Mostly in fabric painting instructions I've seen advice not to use handpainted fabric for quilts that will be used (and washed).

Now I'm aware paint isn't dye and kind of 'sits on top of the fibre', so I'm assuming it won't stay on for hundreds of washings and centuries and centuries... But I'm kind of thinking in lifetime terms, not heirlooms and museums and all that.

So I'm wondering - for those of you who paint, have you used your fabric in lap or bed quilts? How did it hold up to use, how did it age if you washed it occasionally?

Can't speak for quilts but I'm still wearing a t-shirt that I painted over 20 years ago and all the colors are still there. You need to either use paints that say "fabric paint" or add "fabric medium" to the paint.

Interesting - I purchased a bunch of t shirts from an artists years ago that painted different greyhounds on shirts - they looked great until I washed them the first time - they were a pale image of what they originally looked like - I bet he didn't use a fabric medium on them

Fabric paint or paint with fabric medium should hold up to many washings. I have done lots of fabric painting and never had any problems with paint fading.
Be sure you heat set the paint. This a necessary step to insure paint adheres to fabric. When heat setting place a pressing cloth or paper towel over painted surface before touching with iron.

Cool! I'd say T shirts see more serious use than a quilt and with it being knit (and therefore stretchy), it would probably be harder on the paint than with a quilt. Thank you.

Great thank you.

Yay!! This is encouraging.

:-D

I have used fabric paint and markers all the time, Have never had a problem with them not lasting for a reasonable time.

Great info...thank you!

I know regular paint never seems to come out of clothing! Why is that? LOL

Go to Dharma Trading Co and get Procion dye w thickener.
Stays bright forever & looks great. Dharma gives a lot of info.