What Products do you suggest for fabric painting/lettering?
 

My daughter and I are giving my granddaughter-in-law a baby shower. We decided to buy white onesies (wash them and press them and put cardboard inserts into them) and let guests write or draw something meaningful on the onesies. We plan to take a photo of each person who partakes holding their personal onesie and put it in an album for the baby. We will then hang them from a line at the shower. Here is an example I did using pigment pens. I would like to know if there are better choices out there for doing the painting. Thanks for your input. Any other ideas will be greatly appreciated. Yolanda Wood River

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they have fabric markers at Joann and Pigma markers now have brush markers (in scrap-booking)

There are also some not quite so 'puff' fabric paints in little bottles. Actually, I have a bunch for a similar purpose that I'll never use. When in the shower? PM me if you're interested. I can pop them in the mail to you! Beats sitting in my cart never to be used again.

You might try Pentel Fabric Fun Pastel Dye Sticks. What they are is fabric crayons. You draw your picture or writing on the fabric then color with these ,then press with iron. I've never had any of the colors bleed onto anywhere it wasn't supposed to. Good luck , sounds like fun. I ordered mine from Pentel and they were less than $8.00 .

Google paintstiks (the spelling is correct) online and you will see some websites for them. They are wonderful for fabrics.

Sharpie has recently put out an assortment of markers made especially for fabric, called STAINED. There are seven really bright colors. Bought mine at Wally in the section where all the pens and markers are.

I have painted on fabric for years and there are many products that will work for you just like the previous posters have suggested. One thing that helps the paint to adhere to the fabric is to prewash it...just as you have already done. HOWEVER, it is important that you do NOT use fabric softener. It leaves a coating on the fabric that can stop the paint from adhering as well to the fabric. I also heat set mine...either putting in a warm dryer, or pressing with a dry iron through a pressing cloth. Just be sure to do a test pressing ahead of time. Good luck!

I have a suggestion. Instead of a cardboard insert, how about ironing some freezer paper inside to stiffen and keep the fabric from shifting when guests decorate it. Then you can peel it off later.

Have to agree with sewsalot on this. Using freezer paper is the way you want to go. I have done t-shirts for the Grandkids using watercolor pencils, or crayola crayons with a freezer paper backing. Heat set when done & wait at least 24 hrs before washing.

Thank you all for your help with this project. Found the fabric paint sticks at Michaels. Great suggestions and advice. Thanks to sewsalot and janquiltz for the freezer paper idea. I cut out the freezer paper inserts and just put them in over my cardboard inserts. This is great because it stabilizes the knit fabric while you try to draw your design. I have a feeling that my 2 granddaughters (9 and 10 years old) and my great granddaughter (7 years old and older sister to the new baby) will be the ones that will want to design these shirts. It should be a fun project. I will try to post some of the photos of the children with their special onesie designs. Thank you all for your kind and important tips. Yolanda Wood River