Creating one-of-a-kind fabric with paint sticks and decorative stitches

Yesterday, I used decorative stitches on my Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 sewing and quilting machine and some fabric markers from the Mont Marte Signature Fabric Art Set to create a scrappy greeting card.

Fabric greeting card with decorative stitching

Today I’ll show you how to re–color some scrap fabrics with paint sticks from the Mont Marte Signature Fabric Art Set in preparation for making fabric bookmarks that we’ll enhance with decorative stitching on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050. This is a quick project to make, plus you get to use up some of those scraps you’ve been saving and create some unique fabric at the same time!

Mont Marte Signature Fabric Art Set

Fabric bookmarks with decorative stitching on painted fabric

There are hundreds of decorative stitches on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050, and most of them can be altered just by touching the width and length keys. I try to keep samples of all the stitches and variations I’ve made. That way, it’s easy to look back and find my favorites.

Decorative stitch samples using just a few of the many available on the BQ3050 machine

I made this table runner using decorative stitches on striped fabric – another good way to try out the many stitches on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050. You can find the instructions for making this runner on my previous QUILTsocial blog post,

StitchVision on The Luminaire for visible decorative stitch placement.

Table runner with decorative stitches on striped fabric

Here are a few ideas for using paint sticks to create rubbings on fabric. You can buy commercial rubbing plates for this technique, but you can also make your own using some common items you probably already have around the house.

Have a look at some of the rubbing plates I’ve been using and a few of the fabric samples I’ve made. Again, I’ve been using fabric scraps to make new fabric!

• A piece of burlap glued on some cardboard
• Back side of a piece of tile

Fabric made by rubbing over burlap with Mont Marte paint sticks

Fabric made by rubbing over the back of a tile with Mont Marte paint sticks

• Strips of card stock glued on cardboard. There are so many ways you can arrange those paper strips!

Fabric made by rubbing over paper strips with Mont Marte paint sticks

Fabric made by rubbing over paper strips with Mont Marte paint sticks

• The bottom of a wicker basket or a wicker hot mat

Fabric made by rubbing over wicker baskets with Mont Marte paint sticks

Place your fabric on one of your rubbing plates and lightly run a Mont Marte fabric paint stick over the fabric to create a pattern. I was using small scraps, but if you’re using larger pieces, do a small section of the fabric at a time. Let the paint dry for 24 hours, then iron the fabric to set the color.

Tomorrow, I’ll show you how to make some fabric bookmarks with this new fabric. I’ll also be using some of the Step Stitch patterns that are on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 machine. This is a unique group of stitches you’re sure to enjoy learning about! Join me!

Fabric bookmarks with decorative stitching

This is part 4 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 3: Color your fabric for this scrappy quilt, color your world!

Go to part 5: Decorative stitching adds dimension to one-of-a-kind bookmarks

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