How to Do Fabric Painting

Co-authored by Joy Cho

Last Updated: July 9, 2023 Approved

Fabric painting is a great way to add new life to plain old t-shirts, boring upholstery, or any bland fabric that needs a boost. Mastering the art of fabric painting allows you to become your own fashion or interior designer by painting your ideas into existence. Learn to develop a design, trace it onto any piece of fabric, and paint away using the simple steps below.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Prepping Your Fabric

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Washable natural-fiber and natural-blend fabrics with 50/50 cotton/polyester blends work best for fabric painting.
Use only regular laundry detergent and do not use fabric softener when drying.^{[1]
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You can use a large clipboard, smooth cardboard, or waxed paper in between the two sides to prevent the paint from bleeding.^{[2]
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Place one pin in each corner to prevent the material from shifting.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Choosing Your Materials

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Hold the bottle like a pencil as you squeeze gently to release the paint. Be sure to touch the tip of the bottle directly to the fabric so that the paint adheres to the fabric surface.
This type of fabric paint allows you to mix and alter colors before adhering the paint to the fabric.^{[4]
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Choose paint brushes according to the effect you want to create with your brush strokes.
- Flat shader brushes have a chiseled edge that allows you to paint clean lines and fill in large spaces.
- Liner brushes are long or short tapered and are ideal for making long brush strokes.
- Scrubber brushes are composed of tapered bristles perfect for blending color and creating short, rough strokes.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Painting Your Fabric

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It is helpful to try out different color combinations on this template before transferring it to your fabric.^{[5]
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2
Use a pencil or a disappearing ink pen to transfer your design to your fabric. For dark fabrics, you can use a white chalk pencil to trace your design.
- Opt for tracing a stencil if you want to follow a precise, pre-made pattern or picture. Tape your stencil down with masking tape to prevent it from moving.
- You can also free-form draw on your fabric before you paint if you are confident enough in your artistic ability.
Be sure to cover the outline with paint so that it doesn't show through.
4
To create a watercolor look, mix your paint color with water until it is the thickness of writing ink. Dip a relatively thin brush in the mixture and paint brush strokes in a horizontal motion.
- Spray water lightly on the fabric surface using a mister bottle after painting to allow the brush strokes to bleed lightly while switching between colors.
- If the paint begins to bleed too much or too quickly, grab a hair dryer and dry the spot to stop the process. A hair dryer can also be used to dry fabric paint faster after finishing the work.
Fabric spray paint dries more quickly than other types of fabric paint and allows you to easily fill in intricate stencils.
You can add variation and create depth simply by combing paint in small sections. Be careful not to blend undesirable colors together.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Adding Embellishments

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Simply sprinkle the glitter of your choice on top of the paint while it is still wet. Allow the paint to dry fully.
Adhere to the fabric using a small dollop of fabric paint that matches the color of the embellishment. If the fabric paint does not seem strong enough, try fabric glue.^{[6]
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Be sure to press down firm and straight.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Do I need to dilute fabric paint for stenciling?

Joy Cho
Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!
Joy Cho is the Founder and Creative Director of the lifestyle brand and design studio, Oh Joy!, founded in 2005 and based in Los Angeles, California. She has authored six books and consulted for creative businesses around the world. Joy has lectured on business, leadership, and entrepreneurship at conferences and companies such as AltSummit, Pinterest, Target, and Hallmark, while her home and studio have been featured in magazines such as House Beautiful, Parents, and Domino. She has also been named one of Time's 30 Most Influential People on the Internet multiple times and has the most followed account on Pinterest with more than 14 million followers.

Joy Cho

Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!

Expert Answer

Check the directions to see if the paint needs to be diluted down. Typically, the consistency of the paint needs to be right in the middle for stenciling—not too thick and not too thin—so it sticks to the outline of the stencil and doesn't bleed underneath.

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Question

What are some fun projects I can use fabric paint for?

Joy Cho
Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!
Joy Cho is the Founder and Creative Director of the lifestyle brand and design studio, Oh Joy!, founded in 2005 and based in Los Angeles, California. She has authored six books and consulted for creative businesses around the world. Joy has lectured on business, leadership, and entrepreneurship at conferences and companies such as AltSummit, Pinterest, Target, and Hallmark, while her home and studio have been featured in magazines such as House Beautiful, Parents, and Domino. She has also been named one of Time's 30 Most Influential People on the Internet multiple times and has the most followed account on Pinterest with more than 14 million followers.

Joy Cho

Designer & Style Expert, Oh Joy!

Expert Answer

You can use fabric paint to creatively customize a sweatshirt. It's also great for stenciling on a T-shirt.

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Question

Can I use acrylic paints on fabric?

Community Answer

The acrylic paint will make your fabric thick and stiff and cause the t-shirt to lose elasticity. But, you can mix rubbing alcohol with acrylic paint to create fabric paint or you can also use white school glue and shaving gel mixed with acrylic paint to create fabric paint. Do not mix both methods together!

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Tips

Be sure not to dilute the paint too much if mixing with water.

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If you make a mistake, use a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol to erase your mistake.

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Practice on paper towels before transferring your design to fabric.

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