https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/speedball-screen-printing-nativity-pillow • Posted by PinkWeeds
I wanted to make an embroidered pillow with the words Star of Wonder Star of Night with a Nativity inside the star. So when Cat contacted me to see if I would test out the Speedball's Screen Printing Kit I knew it would be perfect for my Christmas pillow.
I wanted to make an embroidered pillow with the words Star of Wonder Star of Night with a Nativity inside the star. So when Cat contacted me to see if I would test out the Speedball's Screen Printing Kit I knew it would be perfect for my Christmas pillow.
This is a project that requires prep steps. To begin with wash your screen with soapy water and a scrub brush and set to dry. It doesn't take as long as you expect.
Press your fabric so it lays nice and flat and you have a smooth surface to work on.
You can print out your template or sketch it or trace it off the screen (which is what I did since my printer is out of order). Lay your screen down on top of your pattern and trace it onto your screen using a soft led pencil.
I chose to use the screen filler method. You need to stir it to get it mixed well to before you use it. Luckily the kit comes with a few sticks perfect for this. Note: you'l want to wear rubber gloves when stirring and from this point forward until your print is done.
Paint your screen filler onto your screen wherever you don't want your fabric paint to go. This takes a bit of time so be patient.
You'll see some splots all over your screen when you've finished. You need to flip your screen over without letting the reverse side set on the table to try to fix those splots. This is where I got creative and used 4 thumb tacks that I just pressed into the frame so I could flip my frame over without it touching the newspaper. Go back over the splotches with a brush so that they don't leave large drips of screen filler on the back side of the screen.
Let your screen dry completly (they suggest 24 hours, I think I waited 12) before checking for pin holes or any areas you may have missed. I decided to not chance it and just went back and recovered the whole screen with screen filler again. Again let dry completly before you can use it for your screen print.
Lay your fabric out flat on top of some cardboard. Place your screen on top and drip some of your fabric paint across the top of your image.
Use the squeegee to spread your paint downwards through the screen. Repeat until you've worked the paint through your image fully.
The instructions at this point get really fuzzy so I just went ahead and removed the screen from my fabric. I'm pretty sure this was where I resolted in a few splotches that shouldn't have been there. Either that or it was from my 2 year old checking out what I was doing. Set aside where no one can get it for at least 24 hours to dry.
Next I picked out two colors of embroidery floss I liked and used them interchangably as I free handed the embroidery using a satin stitch. The lettering is by no means perfect but I realy actually like that it's not perfect.
Give your fabric another good pressing to help stabelize the screen print and embroidery.
Lay your front and back fabrics right sides together and sew all the way around, leaving only a small opening large enough for you to comfortably place your hand in.
Turn right side out, press and add your stuffing.
Lastly use a needle and thread to do a small whip stitch to close up your opening and you're done!