Look at illustrations of the Bayeux Tapestry and Egyptian wall paintings for ideas on how to simplify and stylise the figures. Use a computer to check out different fonts, choose a style to complement your design and add words and dates where necessary. OR show an alternative idea for the same theme by designing and making a sampler (in the style of the stitched samplers made by adults and children c.1800) using Dylon Fabric Pens to create a stitched effect.
An easy way to prepare a design for use with Fabric Painting Pens is to iron an embroidery transfer onto the fabric; the pens can then be used to outline and fill in the design asrequired, either with blocks of colour or withimitation embroidery stitches.Alternatively, draw or trace a design with ablack marker pen onto a piece of paper, tape this in place on a piece of board, fix a piece of clear plastic sheet over the design, then tape fabric over the top. If the design shows through the fabric clearly enough, it can be used as a guideline for drawing the design onto the fabric.If the fabric is too thick for the design to show through, use dressmaker’s carbon paper to trace the design directly onto the fabric
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Dylon Fabric Painting Pens may be used on natural or synthetic fabrics. Black fabric pens may be used successfully on light coloured fabrics, other colours should be used on white fabric only.Pin or tape the fabric on a plastic covered board; if the fabric is taut it will be easier to draw on. Broad nib painting pens have a chisel tip which is ideal for medium width lines or small areas of solid colour. Brush nib pens are for finer lines and detail. Both types can be used for lettering and calligraphy, for colouring in or for detail. Dylon Fabric Paints are best for large areas of colour. When using several colours, let one colour dry before applying the next, otherwise the colours may bleed into each other.When the design is completed and dried, put a clean cotton cloth over the area and iron on ahot setting for 1-2 minutes to set the colour into the fabric.
(Idea from Dylon factsheet)
We have run short of Berol fabric pens and wanted to make sure that all of our customers could carry on with the fantastic fabric painting projects that we hear so much about. we have therefore bought in a range of Dylon fabric pens and markers for you all to use.
For a great project to try, click here (warning: this link opens a PDF file which is quite large and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to see it)
Using your berol fabric pens will make your t-shirt very colourful, but how do you get the outline of the design onto it in the first place?
Obviously, the more talented will draw freehand, either with a fabric pen or perhaps a soft pencil. In our house, we’re not that good, so we tend to print off stencil designs and then lay them between the two layers of the T-shirt and trace the outline onto the fabric with a soft pencil. Remember, you will trace the image in reverse, so use one where this doesn’t matter (i.e. not text).
(thanks to mycraftbook for this picture)
For some great yet simple designs, you could use a child’s colouring-in book, or some sites on the web.
If you are feeling more professional, then trace the design onto a piece of fabric first with a tracing pencil, then place a piece of transfer paper on top of the fabric, and lift the design onto it by repeated ironing. Cut the paper to size as it will be easier to handle this way. Then lay this (face down) on top of your t-shirt and iron it to transfer the design onto the t-shirt fabric. It’s now ready for colouring in with your fabric pens. This is a lot of work, but can give a more effective finish as well as a transfer pattern that can be re-used many times.
This fun project from the great craft ideas site, Craftbits, is perfect for berol fabric pens too.
Use Fabric Pens to create geometric shapes on fabric or t-shirts.If working on a t-shirt put a layer of paper between the front and the back to stop the ink going through to the back.Use sticky tape to make the shape on the fabric. Press the edges of the tape down firmly. Use the pens to fill in the shape and remove the tape to reveal perfectly straight edges!
Required products:
White t-shirt
Berol fabric pens
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