Thread: Group of kids made a quilt

Sounds like it may be similar to a painting technique I used to demonstrate when I sold trichem paints. The paper is folded once and the name is written in cursive with the bottom of the letters touching the fold. Then turn the folded paper over and retrace the letters on the other side (in reverse) using a light box or holding it to a window. When you open the paper, the name looks like a filigree design.

Is this it?

http://video.wpt.org/video/2365380646/

Originally Posted by cindyb

YES, YES , YES This is it. When I first saw it I thought it would be simple - not so sure it's easy peasy watching it again. But, I'm going to give it a shot next time G'kids come over.

I'm glad you brought this up. I had never seen that episode of Sewing with Nancy. I was thinking that you could probably use crayons on fabric to come up with the same effect. I used crayon in a classroom to do "quilt" blocks and it worked really well. The children would love it. Once the blocks are colored and treated by ironing, they could be applied to a background for a quilt or wall hanging. Good luck.

Originally Posted by cindyb

That is an awesome suggestion!!! Kids can handle crayons and THEY would have more time actually doing this. I really like this much better than ME cutting out the shapes and fusing them on. THANKS. Now to see if the school is interested in this type of fund raiser.

My kindergarteners drew with fabric crayons on paper to create iron-on pictures. Use synthetic fabric (polyester) with real FABRIC crayons. Regular crayons will disappoint you. For a cohesive project, have a theme for the art. Don't let the children sign the pictures...they are reversed when ironed. If you want child signatures have little ones sign a separate piece of paper and you can fabric crayon the reverse; older children can do this themselves.

Having the children draw on paper removes the pressure of 'having to get it perfect' and it can be hard for some children to crayon directly on fabric. If there are any stray marks or 'oopsies' they can be cut from the paper before transfer.

(When my first son was five he made transfers this way while we were snowed in. All the fabric I had at the time was polyester double knit. The whites and pastel blocks took the transfers beautifully. The comforter looks as fresh now as 30+ years ago.)

PS....Fabric crayons would work with the folded name idea. You could work out some fantastic arrangements.