How to Make a Permanent Crayon Drawing on Fabric

Turn your child's crayon drawing into wearable art.

A crayon drawing evokes a sense of the comforts of childhood, whether the drawing was kid-created or not. While paper is the traditional medium on which to use crayons, you can also draw on fabric. In order to create a permanent drawing on fabric, you need the right type of crayon. Make your own drawing on fabric to show off your artistic skills, whether on a T-shirt, pillow or other cloth item.

Things You'll Need

• 2 thin sheets of paper
• Fabric crayons
• Newspaper
• White paper
• Iron

Instructions

1. Color your design with fabric crayons onto a thin piece of paper such as standard printer paper or newsprint to create a dye sheet. A dye sheet allows you to transfer the picture from paper onto fabric. Draw the picture on the paper in the same way you would use regular crayons. Brush any loose crayon crumbs off the paper as carefully as possible when done.

2. Arrange a layer of newspaper as big as the fabric piece and cover with a layer of white paper. Place a piece of fabric on top of the white paper layer. Use synthetic fabric such as nylon or polyester or a fabric blend that consists mainly of synthetic fibers as this produces the best results with fabric crayons.

3. Turn over your completed dye sheet, and place it facedown onto the fabric in the spot where you want the drawing to appear. Place an additional sheet of paper on top of it.

4. Set the iron to a temperature appropriate for your fabric type. Allow at least five minutes for the iron to heat to the proper temperature.

5. Press the iron onto the paper, applying slow and steady pressure to the different areas of the drawing. Avoid swiping the iron and instead, lift it to move to a different section of the paper. Cover all areas of the drawing to complete the transfer to the fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• While fabric with permanent crayon drawings can be washed as normal, do not put it in the dryer.

References

• Dye Man: Fabric Crayons