Dear Chicago House,
Followers on Facebook have already had a sneak peak at this fabric design project.
and now here I am to share more details and give you the ins and outs of how to do this yourself. It is very easy and a lot of fun.
First lets just take a look at the fabric I designed.
It looks complicated and time consuming but is actually very quick and easy to do.
Simply sketch out a simple pattern (more on that below!). Here is the pattern I used.
Then take your paintbrush and dot a liberal amount of rubbing alcohol in the center of each pattern element
The alcohol will start to spread outwards and the colors will start to bleed and blend
The alcohol drys very quickly and you are left with a beautiful fabric.
The design options are limitless and I went a little crazy creating test patterns but the end result is that you have a whole swatch of example to give you inspiration for your own fabrics.
I'd love to see any fabrics you make using this technique.
Love from
Creative in Chicago
XX
Followers on Facebook have already had a sneak peak at this fabric design project.
First lets just take a look at the fabric I designed.
How to design your own fabric using sharpies
You will need- Sharpies
- Fine paint brush
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton fabric
Simply sketch out a simple pattern (more on that below!). Here is the pattern I used.
The design options are limitless and I went a little crazy creating test patterns but the end result is that you have a whole swatch of example to give you inspiration for your own fabrics.
Love from
Creative in Chicago
XX
I like this! Do you know if it would work on silk fabric?
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy...yes this would work well on silk too
DeleteWow, love how they look shining like crystals! Appreciate the comparison chart too :) This is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHow about on a canvas?
ReplyDeleteI think it would depend on the weave of the canvas. When I first tried the test patches for this project I worked on watercolor paper...except that it didn't work...the paper would not allow the alcohol to bleed enough. Might be the same issue on canvas.
DeleteExcept one thing.. is it ok for the washing machine.. i guess not. I mean you cannot do anything else then deco that you cannot wash, still it looks very very nice :)
ReplyDeleteI have not tested it in the washing machine yet but my guess is that it will be fine. Sharpie markers are waterproof so the ink should stay put. I will do a test and post the results!
DeleteI'm interested in water proofness also!
DeleteI'm interested in water proofness also!
DeleteIron the finished design or put the shirt in the dryer. It sets the sharpie dye, then wash it alone the first time just to make sure it doesn't run
DeleteI have done this on tshirts and it did bleed and fade quite a bit in the wash.
ReplyDeleteI have experienced BLEEDING from washing the T-shirt even AFTER I had "cured" it in the dryer :( there was ink where it hadn't been before.
ReplyDeleteWould this technique work on coffee filters?
ReplyDeleteIt did not work with coffee filters. Go with fabric.
DeleteHave bought the pens to give this a go - it looks wonderful! In the UK, rubbing alcohol is known as surgical spirit.
ReplyDeleteThat is good to know, thanks:-)
DeleteThank you, I finally understood what rubbing alcohol is (I'm Swedish)!
DeleteThank you for the patterns, I'm planning a craft day for the neighborhood kids, this will help.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't work on t-shirts because they are usually a poly-cotton blend. It needs to be 100 percent natural fibre..cotton, silk and perhaps unfinished canvas, etc.
ReplyDeleteHave learned this from other craft projects.
After alcohol dries soak it in COLD white Vinegar. That should set the ink..
ReplyDeleteIs it helpful to pre-wash the new t-shirt first? Do shirts still contain "sizing" that prohibits the setting as they used to?
ReplyDeleteIn the UK, rubbing alcohol is known as surgical spirit.
ReplyDeleteAnd in French, does someone know what is the name of "rubbing alcohol" ?
Alcool à brûler ? Alcool chirurgical ?
In french it's " Alcool a friction" - in Canada
ReplyDeleteSoda ash misted on to set.
ReplyDeleteWould this work with fabric markers?
ReplyDelete