How to Make Primitive Crafts - Aging Fabric
Primitive crafts (also known as prim crafts) are a hot segment in the crafting world. They are great crafts to make for home decor, for gifts, to sell - whatever you want to do with them. There are several steps in how to make primitive crafts. You have to have a design (patterns are available online), you need to know the proper stitches (not hard,
my friend Niki can help you!) and the proper fabric. What's special about the fabric? To have an authentic primitive craft feel, you need to age your fabric. Here's an article about aging fabric, one step in how to make primitive crafts.
How to Give Your Crafts the Aged Look
by Niki Jackson, "The Vintage Artist"
There are a few ways you can stain your fabrics to give an aged primitive look, here is one method - the tea or coffee method.
You will need:
- Instant Coffee or tea granules
- Hot Water
- Large plastic bowl or bucket
- Rubber gloves
Instructions:
-
Fill a clean bowl or bucket with hot water and 2-3 tablespoons of instant coffee or tea granules. Allow to brew!
-
After a minute or two put some rubber gloves on and put your fabric into the solution. Please use gloves as the mixture will be very hot.
-
Making sure to cover both sides of the fabric. You can leave it in there to give a dark look or take it out now.
-
Before drying you must ring out your fabric to get the excess liquid out.
Other tips:
If you want a grubby prim look place your fabric on a foiled baking sheet and place in the oven on a very low heat. Make sure you keep an eye on it so it does not burn. Once dry, take it out to cool.
Or if you don't want to use your oven you can stick your stained fabric in the airing cupboard, on a radiator or out in the sun if it is a hot day. Make sure you use something underneath it so it doesn't stain any of your clothes or towels you have in there.
Always keep an eye on your fabric so it does not burn or get damaged in anyway.
Now you have aged fabric ready to complete your project.
This process can be done after you have stitched a design on to your fabric or before. You can scent and age a big batch of fabric at a time if you wish or do one project at a time.
© 2006 Niki Jackson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Artist and Show Host, Niki Jackson, "The Vintage Artist", hosts the only primitive crafting internet radio show and podcast on the internet. Get your FREE primitive crafting tips and weekly show updates now at: http://www.primtalkradio.com/ezine.htm.
Are you a primitive crafter? If so, we'd love to see your work - or if you have a how to make primitive crafts article, feel free to submit your crafts anytime. We'll feature you :)!
|
