Marbling Tools and Supplies
Marbling Size
- Methylcel or carrageenan.
Mordant
- Fabric is treated with a mordant so that paints adhere to fibers. Without a mordant, most paint would wash off. You'll use alum as a marbling mordant.
Acrylic Paints
- I like Golden Fluid Acrylics. They float easily and produce vivid colors without leaving a heavy film on the fabric. (Buy Direct)
Patterning Tools
- Construct simple marbling combs and rakes by inserting nails or heavy T-pins through strips of wood. Professional marbling combs are available.
Marbling Tray
- The tray must be long and wide enough to hold the fabric. A plastic storage box, available at most discount stores, makes a pretty decent starter tray. Find one that holds at least a fat quarter of fabric (which measures about 18" x 22").
Tray Options:
- Construct a wooden tray and seal it with polyurethane to make it waterproof.
- Dick Blick offers an inexpensive 2" deep tray (Buy Direct[/link).
- Talas has a [link url=http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_specific.cfm?ClientID=15&ProductID=18045]professional marbling tray
.
Other Supplies
- 1/2" round wooden dowels
- Non sudsy ammonia if using methylcel. Shake the bottle. If it sudses, don't buy it. Check the label to be sure it does not contain surfactant.
- Vinegar
- Paper towels
- T-pins or sturdy straight pins; long nails; drill or glue gun
- Scrap strips of wood the width and length of your tray
- Electrical tape
- Distilled water
- Old newspapers
- Plastic squeeze bottles like the ones used to dye hair. Wide openings are best.
- 3-4 Buckets (often free from grocery deli departments)
- Iron and temporary ironing pad
- Cotton fabric
