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.

I use acryllic paint all the time. On wallhangings, be sure to use the fabric medium, heat set, and wash in cold water.

It will effect the fabric feel if you put the paint on too thick, it gets stiff.

I would suggest you do a test piece so you feel how it is to be sure you want that on a bed quilt.
Also prewash the fabric, the finish that is often in fabric will keep the paint from settinng into the fibers

Almost forgot. When painting fabric use a fabric painting brush, the ones I use have a blue handle with white bristles. The bristles are stiffer than a regular brush. The stiffer brush pushes the paint into the fabric.

Thank you for all your replies, very useful!

sewgull:
Re stiff brushes - do you tape your fabric down when you paint it? I painted a line on fabric the other day and tried a stiffer brush than normal, but it seemed to distort the fabric too much. Maybe just a matter of practice.

dotcomdtcm:
Aren't Procion dyes transparent? There are a couple of darker/patterned fabrics that I'd like to paint on and I was under the belief that thickened dyes would disappear on colours that are darker or like in value. If I'm mistaken, great! I've wanted to try Procions for ages.

Salmonsweet,
Brushes for fabric are not real stiff, there is a brush just for fabric painting. Check local craft or art store, I will be glad to send brushes to you. I use regular acrylic paint adding fabric medium. About half and half of paint and medium.
Tape does hold fabric in place. I like cardboard as a backing support when painting. Cardboard can be a box, they are strong and don't bend easily.
Hope this helps. Please let me know how I can help.
Have a blessed day.

Oh thank you! Never thought of backing the fabric with cardboard, that should be really good. Will definitely give that a go next time. I think I can probably find fabric brushes online, my local shops don't seem to know about them (even though one sells setacolors!).

And thank you so much for offering further help. it's sooo good to know I can come back with more questions. :)

In fact I have another question!

I'm never too sure how to know when I've pressed a painted fabric enough to properly heat set it. (Scary moments when I've washed what I made...)

Is there a way to see or feel the paint change, or do I just keep going over it again and again and again until I reckon every spot has had several minutes? Or?

I don't know what type fabric paints you have in mind but I was given some dish towels that were painted with Tri-Chem paints 45 years ago. They were washed often and in hot water, sometimes with bleach. The fabric is wearing thin and the paints have faded but you can still see the design.

Use cotten setting setting. Be sure all paint is heated. Needs to be hot to the touch. Not necessary to press minutes.
There is slight different feel to fabric while sitll hot, not enought to notice.

Tri-Chem paints were great.

Thank you! :)

That sounds like some amazing paints. If the paint kind of lasts longer than the fibre.... well that's just amazing!

Just googled it, Tri-Chem have a website in the UK but only mail order, no online shop. I hadn't come across them before, do you happen to know why they don't seem to be around much? (I'm kind of assuming probably more difficult to apply or more toxic than modern fabric paints like setacolor or acrylics with medium, but what do I know...)

Ther were popular some 30 years ago. You have home parties, invited friendover, had fun. They just disappeared from the market, no idea why.

i am a mix media artiz quilter and i paint all the time. Offen i use spray paints not original intended for clothes, but they do ok and my feelin is that the breakdwon over time and laundry is part of my artiz vision and is a symbol. hope that helpz

before applying any sort of paint, make sure to wash your fabric in a good detergent(not soap) to remove residues, oils, chemicals, then

#1- use regular acrylic paints mixed with fabric medium if you can not use GOOD paints like Jacquards.

#2- iron your fabric to freezer paper first, but remember not to over saturate your fabric as that can cause puddling underneath.

#3- always air dry for 24 hours and then heat set from the back.