If you've ever used fabric markers, I need some advice?

Question

What are the best fabric markers to use? I want to put a logo on a t-shirt. I don't want to use iron on transfers sheets because they wear off easily. So I'm going to try fabric markers but I've never used them before. Can anybody give me some advice? How well does the image look after you're done?

Answer 1

We used Crayola brand with my students at school.  They "bleed" a bit, so one piece of advice is to color just inside the line a bit, not right on the line.  Also, use light strokes.

Answer 2

Use a good brand of permanent fabric markers, and most of them will look best and last longest if they're used on cotton or other natural fabrics... some aren't as bright on polyester, although 50/50 may be okay.  

It's usually a good idea to prewash any new fabric or any fabric that might have fabric softener on it before drawing too because those additives can act as "resists" to the markers.

To stabilize the fabric so that it's easy to draw and color on, either iron it to the shiny side of some Reynold's freezer paper (that will also keep it from bleeding through to the other side of the shirt), or you can press it to a sheet of fine-grain sandpaper, or you can spray a piece of cardboard/etc. with adhesive spray then wait till it dries so it's just tacky then press on it the section of t-shirt you want to draw on.

After the drawing is thoroughly dry, avoid washing the shirt for at least a week for maximum permanence, and thereafter also try to avoid using Tide or other strong detergents (Cheer or All are gentler, or of course you could hand wash with soap or dish liquid).  Turn the shirt inside out in the washing machine and dryer too.

You can also use colorants like fabric "oil pastels" (I used to see those in stationery shops, in the drafting dept.), or even "fabric paints" from the crafts store.  Instead of fabric paints, you can also just use regular craft acrylic paints, then add water or "textile medium" to them to make them thinner or lighter in color (both will leave the paint very supple on the fabric).  If you add water especially, you can then use them like "watercolors."

HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 3

I've used fabric markers with some success but the best thing to use is Roseart crayons. Just regular roseart crayons (the cheap ones at Walmart).

Trace the design you want then lay clean newsprint (unprinted newspaper) over the design as well as between the layers of fabric and iron. You may have to go over it a few times. Especially if the colors are light. Oh and after the crayon has "set" it's ok to go in the dryer.

Good Luck.