Coloring Fabric and Giveaway

Some of you know that I’m a quite a fan of Caran D’ Ache Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastels. If you’ve taken my leaf painting class you may already know how fun these wax pastels are to use on fabric. I have used them in some of my videos and lessons.

Recently I played around and made a few pieces of fabric. I have to add that even though we get an average 266 sunny days a year here, I picks a gray day to color these fabrics. I mention that because had I been able to set the pieces in the sun I would have gotten different results; drying faster, maybe lighter finishes, better sunprint type results, and more pieces of fabric. Still, it was a lot of fun and for the most part I’m pleased with the results.

I’ll be giving these pieces away (one fabric packet) in a random sweepstakes drawing – See below for entry information.

I’m working on top of a piece of plexi-glass (acrylic sheet) so I have a hard, slick surface that I can move around as needed. Actually pieces may look slightly different in person and they are approximately 11 inches on the shortest side. Please excuse any light glare.

  • Pastel rubbed on dry plexi-glass.
  • Pastel sprayed with water then fabric set on top of it.
I rubbed more pastel under fabric and sprayed water on top then let it dry.
  • Found mess packing paper placed under fabric
  • Dry fabric rubbed with two different green pastels for a textured look.
  • Sprayed with water and rubbed more pastel across.
  • Pulled paper out, stretched it and placed on top, set the paper covered fabric under a lamp for a “sun print”.
Finished piece
  • Wet fabric on wet plexi and dragged pastel across causing ripple marks in the fabric
  • This is the rippled fabric, next add splatters
  • Get the round brush and pastel very wet then drip and flick the wet pigment off of the pastel onto the fabric.
  • Finished pieces with ripples and splatters

This is my favorite result but sadly the finished photo isn’t very good…

  • Black pastel and wet fabric to make gray wrinkles
  • Scribble on the plexi and use the wet fabric to mop it up. Cover fabric completely with pastel.
  • Squish the fabric up for drape type wrinkles
  • This is the fabric dried and pressed completely flat. It is actually a nice gray color, photo doesn’t do it justice.

I can think of many ways to use these little fabric pieces and I’m sure you can too.

Sweepstakes/giveaway begins February 10, 2021 and ends at 9pm (Pacific Time) February 16, 2021.

To enter: You must live in the US only (no international entries). One entry per person. Leave a comment stating that you would like to win the fabric packet and include your first and last name (or last initial).

On February 16, 2021, I’ll use a random drawer and announce the winner on my next blog post. Winner will email me their mailing information and I will mail the fabric packet ASAP. If I don’t hear from the winner within five days of drawing date, I will run another random draw.

Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

By Ann Scott

I started sewing and designing using fabric, thread, and paper when I was a child. I taught myself to make quilts, at first not following the "rules," then watched some experts, learned the rules, and made many hand quilted and appliqued quilts. I spent years focusing on miniature landscape quilts. Now I am a fiber and mixed media artist and that encompasses everything I have a passion for. I have taught, lectured, and my work have show nationally and internationally, some pieces have been published.

26 comments

  4. This looks like fun, and I like the way the pieces turned out. Thank you for sharing, and of course I would love to win a packet!

  7. Obviously our minds are running along similar lines. Thanks for stretching my ideas for use of these oil pastels. I’m not entering your contest as I have plenty of pastels to make my own cloth.

  8. I would like to win the fabric packet. Your fabrics are lovely – I especially love the crinkled grey fabric, it looks like a wonderful illusion!

  15. I love the textures and blended fabrics with the crayons. Please include this request for the fabric give away packet. Thank you for sharing fun ideas.

  18. Hi Ann,
    Really enjoy your various techniques, using that webbed paper packing piece, and the small splatters of contrasting colors. Would love to win a fabric package; they would inspire me to go in some different directions. Thanks, Naomi

  23. love the fabrics and how the colors change in different light…would love to win the packet!!

  25. Ann, I really like the black/grey one that looks wrinkled but really ironed flat. I’ve been dyeing fabric. Just tried avocado skins last night.

    I just found you and how to post.
    Can a picture be attached or just text?

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