Embroidery Tinting - Adding colour to your embroidery

Embroidery tinting is the name given to the technique of adding additional colour to your embroidered work by using paint, crayons, etc. I have used this method a lot over the years and it is a lovely way to add another dimension to your work and experiment with materials.

In my embroidered piece 'Vita's Pale Owl' I used Copic markers to block in areas of colour but made them slightly off centre so they look almost screen printed and also matched the thread colour on the moon to the marker underneath so it gives a subtle textured look.

The effect you want to achieve and the end use of the embroidery will influence your choice of materials for embroidery tinting. I have selected eight different art materials you could use and have shown how they look when applied to a cream linen cotton mix fabric. I have also ironed the colours (shown on the right below) which is what you would be advised to do to fix the colour and lift any excess colour. I use a piece of scrap fabric between my iron and the colour so the colour doesn't transfer onto my iron plate.

*However if the embroidery is going to be laundered frequently (like on bedding or clothing) I would suggest using fabric paints or fabric pens as they are more reliably fixed with ironing whereas the other mediums might run of fade eventually.

With all the following materials I would suggest doing a test first on the fabric you intend to use and always use the colour cautiously (unless you are going for a more freestyle approach like shown below) You can always add more in layers but won't be able to remove it easily if you apply too much. Also have your fabric on a flat hard surface.

Another consideration is whether to apply the colour before or after you transfer your pattern onto your fabric. In the owl embroidery example I applied the colour after as I needed to see where the pattern lines were. However sometimes I apply loose washes of paint to create an abstract background and then trace my pattern on top of the applied colour or just make up a design taking my lead from the paint. This is a more experimental approach and is quite freeing creatively. See above example.

1) Coloured pencil (any brand) - This is my go to for adding small light touches of colour to a finished embroidery. I often use a light pink one to add blush cheeks on faces. Holding your fabric flat down on your surface; lightly rub your pencil so the fibres pick up the colour. You can build up the colour but I think it is best suited to adding pale colours in small amounts and can look a bit uneven in large areas especially on fabric like linen which has a noticeable weave.

2) Copic Ciao Alcohol marker - I really enjoy using these markers as they are relatively mess free and the tip helps to control the application of colour. It is good for filling in distinct areas of solid colour but the best way to use them is to start in the middle of the area and let the ink bleed before adding anymore. Also I always test the pen on the very edge of the fabric as the colour can look very different when applied to different fabrics.

3) Pebeo Setacolor Opaque Fabric Paint - As you would expect fabric paint is lovely to use for embroidery tinting. The colours are vibrant and work well with the weave of the fabric.

You will need to use a brush or stamp to apply it and this opaque type has a look similar to acrylic paint and is perfect for using on a dark coloured fabric. You use it in same way you would use any water based paint by diluting with water if you want to. They last a long time and are great fun also for children to use on t-shirts, canvas shoes etc.Just make sure you follow the instructions on the bottle about how to fix the colours permanently and the fabric will stay flexible.

4) Pebeo Setacolor Transparent Fabric Paint - This is the transparent version of the previous fabric paint and is best for light colour fabrics. I used this paint on the 'home' embroidery shown above and watered it down so it gave a watercolour look. I also used different colours together so they mixed on the fabric. This method is great for backgrounds and when you do not need to apply your colour in precise areas.If you want a really pale dyed look; you can spray the fabric with water first.

5) Ecoline Liquid Watercolour - These are a concentrated dye based watercolour ink which you use like regular watercolours. Apply with a brush. As you can see from my test the colour is very intense however as the colour is dye based I haven't used it much as I would be concerned about the colour fading too quickly. If you want to take the risk I would suggest making sure your embroidery is not hanging in direct sunlight as this will accelerate the fading.

6) Watercolour Paint (any artist brand) - Again using a brush, you will need to add water to your paint as you would using them on paper. You will get a more subdued colour from watercolour paint however it has a lovely vintage faded look I quite like for some projects. You can use them in an experimental fluid way like you can with the transparent fabric paint however I think the fabric paint still moves more easily on the fabric. So if you want to colour large areas the watercolour might not be as easy to use. Again I would suggest ironing your piece after it is fully dry however the colour might fade eventually if washed repeatedly.

7) Ecoline Brushpen - This is a pen version of the Ecoline Liquid watercolour so it is easy to apply the colour like the copic markers but you have to work carefully as the ink will spread quickly and sometimes unpredictably. You will also have to consider the same fading issues due to being dye based.

8) Crayola Crayon - This is similar to using a coloured pencil. You will need to rub the crayon onto your fabric and layer to create more intense colour. This is probably the most easily found and inexpensive art material however I think it can look a little patchy and uneven so personally don't use this method much. You might like the look though. After you have finished colouring; place a piece of paper between the fabric and a hot iron and press so the excess wax crayon is removed.

Of course there are many more art materials you could try and there is a product called Fabric Medium which is a substance you can add to paint such as acrylic paint so it can be more easily used on fabric. The above art materials are the most suitable I personally feel to add to embroidered pieces as they have a light feel and compliment the stitching.

I just want to reiterate my previous point; always try out your chosen medium onto the fabric before diving in as you want to see how it behaves on the fabric and see how the colour looks.

I hope you found this helpful and if you have any favourite art materials you use to colour tint your embroideries I'd love to hear about them.

Cassandra xxx