Fabric Painting

Fabric Painting, From T-Shirts to Home Accessories

Fabric painting is a creative technique for turning ordinary fabric into an original work of art. Whether you’re decorating a T-shirt, bag, or pillowcase, you’ll find a complete range of fabric paints, stencils, dimensional paints, and fabric-painting supplies in this category.

What Will You Find in This Category?

• Fabric paints – for light and dark fabrics, in spray and tube form
• Fabric outline paints – for outlines and raised 3D details, such as Pentart Outline Paint
• Fabric stencils – for precise motifs without drawing
• Fabric pens – for lettering, outlines, and details
• Fabric to paint – cotton bags, aprons, and other pieces ready for painting
• Silk painting – silk paints and gutta outlines

Tips for Successful Fabric Painting

Before painting, place cardboard or parchment paper between the layers to keep paint from bleeding through. Heat-set the paints with an iron according to the package instructions. Wash inside out the first time, usually at up to 40 °C. Find the full step-by-step process in the guide Fabric Painting: How to Paint a T-Shirt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which fabric paints should I choose as a beginner?

To get started, try the MAMBO Kompozit Set of 9 × 20 ml or individual 50 ml Pentart paints. Both provide coverage on dark fabric and are easy to work with. They’re suitable for cotton and blended fabrics, and are wash-resistant after ironing, so your work will stay beautiful and retain its color for a long time.

Do I need to prepare the fabric in any special way before painting?

Yes, preparation is key. First, wash the fabric without fabric softener to remove any sizing residue that could prevent the pigment from absorbing. Once dry, iron the fabric thoroughly. If you’re painting a T-shirt, place cardboard or a pad inside to keep the paint from transferring to the other side. This helps prevent unwanted stains and ensures an even result.

How do I heat-set the paint properly so it doesn’t wash out?

Heat-setting is essential for durability. Once the paints are completely dry, usually after 24 hours, iron the motif through parchment paper or a thin cotton cloth. Set the iron to the cotton setting and go over each painted area for at least three to five minutes. With KREUL or PENTART brands, this step gives your work maximum resistance to machine washing.

Can I use fabric paints on a dark background?

For dark fabrics, you need paints with high coverage. Pentart 50 ml paints, Pebeo Setacolor Opaque, and MAMBO Kompozit, for example, provide coverage. These paints are thicker, and their pigments are designed to cover a dark background without losing intensity. You can also apply a white base coat before painting for even brighter results.

Can I mix fabric paints together?

Of course, mixing paints is a great way to create new shades. You can safely combine different paints from the same brand, such as PENTART paints with other PENTART paints. However, we don’t recommend mixing paints from different manufacturers, as their binders may have different compositions. This could affect their durability or how they behave on fabric fibers after ironing.

From our blog

Painting on fabric: How to paint a T-shirt step by step