Handpainting fabric : easy, elegant techniques

In "Handpainting Fabric", authors Michelle Newman and Margaret Allyson show readers how to use readily available paints, dyes and art supplies - along with simple, innovative techniques - to create stylish wearables and eye-catching accents for the home.

Following an overview of basic materials and tools, readers will learn practical tips for composition and layout, along with advice for adapting visual references from nature, ethnic traditions, exotic locations and ancient cultures.

The techniques chapters present step-by-step lessons in painting, dyeing, discharge, printing, using wax resists and creating special effects on a variety of fabrics, including silks, velvets and sheers.

Examples of fun and elegant clothing (scarves, wraps, vests, skirts) and decorative accents (pillows, throws, curtains) provide ideas for using embellished fabrics creatively.

A chapter on adding stylish details such as linings, tassels and fringes is also included.