Hi Lena

I recently purchased your book "Printing by Hand". I am so excited to get started on some of the projects.
I was wondering if you could recommend a couple of your favorite fabric paints. I am looking for a paint that will wash and wear well.
Any suggestions would be appreciated and would give me a place to start.

Thank you for your creative inspiration.

Gillian

hi!

here's a list of the water-based fabric inks that i use:

AquaBrite Ink from Standard Screen
http://www.standardscreen.com/aquabritet...

Speedball Ink
http://www.dickblick.com/zz432/07/

Union Aerotex Ink
http://www.dickblick.com/zz432/21/

Blick Ink
http://www.dickblick.com/zz432/15/

i've found that from color to color, the ink can vary a lot as far as the thickness of the ink, and the softness to the touch when it dries. i always wash and dry a finished project to soften the ink more.

Lena,

I love your book!

I'm so glad you listed the specific brands of ink that you use for printing in the previous post- thanks! Another question about inks: in your book, you mention "acrylic ink for fabric" and "block-printing ink for fabric." I've been able to find both kinds of ink for paper, but are any of the inks you recommended in the previous post what you are talking about when you mention "acrylic ink for fabric" or "block-printing ink for fabric?"

Thanks!
Carolyn

hi carolyn,
i'm glad to hear you like the book-- thanks!

i've gotten a few questions about this. since writing the book, i've realized that some of the inks i discuss are difficult to find in stores.

what is most important is to look at what type of surface an ink is for. so, any fabric ink can be used for any fabric printing project. for example, regular fabric ink can be used with screen printing, and screen printing ink can be used for stamping. additionally, fabric ink can be used on paper (but not vice versa). i use only acyclic/water-based ink for all of my projects projects.

i hope that clarifies things! let me know if you have any more questions.

best,
lena

Lena,

That definitely helps-- thanks for your response!

I guess my biggest question is what kind of ink works best with carved rubber block stamps (a.k.a. lino blocks) printing on fabric. I am teaching this method to my students (I'm an art teacher), and have experimented with screen-printing ink, but I find that the prints are not that opaque. What do you use with your carved rubber blocks to get the print to be so beautifully opaque on fabric?

Thanks again!
Carolyn

carolyn,

i use both regular fabric ink and screen printing ink for rubber block printing. hmmm, i wonder why you aren't getting nice opaque prints? (just checking, you are using the rubber material and not lino? linoleum blocks need to be used with oil based ink. i learned that after several frustrating attempts at printing!).

ink varies so much. i've found that the texture and opacity varies, not only from brand to brand, but also from color to color, and from jar to jar!

when i print with rubber block stamps, i make sure to have a cushioned surface below, like a towel, so that the stamp can press better into the fabric. and i also press for up to 20-30 seconds, giving the ink time to press in.

i hope it goes better next time!
lena

Cool! So is the regular "fabric ink" the fabric paint that you get at craft stores? Where do I get "fabric ink"-- is it one of the items you listed above?

carolyn

yes, by "regular fabric ink" i mean the basic (cheap) paints you see at major craft stores. the inks i listed above are better quality fabric/textile ink options.

Awesome-- thank you so much for answering my one billion questions!

carolyn

you're welcome! best of luck to you...

Hola Lena!
Have been day dreaming with colors and designs and fabric for a long time. Finding your book was so inspiring.I went to Michaels and got some supplies to get started, i am still not clear between the differences between the paints. i have a couple of paints at home
Prang - tempera paint
Liquitex - acrylic colors
can i use these on fabric before i buy more?
thanks!

hi ivana

are those labeled for use on fabric? a long as the package says fabric paint, you'll be fine using those.

best, lena

Hi Lena:
I have enjoyed the book very much. I do find, however, that I need more specific recommendations regarding the proper ink to use when lino block printing on fabric. I have located Speedball Block Printing Ink and Screen Printing Fabric Ink. The problem is that the Block printing ink includes no specifications as to appropriateness for fabric. I also have understood that screen printing ink is not desirable for block printing. In one of your recent posts, you mention oil based ink for block printing on fabric. Could you please provide specific recommendations? I would like to be able to turn projects in the book (along with others) into reality. Thank you so much!

hi karen,
i'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the book!
you're right-- regular block printing ink cannot be used for fabric (if it needs to be washable). but fabric screen printing ink actually works very well for block printing. if you can't find fabric block printing ink, then screen printing ink is perfect. the only issue you may have is if the screen printing ink is too runny (the thickness varies with each brand and color). the ink should be as thin as melted ice cream or as thick as yogurt. if it's too thin, leave the ink uncovered and exposed to air until it thickens.

i don't work with oil based ink, so i'm sorry i don't have any recommendations. just to clarify, in the book i use rubber blocks and not linoleum blocks. i don't recommend using oil based ink with the rubber blocks

let me know if you have further questions!

lena

Thanks so much for the extra information and for the great book! I can't wait to continue to explore creative printing possibilities!

hello!
i was going to ask about block printing with water-based ink because i have been having some frustrating experiences working with my linoleum blocks and speedball inks. you answered that question already, but i thought i would chime in about oil-based ink. that is mostly all i use--i have started printing my etching plates onto fabric lately with good results, it is color safe.

oil-based inks do require mineral spirits or soy solve for washing off (although don't use soy solve for rubber brayers--use the spirits), and are a little more fume-y and expensive, but in terms of quality of color, they are excellent. as with the water-based colors, these will vary in thickness and tone from color to color and can to can. graphic chemical is a great resource for all things printmaking and they have all kinds of inks and supplies. i also cannot say enough good things about their customer service. if you want to fall down the rabbit-hole of printmaking: www.graphicchemical.com

there is also a new brand of oil-based ink on the market that washes out with soap and water: http://www.graphicchemical.com/shopdispl...

these might be good alternatives for printing linoleum blocks if that is what you are after. and, although i have not used it myself, i hear that daniel smith makes an excellent water-based ink--used by our professional community printshop here for all their children's classes:
http://www.danielsmith.com/ds-manufactur...

also, i have not tried printing linoleum blocks on fabric with any of those inks, just paper. because those inks are pretty robust, you might want to experiment with printing linoleum + oil-based ink on fabric. i hope that all makes sense and that i didn't get too carried away with all the technical blah blah blah.
lena, when you say rubber blocks, are you referring to soft-cut lino or to the rubber stamps that you can get professionally made?
thanks for answering all our questions!
laura.

hi laura,
thanks for all of this really great information!
yes when i talk about "rubber blocks" i'm referring to the soft-cute material.

best, lena