Expert: Eileen Callahan - 8/7/2002

Question
Hi, Eileen and thanks very much for your time. I'm a seamstress/fabric artist but have never done any fabric painting. I've volunteered to make some giant banners for church and they want a lot of text, so I've decided to paint that part. I'm going to use some of my home decor fabrics that have been treated for stain resistance (teflon, scotchgard, etc). I've heard that you're supposed to wash fabrics first to get rid of sizing and such. Do you think I would need to do that for something that will not be handled or worn? It's 7 yards all together and I want to keep it nice and smooth. Will wash and iron if I must. Also I know I need to use fabric medium added to the paint. But I'm not sure of the best brand or even what type/brand of paint to use. Will greatly appreciate ANY help. These are going to be a lot of work and I want them to be nice and long-lasting - they're going on the front walls in the sanctuary! Thanks again and peace to you and yours. MBA

Answer
Mary Beth,  

I'm sure your friends from Church will appreciate your work.
And, as an artist, it's a perfect place to spotlight your work as you honor God.  (Most of the jobs I get are from people who have seen my work at my Church.)

If there is a LOT of text and you want it to look really good, I suggest two things:

1.  Order the letters of your text as a single use stencil.  Check out the Mad Stencilist website and click on "Say What?".  Hugh Hoeger can type set your quotes for about $.50 per inch.  I highly recommend his work.

2.  Stencil the text on canvas, preferably cambric cloth or floorcloth material.  I hem my cloth using double stick carpet tape.  These fabrics will then be stiff enough for you to pound grommets in to hang them.  You can get very creative on the "background" and then stencil the letters over it.

If you are going to incorporate the quotes into a fabric work of art, I strongly suggest you use a 100 percent cotton fabric.  Wash it, dry it, iron it, stencil your quote on it, heat set the stencil with your iron and a press cloth, quilt it into the rest of your work.  Sew on a rod pocket in the back to hang your work on a dowel. It will be beautiful!  

If you want to use the fabric you have and paint on it, go wild!  I suggest you cut off a piece and start playing with it.  Can it hold paint? (Ever get acrylic paint on your favorite shirt and you could never get it off?) If the fabric can't hold paint, wash it and iron it.  Then try it again.  

If you need to, go to a craft store and get a 2 oz. bottle of fabric medium.  (It will be in the racks with the paints. I like Delta.)  See if that works on your fabric.  Fabric medium is good if you want to keep your fabric soft and washable.  If you want the lettering a little stiff and not washable, don't use it!

The important thing here is to have fun!  Your fun and joy will show through on the work!  

Best wishes to you!