablecloth, bath towel and baby diaper. But from silk to jute, they can be painted on fabric, and silk requires its own inks for this material.

As the author of the Arts Bela blog specializing in fabric painting, Isabel Antunes, explains, although there are many self-taught people who can learn on their own, with the advice of a professional it is always simpler: “With the support of DVD classes, magazines or even through the various videos available on Youtube, it is much easier”, he warns.

The fabric painting classes are extremely important and make all the difference for those who really want to enter the world of fabric painting, comments Isabel.

There are currently several courses focused on painting techniques, so if you intend to invest in this type of craft, it is worth checking out the options in your city.

Necessary materials

To paint on fabric, Isabel recommends investing in the following materials:

• Scratches (drawings), carbon paper and 6B pencil: used to transfer the drawing to the fabric;
• Eucatex board: it will be the base where the fabric will be placed;
• Permanent glue: must be applied to the Eucatex board so that the fabric is fixed;
• Fabric: surface where the painting will be done;
• Hard-bristled brushes nº 2, 4, 8, 10 and 12 and a nº 00 for contour: for painting;
• A glass (type of mayonnaise) empty: to put water used to wash the brushes whenever necessary;
• A piece of cloth diaper: to clean and dry the brushes;
• Fabric dyes in different colors and bleaching: to give color to the designs.

See in the gallery some options of products indicated for the practice of this type of craft, check their prices and know where to buy:

Videos: fabric painting for beginners step by step

According to the expert, the videos make learning a lot easier, in addition to being a cost-free method to learn the technique. Check out two tutorials below to better understand how this craft is made and practice:

1. Preparing materials for painting: in this video, artisan Ariane Cerveira explains how to organize and separate materials and how to apply glue on the Eucatex board before starting to paint on fabric.

2. How to paint flowers and leaves: artisan Beth Matteelli teaches how to paint leaves and flowers from the beginning, starting with the background colors to the details to finish and finish off each item. Check out:

What is the best fabric to paint?

As the artisan explains, the fabrics that have the best acceptance are those made from 100% cotton. Fabrics that have a small percentage of synthetic fiber also allow good results.

“But, as a general rule, we can say that the more delicate the fiber of the fabric, the easier it will be for the paint to slide with the brush”, informs Isabel.

Before starting work, do a test to see if the result will be satisfactory. On a small piece of cloth, apply the paint and wait for it to dry. If the result is positive, the material type is suitable for painting.

It is important to point out that after purchasing the fabric, it must be washed at home, to remove the dirt from the exposure, taking care not to use products that change its fibers or properties and it is also not recommended to use any type of fabric softener.

Before starting to paint the fabric, it is also recommended to iron it, so that all folds can be eliminated and so the paint can slide more easily.

Get inspired by various fabric painting ideas

The videos below bring examples of designs that you can reproduce on the fabrics you choose to decorate:

strawberries

glasses of milk

flower basket

assorted fruits

Landscape

Hen

Check out some more models in the photos to get inspired and start practicing fabric painting now:

Useful links

Keep up to date with the world of fabric painting by following the blogs and communities below:

The artisan reveals that, with practice, in less than an hour it is possible to produce a painting on fabric in a pantry cloth, for example. And as practice makes perfect, it is worth not giving up in the first attempts so that the result is better and better.