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Stamp
it – Stitch it!
Stamping and painting on fabric is not a new concept.
In fact, it is a very old technique dating back for thousands of years.
Printing blocks were discovered dating to 3000 BC. Block printing has been
found in many ancient cultures including China, Japan and India. Trade
routes carried these innovative techniques to all corners of the world.
What makes this so much fun now is the variety of the
newer all-purpose craft inks. Most hybrid and pigment craft inks just need
a quick heat set to be permanent. The metallic inks give the most effect,
especially when they are stamped on silk. They float beautifully on silk to
create shimmer and elegance. When stamped on cotton, they add a layer of
depth. We have access to beautiful ready-made stamps or we can carve our
own. Wood-mounted rubber stamps as well as the new clear polymer stamps
work interchangeably. The clear stamps truly have the ‘clear’ advantage for
positioning when this matters.
Applying stamped metallic ink images to the wonderful array of batik
quilting fabrics opens a door to infinite possibilities. One can create
different themes all with the same piece of fabric. Need an Asian theme?
Stamp gingkoes, ancient coins or kanji symbols. Want a woodsy look? Stamp
up some trees, moose and canoes. The possibilities are endless. Can’t find
the right geometric for a contemporary or guy quilt? Simple shapes are
everywhere . You can even carve your own.
Stamping on fabric and putting it into your quilt, gives one the opportunity
to create unique quilts unlike anyone else’s. With the most basic of
materials, one-of-kind fabrics can be created. Adding a bit of stamped silk
or cotton to a quilt or wearable art project adds additional visual
interest.
 What
you need to get started:
A few metallic ink pads: I recommend Color Box
and Stewart Superior Palette Metallic Hybrid Inks. Both create crisp images
for even the most detailed stamps.
The metallic inks each look differently on various
fabrics. The same color ink can look bright on a darker fabric yet wash out
on a paler fabric. One can have lots of fun with a small pile of fabrics
and 3 or 4 colors of ink. The thrift store is a great resource to collect a
variety of colorful silks at a very reasonable price, and an
environmentally-friendly activity as well!
A single stamped image can often look lost on a
piece of fabric. A single image will need supporting fabrics with a variety
of texture to help balance it. An image repeat can stand on its own more
and creates a different focus of interest. Stamping several images in the
same theme over a large area produces a more subtle look. All can take
place in one project.
It can take several attempts before all of the elements come together in the
way they were envisioned. Save all attempts. These ‘seconds’ can be used
as bookmarks, pincushions or tiny purses with just a bit of embroidery or
embellishment added. I usually wait until I’ve done all of my stamping
before I heat set. Use a dry iron and press on the back of your stamped
fabric for approximately 20-30 seconds. An additional pad will protect your
ironing board cover though most inks only take a few minutes to dry.
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