Gwen recommends using artist acrylic paints and diluting them to the texture of pouring cream. If you don’t have artist acrylic paints, that's OK. You can use any paints, inks or pens to make marks on your fabric. The results that you get may differ, but this is your artwork so enjoy some experimentation.
If you want your work to be washable, you will need to mix your artist acrylic paints with a fabric medium, or you can use fabric paints (these might need setting with heat, so check out the instructions).
It may be worth testing the consistency of your paint out first. If you find the paint layer is too thick for stitching into, there are still some ways you can work with it. Try softening the paint by running the fabric through the washing machine, or turn the paint marks into a focal point by stitching around them. You can also appliqué over areas of paint that you can't stitch through.
Continue your journey in stitch…
If you’ve been inspired by Stitch Camp with Gwen Hedley, maybe you’d relish the chance to learn from other renowned artists from all over the world?
The TextileArtist.org Stitch Club is a monthly membership designed to help you expand your textile technique toolkit, get creative on a regular basis and develop the way you make textile art.
Click here to find out more or register for Stitch Club