Stamping on fabric ?

[kstamper]

I want to stamp on a t-shirt with black ink, then color in the image. What ink is best to stamp with? Stazon? Memento? And does anyone have any experience coloring on fabric? Will Copics work, or would Sharpies be better? I also don't want it to fade after washing.

Thanks for any input!

[archanapandurangi]

i dont know about what ink to use... try fabric colors instead... black for stamping and others for coloring inside

[Val~Dee]

I don't know how copic or other markers do for coloring on fabric, but I do have a set of fabric markers I have used before. A lot of inks you can heat set with the iron. It probably depends on fabric content of what you are stamping on too , as to the result you will get

(I am new to stamping but have been a seamstress, clothing designer for 20+ years)

[wendalyn]

I believe copics would bleed if they were on fabrics as they feather on paper even if the paper isn't good enough. As poster above said I believe you can buy "Fabric" type markers. I know Fabriaco sp? had a ink that you could do on fabric. Have you thought about maybe using a Transfer and stamping and coloring that and then applying that to the Tshirt? I bought my transfers at Target they work great and i believe you can use any medium on them. I did mine on towels though for the kitchen the flour bag kind.

[Val~Dee]

I have used transfers and always had wonderful results!

[Angelnorth]

Stazon is not recommended for fabric use.

For stamping - Versacraft is formulated for fabric and works really well on there. You just heat set with your iron to make it permanent. You can launder although you might want to take extra care if you went to the effort of hand stamping! (turn it inside out and treat it as 'delicate' each time). Wendalyn mentioned Fabrico in an earlier post - Versacraft is the new name for that ink (it's made by Tsukineko and they rebranded it recently).

For colouring in, I'd probably go for either the fabric markers, fabric paint or acrylic paint. Again, just treat it with care when laundering rather than just throwing it into the machine without thinking.

What I tend to do if I'm experimenting with new stamping surfaces or materials is to do a "test run" first. So in your position, I'd grab and old T-shirt that's about ready to become a cleaning cloth and try out my inks and colouring medium on there before I went to the effort of doing it on the real deal. Sometimes, you need to play a little to get the best technique, especially on a textured surface like a knitted fabric, so having the freedom to do that on something where it doesn't matter if you mess up is probably a good idea!

Have fun, hope you end up with a cute shirt!

[kstamper]

Thanks for all your replies. I did a 'test' last night with Copics and Sharpies, and they both feathered when I colored in the image. I think a transfer may be my best solution. Where in Target did you find the transfers-with the craft stuff?

Thanks again! I'll post a pic when I get it done!

[Val~Dee]

transfers are usually in the section with the avery type labels, photo paper, etc. The office section depending on the store

[annie*]

Could you please explain the process you use when using a transfer. TIA

[kyloescards]

If you have less detailed stamps you can use your acrylic paint. They have bottles of stuff to mix with it to use on fabric. My boys have made shirts for dad each fathers day and they have been washed for years and still are doing well.

[michellemadethis]

Hi

I use versacraft ink pads which are FANTASTIC!!!

I've tried fabric paint but it's very messy, although good if you have a large area to fill. The versacraft ink pads are great for stamping names and/or small images. I just did a really cute baby gro (onsie) today so I'll post a pic on my blog a little later http://www.michellemadethis.blogspot.com

I've also used those t-shirt transfer pages you can get to put through your printer. These are really good also but they do work out very expensive. My tip with these is to make the most of the entire page and don't waste an inch of it .... like I did when I first used it. Again they are good if you have a large area to colour although you then have to take into account the cost of your ink.

Good luck
Michelle