Fabric Paints and Dyes for Textile Artists: How to make the best choice

Explore the best fabric paints and dyes for textile artists. Learn about top-rated products and find the perfect medium for your artistic endeavours.

Fabric painting and dyeing have been practised by artists for centuries, enabling them to express their creativity on a variety of textile surfaces. From stunning silk scarves to bold cotton tapestries, the choice of medium can significantly influence the final result. 

But with so many fabric paints and dyes on the market, finding the perfect match for your textile artwork can be daunting. 

This article will guide you through the best fabric paints and dyes for textile artists, highlighting their unique features and providing insights to help you make an informed choice.

Fabric Paints and Dyes for Textile Artists

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Understanding the Difference Between Fabric Paints and Fabric Dyes

While both fabric paints and fabric dyes are used to add colour to textiles, they function in distinctly different ways and yield different results. 

Understanding the fundamental differences between the two can help you select the most appropriate medium for your project.

Fabric Paints: A Surface Application

Fabric paints are a type of colour suspension that remains on the surface of the fabric, adhering to the fibres.

This medium is excellent for creating precise, detailed designs, such as those you might achieve with brushes or stencils, because it allows direct application onto the fabric.

Quality fabric paints are designed to be flexible, so they move with the fabric and resist cracking over time.

They usually offer vibrant, opaque colours, which makes them suitable for dark fabrics. They also don’t require a heat or chemical setting process in most cases. Still, some brands may recommend setting the colour with a hot iron for improved wash-fastness.

However, one of the downsides of fabric paint is that it can alter the “hand” or feel of the fabric, making it stiffer. Some brands offer “soft” fabric paints that aim to minimise this effect.

Fabric Dyes: A Deep, Fibre-Level Colouration

Fabric dyes, on the other hand, work by chemically bonding with the fabric fibres.

This means the dye penetrates into the fabric, resulting in a more ingrained and typically more wash-fast colour.

One of the biggest advantages of fabric dyes is that they leave the original feel of the fabric intact without altering its hand.

They’re also an excellent choice for larger projects or when you want to colour an entire piece of fabric. Techniques like tie-dyeing, batik, and shibori are best achieved with fabric dyes. Procion MX Fibre Reactive dye is perfect for these techniques. 

However, fabric dyes typically require more preparation and clean-up than fabric paints.

Some require setting in a hot or cold dye bath, while others employ a chemical process to set the dye.

Procion MX dye is, once again, an excellent choice for textile artists working on a smallish scale, as the process involves setting the colour in cold water. Be mindful that the colours may appear different before and after the setting process. 

Moreover, not all dyes work on all fabric types, and the resulting colours can be influenced by the fabric’s original colour and material.

The choice between fabric paint and fabric dye depends largely on the specific demands of your project, including the level of detail, the type of fabric you’re working with, and your desired final result.

Choosing the Right Fabric for Paints and Dyes

The success of your textile art project largely depends on choosing the right type of fabric.

Both fabric paints and dyes react differently to different materials, and understanding this can help you achieve the best results.

Best Fabrics for Paints

Fabric paints work well on a variety of materials. However, natural fibres like cotton, silk, and linen often deliver the best results, absorbing the paint well and allowing for bright, vibrant colours. In particular, cotton is a popular choice due to its affordability, availability, and the ease with which it accepts paint.

However, there are specific fabric paints designed for synthetic materials as well. These are often labelled as ‘multi-surface’ paints and can be used on fabrics like polyester and nylon, though the resulting colours may be less vibrant than on natural fabrics.

Before painting, ensure your fabric is pre-washed to remove any residue or finishes that might prevent the paint from adhering properly.

After painting, you should also heat-set the fabric if recommended by the paint manufacturer to ensure durability and wash fastness.

Best Fabrics for Dyes

Many types of fabric can be used with fabric dyes. However, as with fabric paints, you’ll get the best results using natural fibres such as cotton, silk, linen, and wool.

These fibres absorb dye well and can produce deep, vibrant colours. Cotton (especially PFD cotton – see below) is particularly well-suited to fibre-reactive dyes, while silk and wool can be effectively dyed using acid dyes.

Synthetic fabrics, on the other hand, require specific types of dyes. Polyester, for instance, is best dyed with dispersed dyes, while nylon can be dyed with acid dyes.

PFD or Prepared for Dyeing Fabric

“PFD” or “Prepared For Dyeing” fabric refers to textiles that have been specially treated to ensure they’re optimal for dye absorption.

This process involves the removal of any dirt, oil, starches, and finishes that might have been applied during the manufacturing process. These impurities can interfere with the dyeing process and lead to uneven colour or poor dye absorption.

PFD fabrics are usually a creamy white or off-white colour rather than the bright white of bleached fabrics. This lack of bleach means that the fabric is in a more natural state, which can also help to achieve better dyeing results.

This type of fabric is a popular choice among textile artists and hobbyists who want to dye their own fabrics, as it saves them from having to scour (clean) the fabric themselves.

It allows for more predictable and vibrant dye results, making it ideal for techniques like tie-dyeing, batik, shibori, and other methods that require precision and vibrant colour.

