Salt Lake City Quilt Show, Part 2: Irena Bluhm
05-08-2011, 05:47 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Marion, IA
Posts: 462
You can wash quilts that have been made with watercolor pencils, but they need to be heat set first. If you color your blocks and heat set, then soak them in water before piecing and quilting. I have not found any color to come out.
I'm working with watercolor pencils (Michaels). You can use water to take the color from the surface of the fabric down into the fibers. However, water can make it bleed outside the lines. You work from the middle and push the dampness to the outside. Reading these posts I find that fabric medium works, but I haven't tried that.
Just this week I learned that clear aloe vera gel works great and there is no bleeding. I used it and like it. It dries quickly (5 minutes or less) just like water. You can heat set it before it is dry by using a pressing cloth.
I haven't tried painting or using watercolor pencils AFTER quilting. I would question heat setting after quilting as it could damage the loft especially if using poly batting. I do use wool in my quilts which gives loft but doesn't melt when pressed.
I'm working with watercolor pencils (Michaels). You can use water to take the color from the surface of the fabric down into the fibers. However, water can make it bleed outside the lines. You work from the middle and push the dampness to the outside. Reading these posts I find that fabric medium works, but I haven't tried that.
Just this week I learned that clear aloe vera gel works great and there is no bleeding. I used it and like it. It dries quickly (5 minutes or less) just like water. You can heat set it before it is dry by using a pressing cloth.
I haven't tried painting or using watercolor pencils AFTER quilting. I would question heat setting after quilting as it could damage the loft especially if using poly batting. I do use wool in my quilts which gives loft but doesn't melt when pressed.
05-08-2011, 07:12 AM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Trumann, Arkansas
Posts: 1,873
Originally Posted by sgardner
Originally Posted by mirabelle
WOW !!!!!!! now who didn't like coloring in when they were a kid
I know, right? On Muslin, she used "plain old colored pencils"- the kinds you buy at Walmart- and fabric medium. Muslin is a cheaper fabric, the colored pencils will be on sale in a month or two for back to school sales, and my bottle of fabric medium has lasted me forever. Anyone can do this!!!
But, seriously, at the show they had patterns that were already quilted for the outline ready for people to purchase, for those that felt that they couldn't quilt their own outside border to color in.
The Satin projects she said the colored pencils didn't work, but she used the Shiva Paint sticks.
I've had success with any watercolor pencils and fabric medium, but my work isn't anywhere near this level. I'm just a baby trying his first word, while Irena is a world class poet!
FYI - I have washed my mug rug that I used regular color pencils on topped with fabric medium and the colors have stayed true.
05-08-2011, 08:38 AM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Marion, IA
Posts: 462
I'm new to watercolor pencil, too. My mother who has Parkinsons and is in a nursing home uses them. I am making a quilt for my sister with the applique blocks she has colored. Here is a block she did with my help in shading. This is the easiest way to applique. The yellow centers were machine appliqued. When I used water to activate the watercolor, it bled into the yellow.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
OCQuilts
Offline Events, Announcements, Discussions
4
09-02-2011 08:52 PM
dyer804
Main
8
08-22-2011 08:52 AM
meistarri
Pictures
35
05-09-2011 05:54 AM
