Tutorials


Over the years, as I play and experiment, my methods evolve and change.  I plan to use this page to add links to PDF's I have created, or to my most searched for posts. These should make it easier to find the most complete and current information on my site.  I will continue to add more categories, so check back often. 



Link to a PDF ....... Printing on Fabric and my homemade Bubble Jet Set solution

Link to a PDF........Applique, my favourite method


Cutting Paper Snowflakes and more papercutting

Doodles....How I do them

Doodles....the steps of the process and Video

Sun-Printing...The Basics

Doodled/Painted Hexagons and Doodled/Painted Hexagons part 2

Cathedral Windows (in the round)

I am still sorting out how this all works, so please let me know if you find  that a link is not working. Thanks




11 comments:

Unknown said...

Thanks for the print-on-fabric tutorial. One more question: if I have un-used solution and I want to save it in a mason jar, do I have to heat it back up again next time (like in the microwave)? when creating it, the recipe called for very hot water, so is heat essential for this to work? what is your experience with this? thank you very much

Quilt Rat said...

Yes, you can save the unused solution to use again..no need to heat it. Hot water is needed originally to thoroughly dissolve the alum and soda ash.

Over time the solution will become cloudy, may even separate, just shake it up to mix well. I have reused old solution but since it is inexpensive to make,rather than storing it, I simply make a fresh batch when I need more "printable" fabric sheets.

Unknown said...

Thanks!!

Eena said...

Thanks so much for this comprehensive tutorial!

However, just one point - could you give the actual
actual chemical names and/or formulas for alum and soda ash, to help international readers obtain the correct chemicals?

for instance, no food shop in the UK sells alum. I must get it from a pharmacy or chemical merchant, and tell them which alum I want. As a plant dyer, I am familiar with KAl(SO4)2 in the dodecahydrate form, which I know as 'alum mordant' or potassium alum.

Is this the alum to which you refer, or is it the ammonium alum, or perhaps the soda alum? Or even one of the (many!) other alums?

Nevertheless, I look forward to trying out your recipe soon, using KAl(SO4)2 and Na2CO3 as 'alum' and 'soda ash'.

Thanks again!

Quilt Rat said...

I had no idea that Alum would present such a problem in other parts of the world.

I don't know anything about chemical composition, I just know that the alum I purchase at the grocer, used for pickling is what works for me. I did grab the following info from web sources

hope this helps
-----------------------------------

Alum is potassium aluminum sulfate and it is used in pickling.

Alums have many uses, but they have been partly supplanted by aluminum sulfate itself, which is easily obtainable by treating bauxite ore with sulfuric acid. The commercial uses of alums mainly stem from the hydrolysis of the aluminum ions, which results in the precipitation of aluminum hydroxide. This chemical has various industrial uses. Paper is sized, for example, by depositing aluminum hydroxide in the interstices of the cellulose fibres. Aluminum hydroxide adsorbs suspended particles from water and is thus a useful flocculating agent in water-purification plants. When used as a mordant (binder) in dyeing, it fixes dye to cotton and other fabrics, rendering the dye insoluble. Alums are also used in pickling, in baking powder, in fire extinguishers, and as astringents in medicine

mary said...

Thank-you so very much on the print to fabric tutorial. I am having problems keeping the printed fabric from fading when I am rinsing it. any suggestions.
Mary

Quilt Rat said...

Hi Mary.....since our printers and inks may not be the same, I don't know what your results might be compared to mine.
I can only try to give you some suggestions for minimizing the fading you are getting. Try using a small amount of Retayne or Bubble Jet Set rinse in the rinse water, be sure you have allowed sufficient time from the printing process to the rinsing. Try turning up the saturation on your image (print darker than wanted colour) then perhaps the fading will leave you with the desired effect. Be sure you are using soda ash and not washing soda in your solution.
good luck!

mary said...

Thanks for the suggestions. I have actually tried them all, however I was only using a drop or two of Retayne. I am going to prep some squares and will let you know. I will use a bit more Retained to see if that helps.
Mary

Unknown said...

Hello Jill
I absolutely love your paper cut designs and would love to do them in embroidery. Is it possible to down load the patterns via the internet and what charge would there be, as I am more than happy to pay for them

Quilt Rat said...

Hi Carol, unfortunately you are set as a "no reply" blogger so I cannot respond....perhaps you could try emailing me directly? You will find my contact info on my "About me" page

Anonymous said...

My friend used soda wash and her's did not fade. However she also put a small amount of fabric soften to her mix that she made.

Copyright Jill Buckley