If you're looking to add some personality and creativity to your embroidery project, fabric paints and fabric fine tip markers are excellent tools to consider. Both are versatile and easy to use, but they each have their own strengths and weaknesses that I want to share with you based on my personal experience.
You want to consider fabric painting or fabric markers if you want to experiment with mixing different mediums in your embroidery projects. Fabric paints or fabric markers, in combination with threads of various thicknesses, can help you create depth in your embroidery design. However, there are few things to consider before starting your new embroidery project using fabric paints or fabric markers.
Fine Tip Fabric Markers
Let's start with fabric fine tip markers. The main advantage of these markers is that they have a fine tip, which allows for greater control over the lines you draw on your fabric. This is especially important if you're creating detailed designs or lettering as seen in the portrait of Ada Lovelace above. Additionally, fabric markers dry quickly, so you don't have to worry about smudging your design.
However, one of the downsides of fabric markers is that they are not very good for shading or blending colors. If you're looking to create a design with different shades of the same color or a gradient effect, where colors blend smoothly, fabric markers may not be the best choice. Another thing to keep in mind is that fabric markers can stain thread, so it's best to apply them before adding any threads to your fabric. And also be careful with accidentally staining the fabric outside of your design area because the marker stain will be difficult to remove.
Fabric Paints
Now let's talk about fabric paints. One of the biggest advantages of fabric paint is that it's great for shading and blending colors. You can mix different colors to create your own unique shades. For example, you can use a brush to create a watercolor effect, or you can use a sponge or stencil to create a pattern.