Printed T-Shirts and Sarongs with Sea Stars and Sea Horses

Printed Fabrics How-To

Use this technique on pillowcases, shirts, and sarongs. Print with rubber forms or beach finds (such as shells). Mix paints to find a shade that suits the fabric.

1. Cover your work surface with a few layers of old towels (for shells and sea stars) or with paper (for forms).

2. Brush fabric paint onto part or all of 1 object using a sponge brush.

3. Print shells and sea stars: Lay fabric flat; press object as if it were a rubber stamp. (Towels allow for some give, yielding a detailed impression.)

Print forms: Lay fabric on form; press with fingers. Remove fabric.

Let set according to paint manufacturers instructions.

Tips: Test on scrap fabric. For a sarong, cut fabric to size (ours was 44 by 66 inches). Finish with a rolled hem: Turn edge over, and secure with tiny stitches. Wash objects with warm water and dishwashing liquid after printing.