Water Colour Pencils

Shading on fabric with water-colour pencils is a relatively quick and easy way to give depth and dimension to your work.  You don't need to be an artist to create beautiful work, if you have a pattern with which to work.  

Simply add colour using the pencils, (mixing several colours if you wish), rub it into the fabric with your finger, moisten with a wet paint brush, then heat set with the iron.  If you wish, you can also add a textile medium (e.g. JoSonja textile medium, available at craft shops). However, we have found that heat setting is usually sufficient to make the colours last.  If your work is to be washed, as in a quilt, we suggest very gentle washing, with no soaking, just as you would wash a cashmere sweater.

It is suggested that you add the basic colour to the design before working the embroidery, as this avoids the problem of having the colour seeping into the threads and discolouring them.  However, taking care with the amount of water used will usually avoid that problem.  

Once you have worked your embroidery, you can add more colour, as in backgrounds to scenes, etc, as you will have the feel for where to add colour and what colour to add.

It is best to go lightly with colour, as you can't remove it easily.  Add more later if needed.

The pencils are Derwent, and they are a set of 24 pencils, packed in a tin.

Scroll down to see the effects in some blocks in one of our embroidered quilts ("An English Country Garden"), and to order your pencils.

Kit Price: $49.00