Dyeing fabric is fun, and when you know how to dye fabric with acrylic paint or natural dyes, the experience becomes even more fun.
After gathering the necessary tools, the first step is to thin down the acrylic paint with the mixing of acrylic medium. Then test out the thickness and color blend in a sample fabric. Once you are satisfied with the output, paint the original fabric with brushes. Lastly, heat-set the paint by using an iron, wash the fabric, and dry it out.
How Can You Dye Fabric With Acrylic Paint
Wait, tell me one thing first, have you ever thought of to tie dye with acrylic paint? Don’t worry, just a polite query!
Dying fabric with acrylic paint is not much hard if you have the right tools and ingredients. Often the complaint is about how the color is not deep enough or how the fabric quality is compromised. These problems can be avoided if you are extremely cautious and intend to follow some systematic steps.
Step 1: Gather the Tools
Without any doubt, you will need acrylic paint for this project. In addition to that, you will need an acrylic medium as well. You can choose any brand as long as it’s renowned. Get yourself a container with tight-fitting lid fabric for testing or something similar which you will use your paint on.
You will also require an iron and an iron board for heat-setting the paint. The last tool you will need is a foam brush. A paintbrush may just suffice but foam brushes will work better in this case.
Step 2: Thin the Acrylic Paint Down
Acrylic paint is much thicker than fabric paint. When applied bare, acrylic paint creates flakes and causes an unnerving stiffness to the fabric. You could try thinning it down with water or isopropyl alcohol. However, they will only cause the acrylic paint to seep through the fabric instead of staying on the outside surface. You most certainly do not want that.
That is where acrylic medium comes in. It is the easiest way to thin down the acrylic paint. For light-colored fabrics, a transparent gloss medium works pretty well. But for darker colors, you will be better off using an opaque gloss or matte medium.
Now the mixing part comes. Mix equal portions of acrylic paint and acrylic medium to thin out your paint. Continue doing so until you have reached the appropriate thickness.
Step 3: Test Your Paint on Your Fabric
Acrylic paints differ in many ways. To get the perfect color blend, the paint may need some adjustments in thickness depending on the type of fabric. Once you have made the mixture of acrylic paint and acrylic medium, it is time to test it out.
Using swatches of similar fabric, test your paint mixture. If the paint soaks through the fabric, you will need to add more acrylic paint to the mixture. However, if it dries and creates an uncomfortable stiffness, you will need a more acrylic medium.
Step 4: Paint Away the Fabric
Now comes the part where you apply the paint to your fabric. But before that, make sure you wash and dry your fabric prior to painting, whether new or old. You can apply the paint with brushes or a spray system.
Gently apply the paint uniformly over all the parts of the surface of the fabric. Also, make sure you do not take too much time in this step otherwise the paint might dry out and start to create flakes. You may also be interested in our guide on dyeing a fabric chair.
Step 5: Heat Set the Fabric
Once the paint is completely dry, you need to heat set it. Heat setting will give it permanency and washability. Iron the fabric with medium or high heat for 3-5 minutes to heat set. Make sure you put a scrap of fabric between the iron and the original fabric to prevent paint from being transferred to the hot iron.
Another option is to turn the fabric upside down and iron on the non-painted side. Continuously move the iron and intermittently take breaks so that you do not burn the fabric. Do not use steam for heat setting the paint.
Step 6: Wash the Fabric
Once the heat set process is done, wait for a couple of hours to let the color completely integrate with the fabric material. Then wash the fabric with the same detergent that you plan on using on painted items. You can just throw it in the laundry or wash it by hand as well.
Once you are done with washing, wring out the excess water and dry it overnight. That is how you get your desired fabric painted with acrylics.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What does fabric medium mean?
Fabric medium is in general, an acrylic polymer liquid blend. It does not have pigments. As a result, you can mix it with acrylic paints and give your fabric a soft feel without any flakes or stiffness. The type of fabric medium differs with the fabric type and the color blend you want.
Can I use steam to heat-set fabric paint?
Do not use steam or moisture to heat-set fabric paint. Fabric paints are best set with dry heat. You should dry iron the fabric without any steam.
How can I turn acrylic paint into fabric paint?
Known as textile medium or fabric painting medium, it is what you need in order to transform acrylic paint into fabric paint.
If this material is added to acrylic paint, the paint will bend with the fabric as opposed to becoming stiff, cracking, and flaking after washing or washing out completely, depending on the acrylic paint’s washability. In addition to making acrylic paint flow and cover better on fabric, textile medium thins acrylic so that it can adhere to it effectively.
Conclusion
Getting the desired color depth in your fabric is what you will ultimately seek. Hasting is not an option here. However, the results will always not be the same. Following these systematic steps mentioned above will get you to your desired result even closer than you will expect.
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