| Silk-Screen Printing |
From "DIY Crafts"
episode DIC-154 |
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If you've ever wanted to try silk-screening but were discouraged by the time or expense, here's a simplified method. Vicki Payne, host of DIY Crafts, makes a silk-screened tablecloth. Materials:
Silk fabric
Silk-screen
Squeegee
Vellum
Pencil
Craft knife
Painter's tape
Design
Paper towels
Fabric paint in desired colors
- Draw the desired design on vellum, or transfer it by placing vellum over the design and tracing with a pencil. If required, draw a second layer of the stencil design (i.e., cutouts in a leaf pattern) on another piece of vellum. Cut out the designs with a sharp craft knife (figure A).
- Attach the first vellum design to the back of the silk-screen with painter's tape (figure B).
- Stack several paper towels on the work surface to absorb paint and provide a padded work area. Place silk fabric on top of the paper towels, and put the silk-screen on the fabric. Mark registration lines on the fabric at the four corners of the silk-screen so you can line up the second screen when you place it on top (figure C).
- Pour a generous amount of fabric paint onto the silk-screen along the top edge. Place the squeegee in the paint, and pull it slowly along the screen toward you at a 45-degree angle. Reverse the angle of the squeegee, and push it back to the top of the silk-screen in one continuous motion (figure D).
- Lift the silk-screen off the fabric, leaving the imprint of the design. Let the paint dry (figure E).
- Place a second silk-screen with the vellum cutout of the detail of the design taped to the bottom over the fabric, lining up the corners of the screen with the registration marks. If you have only one screen, clean off the first color of paint, tape the vellum piece with the design detail to the bottom of the silk-screen, and proceed.
- Repeat step 4 with a second color.
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