Drawing on clothes is an easy and very enjoyable task. Even if you can't draw, don't worry, because you don't have to be like Michelangelo to create something beautiful and trendy. After all, everyone has a subjective perception of things. Besides being extremely creative, painting on clothes has other advantages too. For example, you never know what masterpiece might emerge even from the simplest doodles, and soon your clothing can turn into a symbol of street fashion. In fact, street fashion is not the only place where you can find such clothes, so keep reading below.
What should you draw? Before we move on to painting, it’s important to know exactly what we want to depict on the clothing. Think carefully about your current mood and focus all your energy into the brush. You can choose something abstract to express your emotion. For example, you can paint a few red lines if you're feeling anger or passion. When I have a surge of energy, I love to draw whimsical spirals or circles. It's important to be in harmony with your thoughts and feelings because only then can you be sure that you’ll showcase your character in the best way. I mentioned street fashion earlier for a reason, because there you’ll find the brightest examples of painted clothes. On the streets everywhere you can meet thousands of people wearing clothes featuring flames, lightning bolts, skulls, cobwebs, and other interesting graphics. For example, if you have a personal message for the world, you can write it in an interesting font. Your initials are also a good option when you want to show individuality. Whatever you decide to draw, you can be sure that it’s your personal signature and you’ll definitely stand out with a unique t-shirt or jeans, for instance. As you can see, there are no limitations ahead of you, so if you are ready with your concept, let’s move forward.
What kind of fabric should the clothing be? In theory, it’s possible to paint on almost any fabric. In practice, however, this is not exactly the case. Before you start painting, you should familiarize yourself well with the characteristics of different fabrics. If you haven't clicked the link, let me briefly explain. Cotton is the best choice when it comes to this kind of art, but only if it's 100% cotton. It absorbs paint well and has a smooth surface that provides stability for brush movements. Here, of course, the most common products are t-shirts and hoodies, so you’ll need to express your creativity on them. Speaking of linen, you should know that the paint holds well, but you need a very precise hand because the fabric surface is rough and uneven. Polyester, on the other hand, has a very smooth texture and is extremely easy to paint on, but you’ll need to buy special synthetic paints because ordinary paints won't absorb. Always read the clothing and paint labels to make sure you’ve chosen the right products! I do not recommend trying to paint on leather, wool, silk, or Lycra because coloring leather or silk requires a special technique. Wool absorbs paint unevenly, and all your effort might be wasted. Nylon and Lycra cause the paint to spread and not hold in their structure.
What paints should we use? At first, I thought that any paint was suitable for fabric. I ruined quite a few clothes and made a mistake that my family and I still laugh about to this day. (To justify myself, I want to mention that back then there was no internet.) Fortunately, today things are different and my advice can reach millions of people. I digressed a bit, so let’s continue. If you're new to this endeavor, buy acrylic fabric paint. There are so many colors, and they’re ready to use right after opening. Some of the best brands are: Marabu Textil, Dylon, Jacquard, Amsterdam, Pebeo Setacolor, and DecoArt SoSoft. However, if you choose regular acrylic paints (the cheaper ones), you must add a fabric medium. What’s that? Fabric medium is a liquid additive that makes the paint more elastic and durable. If you don’t add it to regular paints, you risk your entire artwork cracking. Even if it doesn't crack, the washing machine will surely destroy your creation, so always add this ingredient to REGULAR paints. Usually, you need to mix the medium with paint at a 1:2 ratio, but sometimes manufacturers change these proportions, so always read the label. The third option is special fabric markers. They don’t stain and are extremely easy to use. They are great when you want to create thin lines and details that require precision. Check out these models from brands like: Sharpie Fabric, Marvy Uchida, and Edding Textile Marker. If you want special effects, you should know that there are paints that glow in the dark or have a glitter effect. There’s a big choice and lots of options!
What are the most popular colors? Black paint is definitely one of the most sought-after. Black can add depth to clothing and create a nice contrast. Dark blue paint is also popular among young artists. It can give an elegant look to any old garment. Grey and red also rank among the most popular colors for fabric painting, so be sure to include them in your arsenal.
Make a sketch. The best way to draw exactly what you want is to sketch your project first. This way, the worst that can happen is ruining a sheet of paper. You can sketch on a regular sheet using an XB or 2B pencil. It’s possible to sketch with a colored pencil too, but in my opinion, the best option is to use a tablet and unleash your imagination there, then transfer your graphics to paper. After that, you need to transfer the graphic onto the clothing. This can be done in several ways.
1. Carbon paper. This is one of the best methods to transfer your graphic onto the clothing. Place the paper between the garment and your sketch, then trace the outline with a pencil. The carbon paper will immediately imprint the pencil trace onto the garment. This method is excellent for complex designs and precise outlines. Experts recommend using white or yellow carbon if the garment is dark-colored.
2. Chalk. This is a classic method for outlining on fabric. Outline the sketch with chalk and you're ready to paint. The advantage of this method is that once you are done, you can easily and quickly remove the chalk with a damp cloth. The only downside is that you can't make extremely precise lines, but for fans of free styles, it’s perfect!
3. Stencil. If you don't have chalk or carbon paper at home, you can always cut out the contours of the sketch and place it directly on the shirt, then fill it with paint. Here, it’s very important to firmly fix the stencil with tape or something else to prevent it from moving and smudging.
4. Sketching on glass. Recently I saw a cute girl on social media painting her clothes by placing the sketch under the fabric and pressing it against a window. This method is really original but not suitable for all cases because thicker fabrics do not let enough light through.
How to prepare the surface? This is one of the most important stages when creating your own clothing design. Before starting, it’s important to wash the garment, but definitely WITHOUT fabric softener! Some fabric softeners create an invisible layer on clothes that prevents paint from being absorbed. I guess it’s obvious that the garment should be completely dry too? After that, iron the item carefully (wrinkles interfere with even coloring). However, if you have an uneven base, folds will surely appear when you start painting, so insert a strong and stable piece of cardboard inside the garment and try to fix the garment with tape so that it doesn’t move. This way, you'll have not only a solid surface but also a protective layer to prevent the paint from bleeding through to the back of the garment.
Fixing the paint on the fabric. And no, don't think that your tasks are finished. One more step remains. Fixing the paint is an important step to ensure a durable design even after washing. First, make sure the paint is completely dry. If unsure, wait 24 hours after painting. Then turn on the iron. Place a cotton cloth over the painting and for 4-5 minutes move the iron quickly in different directions over the cloth. It’s important that the iron is set without steam and at a temperature of about 150 degrees Celsius. I’ll repeat because it’s important: Do not iron directly over the paint and always check the clothing label for maximum ironing temperature. There are other methods for fixing paint too, but in my opinion, this is the best one. In stores, you can also find fabric varnish that is applied over dry paint to reinforce it, but this will increase your product cost and may create an unwanted glossy effect on your clothes.
How to wash such clothes? If you’ve followed all the steps correctly so far, you probably already have a quality and unique product, which will need occasional washing, so let me share my experience. Good habits will help you preserve your painted clothing or shoes for a very long time. Always wash such items in lukewarm water at around 30 degrees Celsius. Always turn garments inside out. The spin cycle should not exceed 800 RPM because it can stretch and tear the painting. Avoid fabric softeners and direct ironing on the artwork. As you can see, there are requirements you must follow if you wash your "projects" in a washing machine, so the best method is to wash them by hand in a basin and leave the rest of your laundry to enjoy the company of fabric softeners and higher water temperatures.
