Using crayons for shading on quilts?
 

Hello quilters! Did I read somewhere that we can use crayons for shading on art quilts? Or how about colored pencils? Does anyone know about this? Is there a way to set the colors? Help, please???

you can use both, color pencils you have to set with textile medium, inktense pencils might be a little different, havnt played with them yet, crayons you just iron with paper towel covering. You can also use inks and paints as well.

I think I would use the color pencils I would think that crayons would flake off. I would like to see how it would look on fabric.

As DolphynGyrl explained, you set the crayons, so they do not disappear.

Running1 ... I was intrigued when I read about it a couple couple yrs ago and made a mug rug for my trial run. It is has been washed many times, and is as good today as it was then. So, make something small for your own in-home test and if you're in a hurry to know, wash and dry it with every load you do for the next while.

I found some videos about shading
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJN41E2Akto

Here are the whole bunch of videos too many to post but this link should help you get to them. I found them very informative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Py...D716E2F3E594FD

Do you set the crayons only once? Or every time after you washed the item?

I have used Inktense pencils and set it with 100% aloe vera lotion purchased at Walmart with good results.

Do a search on the board using Inktense pencils... here's one by Janeknapp

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...g-t131922.html

On using crayons you set it using a paper towel or paper towels once, then I throw it in the wash and into a hot dryer. That should hold it. Like QuiltE said try it on a small piece of fabric.

Once the dye from the crayon is set you should not have to ever do it again.

I have experimented with coloring on fabric and I really like the way you can shade the color. Start with a light touch and then go over it several times till you get the effect you want. I am showing my Little Susan again as a sample of how nice coloring can be.

I transferred the design to the fabric after I pressed freezer paper to the back, using a light box. Then I colored the areas I wanted to and pressed with a hot dry iron and flat paper towels to remove any excess wax. Peel away the freezer paper and finish. I overlaid the edges with stem stitching and french knots for some texture.

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I hope every one gives coloring a try. It was fun.
peace

Hey thanks everyone!! Love the videos... and Ube quilting, that is so cool!! It makes such a big difference!! Can't wait to start coloring!!

You may not believe it, but I made a potholder in art class in the third grade...and...my DM used that in her kitchen until I was over 50!!! We used the crayons and the teacher ironed them for us and sewed the binding.

I wrote instructions for Crayola quilts for a class I teach on the subject and will be most happy to share them with you, if you will p.m. me. I own the copyright so I would prefer that you let me send them to anyone else who is interested. I do not know anything about using colored pencils except that they have to be set with textile medium. Crayola quilts are easy to set and the colors are very durable. froggyintexas

I made a quilt years ago with crayons. Have to set it with iron as others have said and it works great. I have also used the acrylic paints and stenciled patterns on blocks. That needs a medium of course but I preferred it to the fabric paints. It's a lot of fun and the possibilities are endless.

I think the crabapple hill quilt pattern said to colour first with a white crayon. In my test piece I could not see a difference between the with or without white crayon patches. Does anyone know why she said to use the white crayon?
Froggyintexas, this is shameful I know but I do not know how to pm someone and can't find directions any where. I would love more info on using the crayons on fabric.

Rest assured it is not shameful... You click on her name on the left of her post and a menu box will show up. Click on 'private message' and everything you need will show up for writing a PM. The QB is great for asking questions you do not know the answer to and getting the info you need. :)

I made a lap quilt where I traced animals and farm scenes on muslin and colored with crayons. A suggestion would be to let the little kiddies do the coloring. I no longer have the quilt so can't say as to its durability.

ube quilting did such a great job on her block. There just doesn't seem to be any time in my day to experiment with stuff.

Right now our after school program at church has a quilt top for coloring. It is black and white with poodles arranged in rows with black with white polka dots separating the rows. I told them to use any colors they want, and I am anxious to see what we get. I will finish the quilt for charity and bring it back to the class to show them before I give it away.

I have tried to send instructions for Crayola quilts to people who requested them. However, I learned that the upper limit for a reply to the requests on the board network is 5000 words. The instructions are about12000 words or two single spaced pages. If you sent a request, I have asked you to send your email address in a p.m. so I can send the instructions to you. Your email address will immediately disappear from my computer and from my mind unless you email me again for clarification or other communication. froggyintexas

I have been teaching crayon tinting for several years. Here are some hints: 1. Use high thread count fabric that has been washed and ironed. 2. trace pattern with a micron pigma pen that either matches the embroidery thread you will be using (like red pen for redwork) or a neutral brown. 3. Heat set design. 4. Check the surface you will be using for imperfections (like a scratch) and the back of the fabric for strings. Both will mark the colored area and cannot be covered up later. 5. Use only Crayola crayons. 6. Select at least four colors in the same color family. Start with the lightest color and build on top of it. 7. Color from the top to the bottom so you don't drag your hand through the color and smudge it. 8. At any point you can heat set it, then go back and color again until you reach the color intensity you desire. 9. Heat set with a paper towel. I always use at least two and check the towel to see if any color has transferred.

I like to use the biggest box of crayon I can find, to have more color selections.

This is a lot of fun, especially if you liked to color as a child.

I made a baby quilt several years ago, used my light box to enlarge the pictures and used crayons to color and shade them. Love doing it. The quilt turned out just great, and was a lot easier than doing applique and mom loved it too. I colored the pictures then used the paper towel on top and under the block and ironed with dry iron, to set the color. I found an old iron on stencil pattern (of my grandmothers)of the 50 states outline and the flower, and birds that go with each, and used light box again to trace each onto a white background block,ten purchased the book 50 fabulous state stars ( not sure of exact name of book) traced each star onto white blocks and have most of them colored according to book colors, and will use them on the back of the state blocks - quilt is still in progress, but on hold for a while- the projects got in the way. I have used the same ironing technique to set the colors.I have tried some colored pencils, but some have a tendency to bleed when they are ironed. Hopefully will get back to it this summer. I loved doing this method- not sure if my way is the correct way or not.

Here are two place mats I made. I was disappointed that the color didn't stay bright.

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The color should not flake after it is heat set. The was melts into the fabric and stays there! I have used it many times.

FYI- crayons don't flake because they are ironed and coated with textile medium. I have used them on children's clothing and they last better than some fabric paints did!

You would use a white crayon first on a colored background to help your design show up better. I would iron the white first to see if you need more white to make a surface to color on.

I learned, the hard way, to protect the ironing board cover with foil before the paper towels. Advantage is no stains on new cover and the foil helps melt the crayon.

I like the look of these. a nice vintage appeal. You can add more color very easily if you want them brighter.
peace

Thanks to all board menbers. I always learn something almost every time I read it even if it was my question.

My mom and her sister started the state flowers quilt blocks back in the 30s and I finished them in the 60s. The crayon was heat set by using a hot iron with the fabric between two sheets of waxed paper. My family used this quilt for about thirty years (into the 90s) before the background muslin wore out. The colored portion was still in good shape.

Sinceresissy your kitties are very cute even if they didn't turn out just as you had hoped.
Thank you madamekelly. I hadn't tried a test on a coloured block yet so I will get my white crayon out and do some coloring today.