PFD fabrics are most commonly made from natural fibres like cotton, silk, and linen, which take dye well.

Although you can also find PFD versions of some synthetic and blended fabrics, it’s trickier to use and requires dyes specifically formulated for synthetic fabric.

PFD Fleece fabric is also commercially available. However, it is most often used by clothing manufacturers.

It’s important to choose a fabric that is suitable for the type of dye you plan to use. For example, if you’re using fibre-reactive dyes, you’ll want to choose a natural fabric like cotton or linen.

Always handle PFD fabric with clean hands and keep it away from any sources of dirt, oil or other dyed fabric that is still damp in order to maintain its dye-ready state.

After dyeing, the fabric should be thoroughly rinsed and washed according to the dye manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the removal of any excess dye.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Fabric Paints and Dyes

Selecting the right fabric paint or dye depends on various factors, including the type of fabric you’re working with, the desired effect, and the application technique. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Type of Fabric

Different paints and dyes work best on certain types of fabric. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure compatibility.

Colourfastness

For lasting results, choose paints and dyes with excellent colourfastness. These products will withstand washing and sunlight without fading.

Some dyes designed for general home use will often continue to bleed and lose colour intensity each time the fabric is washed.

Avoid using any dye that you cannot guarantee will be colourfast when making washable items such as clothing or bed quilts.

Intended Use

How you intend using the fabric after dyeing plays a significant role in choosing your fabric paint or dye.

Some dyes are prone to continued bleeding, even after being thoroughly washed. For items that will be regularly laundered, it’s best to use professional grade fibre-reactive dyes that permanently ‘fix’ the dye into the fabric.

Even then, be sure to pre-wash your fabric thoroughly to ensure that it will not continue to bleed.

You can safely use most fabric dyes and paints with projects that you have no intention of washing, such as art quilts, 3D fabric sculptures, and on.

Safety

Consider the safety of the product, especially if you’re working in a home environment. Opt for non-toxic paints and dyes when possible.

When using powdered dyes, in particular, wearing a respirator mask or other close-fitting face mask is recommended to prevent breathing in the fine powder particles.

Top 6 Best Fabric Paints

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Jacquard Lumiere Fabric Paint

Jacquard Lumiere Fabric Paints are absolutely gorgeous metallic iridescent fabric paints that spread smoothy and remain flexible and wash-fast when heat set and dry. You can create stunning effects on fabric and many other surfaces.

Lumiere paints are available in starter kits, such as the one displayed above, or in individual bottles.

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Top 5 Best Fabric Dyes

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Proper Storage of Fabric Paints and Dyes

Storing your fabric paints and dyes correctly is essential if you want to maximise their lifespan and ensure optimal performance. Improperly stored products can degrade, leading to reduced efficacy and colour vibrancy.

Here are some key tips for storing your fabric paints and dyes.

Storing Fabric Paints

Fabric paints are generally easy to store. Follow these guidelines to ensure their longevity:

• Close Containers Tightly: Ensure that the lids or caps on your fabric paints are securely tightened after each use to prevent the paint from drying out.
• Keep Containers Upright: Store your fabric paint bottles upright to prevent leaks and spills.
• Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Keep your fabric paints in a place with a stable, moderate temperature. Extreme cold can cause the paint to separate, while extreme heat can cause it to dry out or change consistency.
• Avoid Direct Sunlight: Sunlight can cause some paints to fade or change colour even while in the bottle, so keep your paints in a dark place when not in use.

Storing Fabric Dyes

Storing fabric dyes can be slightly more complicated, as different types of dyes have different storage needs. Here are some general guidelines:

• Seal Containers Well: Ensure your dye containers are well-sealed to prevent moisture from getting in. Most dyes are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture from the air, which can cause them to clump and become less effective.
• Store in a Cool, Dark Place: Like fabric paints, dyes should be stored in a cool, dark place. Light and heat can degrade the dye and reduce its effectiveness.
• Keep Powder Dry: If your dye is in powder form, it’s crucial to keep it dry. Any moisture can activate the dye, making it less potent when you come to use it.
• Follow Specific Manufacturer’s Instructions: Some dyes, especially those for synthetic fabrics, may have specific storage requirements. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure your dye stays in the best possible condition.

Remember, properly storing your fabric paints and dyes can significantly impact their performance and lifespan.

Always store your materials according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, and take the time to organise and care for your supplies.

It’s an investment that will pay off in the quality of your textile art.

Making the Best Choice of Fabric Paints and Dyes

With a range of fabric paints and dyes at your disposal, the potential for creating vibrant, long-lasting textile art is immense.

Fabric painting and dyeing opens up a whole world of opportunity for creating unique textile art — something every fibre artist strives to do. 

Always keep personal safety at the forefront of your mind when using fabric dyes and paints. Dyes in powder form, in particular, can become airborne, so I suggest wearing a respirator or, at the very least, a close-fitting dust mask when using the dye. 

Embrace the world of colour and let your imagination run wild with the best fabric paints and dyes for textile artists!