Questions about crayon on fabric

17 years ago

When I joined the swap for crayon cats, I got really excited. I've always wanted to color on fabric like I saw on a really old quilt from the 30's where the lady colored in the flowers and leaves of the blocks she first embroideried.

I have done probably four of the cat blocks. I have thrown all of them out. Except one my great niece grabbed and we made a pillow from.

Anyway, I went to Wal-Mart and picked up the fabric Crayons.

I traced the picture onto the freezer-backed fabric, and colored.

My black turns purple and the crayons flake so bad it ends up on the rest of the block when I iron them.

I have tried not coloring so heavily but the colors are too light when ironed. Not pretty at all.

I even tried coloring the picture on paper then ironing onto the fabric, it turned out really light, so I recolored it then set it and there was my flakes and black turning purple.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me to get clear bright colors without the flaking crayon getting all over the block and messing it up and getting a truier color.

What am I doing wrong?

I really want this to look like the ones Red did, but mine are awful!

Thanks for any help you can give me.

doris=^.^=

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Comments (12)

biwako_of_abi
17 years ago
I'm not in this swap, and I don't know about the directions for the Wal-Mart crayons, but years ago when I colored pictures for a quilt, I put a Kleenex-type tissue over the picture before ironing it. That way, the wax doesn't move around on the picture but gets absorbed by the tissue. As for the colors being too light and the black changing to purple, I myself would love to know of some crayons that have nice strong colors the way they used to be. It seems to me that even Crayolas, which in my childhood were the best, are now too full of wax to deliver good color.
redpenny
17 years ago
doris,
What you need to do is place a paper towel over the picture before ironing it.Also to make the colors stronger you need to recolor after each time you iron.....also dont move your iron around crayons to me aren't made like they were years ago........I colored mine 3 times......LoL hope this helps
also I used fabric pens I bought at Joann's
Red
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I do miniquilts every year with my school children. I have them draw their pictures (without coloring them) and then I use a black fabric marker and a make shift light box to trace their designs onto the cloth backed with freezer paper ironed on first. Then I have them use regular crayolas to color. I don't worry about how thickly they color, it works so well no matter what density. I do set the crayon with the iron after putting the cloth between a layer of plain paper towels. These are meant to be little wallhangings and don't get washed a lot but I've seen examples of quilts that were prepared that way and were washed and the fading was minimal. The quilter even used glitter crayons on one piece! I've demonstrated this at our local quilt show and even some grownups come over to color the samples! Good luck, Kelly PS I've used the permapress white muslin from WalMart. It fit my budget and worked well.
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kathi_mdgd
17 years ago
You can use plain old Crayola crayons and those work the best IMHO.Make sure you shake off the excess crayon flakes b4 you iron it and yes do put a paper towel over it before PRESSING,Not ironing.I'd also cover my ironing board with a piece of muslin,an old sheet or whatever you have on hand.We did this one time at my quilting guild and they turned out very nice.
Kathi

PS we had also ironed freezer paper to our fabric first b4 coloring.and some of the ladies laid theirs on very fine sand paper.
laurainsdca
17 years ago
I haven't started mine yet, though I THINK I've picked out the picture...

I just bought regular crayons.

I was at the Quilt/Craft/Sew fair in Del Mar last weekend and they had a booth with BEAUTIFUL very INTENSELY colored wall hangings. When you walked up close, it was all crayon. I think they were using regular crayons. I don't recall anything about special crayons.
csackett
17 years ago
I have bought fabric crayons. They were ok, but regular crayons work just as well and you have a better selection on colors. I put paper towels over my pictures then if they end up too light I keep adding color until I get what I want. I think it makes a beautiful block. I'm always on the lookout for good children's coloring books.
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new2quilting
17 years ago
I used freezer paper and then traced the pattern onto muslin with pencil, went over it with Pigma pen and then colored directly on the fabric with regular Crayola crayons. I just colored darkly, then put a paper towel between the crayon and iron and ironed to get the wax out. The colors came out pretty vibrant. I had a little bit of running, but I also may have colored out of the lines (I'm out of practice on my coloring!) --Amy
deannabsd
17 years ago
Hello all--
This is what worked for me. I ironed my muslin on the freezer paper and I had my picture of my cat drawn out on paper and just eye balled it to the muslin using a pigmy pen. I then colored(leave the freezer paper on) with crayola crayons and pressed hard at times and other times left them lighter. I did not have any crayon flakes. I then took off the freezer paper and put a layer of paper towel on top of the muslin and set the iron on and got some wax out. It doesn't come out in great gobs. I made my cats quite large as it was easier to draw then a small one. Each of mine has some perfections believe me!!! I hope it goes better for you. Hope you aren't being too hard on yourself. Deanna
deannabsd
17 years ago
Also,
I would use crayola crayons as from experience with just coloring they are better. The others seem too waxy and that may be the problem. Good luck. D
ddavisgray
Original Author
17 years ago
Ok, today I'm taking my supplies with me to Mom's and trying it again.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
I've been using the Crayola Fabric Crayons; I'm taking my regular crayons with me to try.

I traced with pencil; I'll trace then outline with pigma pen.

I also pressed/ironed with regular paper over the picture (I have no idea why); I'm taking paper towel to use for setting.

I'll let you guys know how things go.

Thanks again.

doris=^.^=
nana24
17 years ago
Hi You All,
I've done some of this with my grandchildren. We did use regular crayola crayons. I used unprinted news print paper to put on my ironing board to protect it and over the piece to protect my iron. It worked really well.
I got it by going to the local newspaper and asking for the end of the rolls. (I orginally got it for packing to move). They will sometimes give it to you or sell it for a small price.

Doris , I suspect you are being too hard on yourself.
Have fun with it!
Sally
maryliz
16 years ago
I have always wanted to do something with crayons. That's another one of my "someday" pile, which keeps growing!
Terri Thompson
last year
I have a question. My mother colored her name on Muslim when she was a little. I. Ended up with the piece and I want to frame it. It is heavily creased from the fabric being folded. I want to iron the creases out but am afraid it will mess up the coloring. Can I press it with the paper towel method you all have talked about. This piece is probably 80-85 y/o. It is perfect condition.

Questions about crayon on fabric

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