Fabric Painting

[stillstampin]

I have just done 2 painted flour sack towels as a birthday gift for a stamping friend. I used pigment ink - which SU suggests - right? My friend brought one to me today and it was white!! All the ink had washed out!! I washed the towel first to remove the starch then after I stamped I ironed the fabric to heat set. What did I do wrong? Please help!!

[Ouch!PaperCut]

:( Yikes!

Sorry, I don't have an answer for you....just wanted to give you a bit of support!

[calgramma]

If you didn't emboss that pigment ink, it will wash out. I would try fabric paint. I've done t-shirts that way with no problem! They also do need to be heat set....I used the dryer. HTH

[TMDMom]

Yay! Everyone here knows so much about stuff that I'm clueless on, and I finally found one where I can help! I've taught classes on fabric painting and silk screening.

You can use the craft ink, but you do need to set it. If it is something that will get much washing, I would go for the acrylic paints, and still set them.
The way I like to set something is to let it dry completely, then spray it with a mixture of 1/2 water & 1/2 vinegar, then put a press cloth (any thin fabric scrap will do) and iron it on hot with no steam. You can just iron it, but I find the vinegar does a better job.
When I was in college, I would just throw the items in a dorm dryer, 'cause they cooked the clothes, but an iron is the best way.
HTH
Beth