Christy Crafton, project editor for Country Sampler Decorating Ideas magazine, gives tips on using fabric dyes to stencil patterns on wood. Fabric dye applied to wood is brighter than colored wood stain, and unlike paint it allows the grain of the wood to show through. Christy stenciled a primitive flower design on a wooden cabinet, patterned after a quilt design. She recommends looking through books and magazines to find designs you like and then creating your own stencils. To make the stencil overlays necessary for an entire design, take your pattern (figure A) to a copy shop, and have the design transferred onto a special type of acetate that may be run through a copier (figure B). This is a good way to make sure that all the stencil overlays are the same. Use a craft knife to create the stencils, cutting out all same-color areas on each overlay. Stack the overlays, lining up the pattern lines on each, and cut tiny registration holes in each stencil so that each overlay may be accurately placed. Before you begin, sand the surface of the project piece very smooth. When applying fabric dye to wood with a stencil brush, make sure the brush is very dry. Dip the brush in the dye, then dab it on paper toweling to remove almost all of the dye. Lightly pounce the brush on the stencil (figure C). If any of the dye runs under the edge of the pattern, sand it off after it's dry. If you'd like tiny areas to remain uncolored, mask them with double-sticking tape. When the entire design has been stenciled, outline the patterns with artist-quality colored pencils to help define the edges (figure D), and seal the piece with several coats of polyurethane.
RESOURCES :
Country Sampler Decorating Ideas magazine
Project sheets are not available prior to 1997. No back issues prior to 1996 are available except for Jan/Feb 1996. Contact Country Sampler for back issue availability. Phone number is for subscription orders only. Fax number is for Country Sampler Group.
Country Sampler Inc. "Country Sampler's Decorating Ideas" Magazine
St. Charles, IL 60174
Phone: 630-377-8000 ext. 27
Fax: 630-377-8194
Email: country@sampler.com
Website: www.sampler.com
Fabric dyes and catalog
R. Harkness and Co., Ltd.
Hitchin, HertsSG4 OJT
England
Phone: 01462-420402
Fax: 01462-422170
Cold-water fabric dye
Prym-Dritz Corporation
Spartanburg, SC 29304-5028
Phone: 864-576-5050
Fax: 864-574-3847- custom
Email: amysummers@dritz.com
Website: www.dritz.com
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