Printing fabric

I'm working on a new sample for my next textures class. This time we will make a simple coral reef quilt about 26" x 36". This will be a 2 day class. The first day we will be printing and painting PFD fabric, painting batting, painting and melting tyvek, and making 'reef critters' using angelina fibers and film too.

My full size drawings for the quilt are done, so today I began making my fabrics. For the background, and also the pieces for the "sand" I am using watercolor crayons. This technique is so simple...takes you back to your kindergarten days doing rubbings with crayons. And that is precisely the first step in this process. I used caron d'ache neocolor II crayons. They are high quality, heavily pigmented watercolor crayons. They blend easily, and after dried and heat set are permanent and washable. to begin, simply place your PFD fabric over your rubbing plate and rub with the crayon. I find it helpful to use a non slip mat under the rubbing plate so you're not chasing it all over your workspace.

Just keep moving the fabric and rubbing till you've covered the entire surface.
I went back over several times with different colors.

And this is what it looked like when I finished the rubbings.

Then I did some pieces for sand, using the same process.

A different rubbing plate...

And here, I rubbed over a mini molding mat. Looks great now, but as you'll see, it doesn't do as well in the end as the other rubbing plates.

Next post, the magic will begin!

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