If grad school we used a algae based pigment to make paints to paint on
canvas and any other fabric. The mix was mixed up to look like pearly soap
then the pigment was added. The color was heat set and permenant when
completely dry. Completely laundry friendly once heat set.
Check your local fabric store. I know that Walmart has a wide variety of
long furry materials, and by the yard at regular width. I saw various colors
and definetely "cat" colors and patterns. If you don't find the exact
pattern or need slight variations on one pattern, the fur can be painted
with acrylic paint, but it will need to be very watered down. Blow dry to
make it really permenant. I learned that when my daughter painted on some of
her stuffed animals. I don't know if dye will work but I guess that would be
according to the fiber content.
Attaching it to lycra or stretchable fabrics is usually done with fabric
glue in a bottle. In certain areas that have more stretch, you might want to
place velcro dots and attach fur after the person has the costume on.
Otherwise the lycra will get small and the fur stay large. Most of the fur
fabrics do not stretch more thatn a tiny bit. How it affects the stretch is
determined by where it is on the dancer/performer.
Note of fur: BEFORE you dut the fur, seal the edges with FrawCheck. (or
super glue). Be prepared with a hand vac or lint brush. That furry hairy
stuff makes quite a mess when cut. It'll get on your face and make you
sneeze. Loose little bits can be picked up with the sticky side of duct
tape, too. I do just about all of this to keep the flying fur (sorry about
that) to a minimum.
Remove all fur before drying. DO NOT PUT FAUZ FUR in a dryer. It melts the
fur into little stiff puffs. Brushing it out does not remove the damage or
return it to the orginial condition. I now air dry all fauz fabrics and puff
with low heat dryer. I use a dog brush to brush the fur into shape. I make
toys and dolls. This is one of the things I learned when I just threw the
toy into my dryer.... then I wondered why it looked so funny. I realized
that I melted the fur. Leo the Lion still doesn't look right.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kate Pinner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'Historical Costume'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 1:27 PM
Subject: [h-cost] OT painting leotards/velour-cat fur
I'm doing a production of "CATS" and need some advice.
- Best paint for painting leotards? (nylon/spandex? cotton/spandex?)
I've dyed them solid colors, but only had moderate success with fabric
paint in a tube. I need larger splashes of color than those little
tubes. My inclination is to use Roscoe supersaturated paints (watered
down) 'cause I know they won't wash out...and these will probably need
to be washed at some point. Any better ideas?
-Ideas for attaching bits of fur to leotards?
-Best source for cat fur (need long for stage purposes)?
-I have to build some of the unitards (can't buy for some of the bigger
actor/dancers) and plan to use stretch velour for some of them. Ideas
for painting to retain the velour feel?
Any help would be appreciated!
Kate
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