THE TOOLS
- Butcher paper or plastic
- Utility paintbrush in desired width
- Silk paint
- 1 yard silk crepe de chine
- Iron
- Synthrapol or other gentle laundry detergent
- Cutting mat
- Scissors
- Straight pins or clamps
- Metal straight edge
- Rotary cutter
HOW-TO
1. Protect your work surface with butcher paper, plastic wrap, or any clean, dye-free cover.
2. Dip brush into paint and apply to crepe de chine; let dry. Iron fabric for 3 minutes to set dye.
3. Wash with detergent to remove excess dye that hasn't bonded with the fibers; let air-dry.
Note: Using undiluted paints will yield the brightest shades, but you can mix them with water or with each other for a more subtle effect.
4. To make the ribbons, place fabric on the cutting mat and fold it in half diagonally to make an equilateral triangle; cut off excess fabric.
5. With scissors, cut along the fold. You will be left with two triangles of fabric.
6. Working with one triangle at a time, fold in half. Pin fabric to cutting mat (or clamp to table), with folded edge to your right. Place a metal straight edge parallel to the bottom of the fabric and use the rotary cutter to cut each strip of fabric.
THE DETAILS
Martha Stewart Crafts large brush set, $15, all-purpose scissors, $20, and rotary cutter, $25, michaels.com. Dye-Na-Flow fabric paint in hot fuchsia, $3 for 2.25 oz, and 16mm crepe de chine, $10.50/yd, dharmatrading.com.