I want to paint or color fabric for a quilt. Some of these will be for children. Previously, I have used childrens' colors, layering 3 layer of color, ironing between layers. However, some of the colors fade or wash out. What have you found to be the most permanent? That the color will last with washing? Brand name and where you have found the product would be most helpful. Thank you

I have used a fabric spray paint I get at Michael's with success. I only use it outside. Follow directions and it seems to last for at least 2 years so far.

I haven't dyed or colored yet but I have seen it done with colored markers or pencils.
Is this for toddlers who might suck on the quilt? I think you better be careful what you use if the kids are small enough to randomly chew stuff. You know how things are these days - we ate dirt and whatever we put in our little mouths, but...

I haven't tried hand painting fabric myself, but, I read an article where a woman used acrylic paint on fabric with great results. She said it washed well. Anyone else on here tried this method?

I use setacolor from Dharma Trading post for hand painting, leaving the fabric with a soft hand. Just read the directions on their site.

The FABRICO fabric markers, Tsukineko ink, dye-na-flow paints, there are MANY products made just for this...

you can learn more about them at
www.jacquardproducts.com
www.tsukineko.com
www.dharmatrading.com

you can use the cheap acrylic paints you find everywhere, BUT you really need to not only thin them out, but thin them using a Liquitex fabric medium, not with water.

Depending on the look and feel you want there are any number of paints that I've used that lasted through many washings - some of them were not originally intended to have been on the fabric in question - thank you DGS (who was not so dear for awhile after that little episode of getting into his mom's paints!) The ones he got into were the little bottles of acrylic paint from Walmart that she was using to paint on flower pots. I think the brand is Apple Barrel.
The smaller sized ones that have a little dropper type end that leave a raised line like cake decorating will crack and peel after a time when used on t-shirts or sweatshirts and put in the dryer.
I have also very successfully used Crayola crayons colored very intensely on muslin and ironed (on cotton setting) between two sheets of waxed paper. If you do not color intensely or if you use 'off brand' crayons it will fade out, but otherwise it will last a long time. I did it on a quilt that lasted 15 - 20 years before the vintage muslin part that was not colored wore out.

I used water clean up craft paint on shirts. worked great long lastiog. Wash fabric with free and clear detergent,do not use favric softner in dryer. Draw on design or iron on and trace over lines with perment fabric marker strech frabric tight in embrodry hoop use stiff brissel brush to work paint into fabric. let dry overnite, light coat of clear spray sealer. Dry overnite into dryer for a while to finish setting.

There is a wonderful DVD by Mickey Lawler. She shows how simple it is to paint on fabrics. It is a joy to watch the DVD. You can buy it most anywhere online at shops.