Beginner's - ArtTrader Magazine

Art TRADER
m a g a z i n e
Fabric ATCs 101
Or the Demystification of Fabric!
by Sharon Safranyos
What makes a fabric ATC different from any other ATC? Nothing
except that the medium is fabric rather than paper, pencil, or
paint. So why is fabric art so scary? I guess for the same reason
watercolor painting is so scary to me! Fabric art is different , and
you have not used it before. The terminology and sheer volume
of terms can also be intimidating: Cottons and man made fibres,
wool and other fibres to wet felt, needle felt, painting on silk, dying
silk, heat distressing, and more. If you are not familiar with fabric
and how it behaves it, it can be very scary. Fear not! Read on
and see the possibilities fabric has to offer the ATC artist.
How do I make an ATC base?
There are many choices for creating the base of a fabric ATC.
Most fabric needs a stabilizer of some sort if you are going
to be doing any stitching on the card. Stabilizers can be as
simple as freezer paper ironed onto the back of the fabric, or
the specialized stabilizers used in machine embroidery. One of
the stiffest products you can use is the stiffener used in curtain
making; it can be purchased from fabric stores and is usually
called buckram. Fabric stores also sell a most useful product
known as iron-on adhesive, there are many brands and many
can be used in ATCs. Misty-Fuse is another iron-on adhesive
produced more for quilters, it is great to use on silk as it doesn’t
leave any adhesive marks.
What do I use to make the card?
I can hear you say, “But I don’t have a stash of fabric!” I admit it, I do
have a fabric stash. I have fabric in bins and boxes and drawers,
but I have been addicted to fabric for many many years! You
don’t need a huge stash, and you don’t need to spend a fortune
in a fancy fabric store to make fabric ATCs. You can use clothes
the kids have grown out off, cut off legs from jeans, or finds from
a thrift store. Even the Dollar Store may have goodies you had
never though of: lace placemats, bandanas and tea-towels. Any
fabric can be used with a little imagination: plain cotton, printed
cotton, wool, lace denim, silk, ultrasuede, and velvet. You can
stamp on it, paint on it as well as stitch it!
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