Tips & Tricks for Stamping on Fabric
One of the best things about stamping is that you can create with so many different mediums! Here we’re going to discuss how to stamp on fabric. All you need is a piece of fabric, a rubber stamp and fabric ink.
Materials Needed
Every fabric stamping project should start the same way, by collecting all of the materials you’ll need.
Fabric: We’ll discuss this later, but fine, tightly woven fabrics work best.
Fabric Ink: StampMaker has a few options of fabric ink
Stamp: It's best to avoid small stamps with small details, as they can get lost during the stamping process. For fabric stamping, it’s best to choose a fabric stamp or a custom stamp with a larger pattern. Patterns like geometric patterns such as triangles, lines, and squares are great to start with.
Scrap Paper: To blot your stamp during your project.
Scrap of Cloth: This scrap of cloth is to practice stamping designs on fabric to see if you like your pattern. Choose a piece of the same material that you’ll use for the project for continuity.
Paper: To protect where you’re working from wayward fabric ink.
Types of Fabric to Use
Remember, ink, even fabric ink, bleeds on fabric. The bigger the fabric weave, the more bleeding will occur. So, it’s always best to choose tightly woven fabrics, such as cotton or linen. Picking a light fabric will also help the fabric ink color show up better.
Always, always, always make sure to test your ink out on the fabric before using it on something that you really like.
Using Rubber Stamps to Stamp on Fabric
How to Get a Good Impression
To get a good impression, you need to have a light, even coating of the fabric ink on the stamp. The stamp you choose should be bigger with few tiny details. Then, grab that scrap piece of cloth that we talked about earlier and practice stamping your pattern!
Once you’ve conquered your stamped pattern, put that scrap away and get your real piece of cloth. Make sure to press straight down and evenly on the stamp. Don’t wiggle it or move it around. When you’re done, just pick the stamp up and keep going! If you’re using multiple stamps, it’s best to start with the largest one first and work your way down to the smallest one, letting you take full advantage of the negative spaces left by the larger stamp.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some general tips to help you make a stamping project that you’re proud of!
- If you’re a beginner fabric stamper, you should start out with easy to cut stamps (stripes, triangles, squares) or already-made stamps. Bold stamps are hard to go wrong with and easy to love.
- Remember to keep it fun! Don’t make your pattern too complicated at first and just enjoy the process.
- A great color can make any shape or stamp design as fun as you want it to be.
- Use fabric ink and not acrylic paint. Using acrylic paint will get stiff and wrinkled
- Wash the material before stamping it. Sometimes fabric has a coating on it called sizing, which makes it feel nice but doesn’t let you apply the ink well.
Project Ideas
If you follow the materials guidelines and the tips on how to get a good impression, your project opportunities are endless. A good beginner’s project is a pillowcase. Super easy and super fun! From there, you can move onto wall hangings, curtains, aprons, throw pillows, linen bags, scarves, shirts. If you’re also into sewing, you can stamp designs on your latest sewing projects. As long as the material is fabric and you use fabric ink, there’s a way to stamp it.
Conclusion
Fabric stamping is pretty easy once you learn how to do it. All you really need are your basic tools (cotton or linen fabric, fabric ink and a stamp), and you’re all set to go. Just remember to have fun and not overcomplicate it as you embark on this new, DIY journey.