Supply list for Monoprinting Fabric
email Linda@lindagermain.com with questions
Supplies for Making the printing plate:
- 3 Boxes of Gelatin (a total 3 oz )(85 g) of powdered gelatin)
- (you can find this in the grocery store-baking section)
- note each box generally has 4 packets and it takes all 4 packets to equal 1 oz
- 12 oz of glycerin (355 ml) that is 2 – 6 oz bottles
- (You can find this at Walmart or CVS, pharmacy, druggist or online)
- (ask a sales person – it may in the skin care aisle)
- a shallow approximately 9” x 13” pan (22 cm x 33 cm) – cookie sheet (dollar store)
Optional but good to have: a piece of fine cheese cloth, tarlatan, or old panty hose have worked for some people to strain the reconstituted gelatin.
Things you probably already have that you will need to gather
- Level counter top or surface * very important
- Rubber spatula to gently stir the ingredients
- Bowl large enough to hold 4 cups (946 ml) of fluid
- Measuring cup
- a straw or coffee stirrer (save one or two from a trip to the coffee shop)
Minimum supplies that you will need for printing:
- 4” SOFT rubber brayers least one – But 2 – 4 of varying sizes would be more convenient
- I like this soft foam brayer from Hobby Lobby, but it is hard to find. It has a smooth surface.
- Baren (or flat bottom object to burnish with)
- Palette knives or wooden craft sticks to get ink out of container and mix
- 2 Plexi glass palette or flexible chopping mats for ink and the gelatin plate
- Spray bottle for water
- Newsprint or copy paper – great ink pickups
- Plastic page protector
- Slightly padded printing surface. This could be a smooth blanket and table.
- Fabric of your choice that is washed and dried and ready for printing. I would recommend inexpensive white cotton. I often use 100% cotton sheets from the thrift store. The more fabric you have the better. I would have 2 to 3 full size sheets or 3 or 4 yards to start with. You can always get more if you need it.
- Screen Print Ink of your choice.
- Versatex screen printing inks – 4 0z jars – a variety of colors. The metallics have not worked very well for me. These inks have good consistency. They are not too stiff and not too fluid. They roll up on the brayer, to the plate and then to the tools and fabric with a good ink coverage. If you have inks or paints that are too stiff or too fluid they may not be able to hold the details, marks or impressions. OR
- Jaquard textile paint works pretty well too. OR
- Speedball acrylic screen printing ink for fabric is another option. OR
- I use Createx acrylic color – the squeeze jar is convenient
- Other paints and inks can be used please read my blog post about my experience with different inks for gelatin printing on fabric.
- Freezer paper – optional can be found in the grocery store.
- Piece of plexi glass or acrylic block about 8” x 10” or old cd case (clear is better)
Basic art supplies
- scissors
- pens, pencils
- masking tape
- exacto knife and fresh blades
- self healing cutting mat or other surface that you usually cut on
Enjoy a short slideshow of some student’s monoprints on fabric.
Monoprintng on Fabric – Student work from Linda Germain on Vimeo.
Go back to the Monoprinting Fabric Workshop information page.