There is a home made recipe to make the fixative. I did this years ago. I took my cutting board, fabric, paper towels and a hammer and went to town making noise. Even the neighbors came over to ask what was going on.
Mordant:
Prepare an Alum bath (wearing gloves)
4 tablespoons of Alum
3 tablespoons of Cram of Tartar
Both available at Health Food stores
20 cups of water.
Add the cloth and heat on stove in low setting for 30 to 40 minutes. Leave the cloth in the mordant until the water is cold again. Rinse and dry, either on clothes line or in dryer.
Now the fabric will retain the color of the fabrics. Store in a dark place, like a closet.
After hammering, heat set with the iron. Is a lot of fun.