bearisgray

I made some blocks that I want to darken - I think onktense pencils wIll work.

What else do I need?

I read on another thread about fabric medium or aloe gel and what kind of brushes should I get?

I am planning to use this on 100% washed cotton - mostly bright yellow background.

ckcowl

Water and an iron is all I've ever used. You can use them like any water colors, what ever size/ type brush you like. When the color dries it is Permenent . I always heat set after my project is dry. Steam seems to intensify the colors nicely.

Dolphyngyrl

I use any type of brushes and textile medium and different mediums have different results. cheap mediums don't work as nice IMHO

bearisgray

Which ones (brand names?) do you prefer?

I want this to dry "smooth" - like the rest of the fabric - and for the color to stay. I do not have "extra" material to practice on for this project.

ManiacQuilter2

Never heard of this technique before.

MadQuilter

I would not use water as there is less control with color spread on fabric. Fabric medium would be my choice.

Bree123

I bought some basic acrylic brushes at HL. Nothing fancy. I got a set so I would have flat, rounded, filbert & detail brushes. It allows me to pretty much do any design I want. I mostly use the blocks, though.

With fabric medium, you want to let it dry for a week before washing it... so be sure to plan for that time. I've found that commercial fabric medium seems to hold the color in a bit better than aloe gel, but there isn't much difference. However, prior to washing, the fabric medium is sticker & takes longer to dry than aloe gel.

By getting them wet, it creates almost more of a wash/watercolor effect -- really beautiful, if that's what you want. You can buy the InkTense "Outliner" pencil to be sure your colors won't run where you don't want them prior to the medium. I do find it helpful with the aloe to mix in a bit of water. With the medium, it is plenty runny as it is. No water is needed unless you like the effect.

quiltingshorttimer

I found that using water to set them creates a lot of bleeding of color--which is great in some instances, but if that is not what you are looking for, go with aloe--I just bought cheap aloe gel from Dollar General and a set of inexpensive brushes (some rounded tip,some more stiff/square) from the kids craft section of JoAnne's. the textile medium is much more expensive than aloe.

Jane Quilter

heres a link where she experiments with water, gel, medium, brushes, pens, for different effects

http://thequiltrat.blogspot.com/sear...e%20Vera%20Gel

Onebyone

I bought the Inktense pencils and like to color fabric pieces. I use the clear Aloe Vera. My grands like to use them instead of crayons. They are great colored pencils.