Learn how to Marble on Fabric and Paper
Think of marbling as a printing process. Paints or inks are suspended on the surface of a prepared solution of size. Marbling size, is a jelly-like mixture of a thickener such as Carrageenan, Manutex RS or Methyl Cellulose (CMC powder) and water. The marbling medium (size) is poured into a shallow tray and the colours are dripped onto the surface. As the colours sit on the surface of the size, they can be dragged around and manipulated into patterns with a stick or comb or with the addition of further colours with a dropper. Fabric or paper is carefully lowered onto the surface of the size, allowing the paints to make contact with the material. The fabric or paper is lifted off to reveal the patterning.
Marbling is a fun technique for patterning items such as ribbon, canvas bags, trainers, silk scarves, hats, T-shirts, handkerchiefs, socks, satin balls for Christmas trees, wood and paper boxes, wooden buttons and picture frames. The random patterns created from marbling can be very decorative. Subtle colours were used to marble this scarf (right). You can make a statement by choosing contrasting colours, or select just one colour to compliment the base colour of the item you have chosen to decorate.
Marbling On Fabric
When you choose fabric, always check the surface texture. Fabrics, natural or synthetics, with a smooth surface and tight weave provide the best prints. If you plan to use the marbled fabric in quilts, choose tightly woven cotton with a high thread count, such as Prima cotton. If you’re using your marbled fabric in garments, choose any tightly woven fabric with a smooth surface including satin, polyester, polyester blends, chintz, percale, batiste, rayon, and particularly silk which provides outstanding results. For subtle prints, choose organza, organdie, and chiffon, or tightly woven gauze fabrics. Avoid fabrics with uneven surface texture or a coarse, loose weave. Napped fabrics, such as velveteen and corduroy, marble poorly.
To get started with marbling, you may want to go through your fabric collection and cut a 20 x 20cm square from each fabric. Be sure to include the results of your experiments in a notebook.
Marbling On Paper, Wood and other surfaces
The marbling process is also very effective on paper, wood and other surfaces. The marbled paper can be used to good effect to cover books, wrap presents and decorate cards, lampshades and photo frames.
This example (right) shows marbling on the surface of a handmade Lokta paper.
Any surface needs to be porous or textured to allow the marbling paint to grab and adhere. By their nature, fabric and paper meet this criteria, while some surfaces, such as varnished wood and smooth board, will need to be rubbed down with sandpaper.
Method for Preparing Fabric and Paper with Alum
It helps to treat fabrics and paper in a solution of Alum prior to using marbling paints as this will help the colours to transfer more clearly.
- Dissolve 10g of Alum per 4 litres of warm water. Stir thoroughly till the alum is dissolved.
- Place the fabric in the alum bath. The fabric should move freely and soak for 15 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Thinner fabrics need less time than thicker ones.
- Remove the fabric from the bucket, gently squeezing the excess solution into the bucket.
- Hang the fabric on a line to drip-dry carefully so that no part touches itself (where fabric touches itself, the alum is concentrated and can cause a weak or pale print). Do not use a clothes dryer.
- After the fabric has dried, use a dry iron to remove wrinkles. Be careful; steam and water drops will remove alum and create a blotchy print!
- To prepare paper with Alum; either paint the surface of the paper with a large brush or apply with a spray bottle. Try to ensure the paper is covered evenly and lay it flat to dry.
Method for Preparing Size for Marbling Bath
There are a number of mediums that can be used to make a size for the marbling bath. If you are using Carrageenan, which is a natural seaweed derivative:
- Stir 4 teaspoons into 4 litres of warm tap water and whisk to dissolve. The water will begin to thicken quickly.
- Allow to stand for 10-12 hours to allow the marbling size to thicken to the correct consistency and for any lumps or bubbles to disperse.
- Pour into a marbling tray until it is at least 2-3cm deep.
Method for Marbling with Jacquard Marbling Color
- Jacquard Marbling Colors (colours!) and other marbling paints (including fabric paints) are permanent on fabric once heat set with an iron.
- Drop colours one at a time onto the surface of the marbling size with a dropper. Placed the colours randomly or in patterns and watch them spread.
- Concentric circles are made by adding drops of different colours to the centre of previous drops to make a “bullseye” pattern. Each colour should spread to the same extent with the exception of black, which spreads the most and is usually applied first. Usually, the last drop of colour will be the dominant colour.
- Larger amounts of paint can be dripped directly from the bottle to give brighter and and more vibrant results.
- Flicking small drops of paint from a stiff brush will give lighter and more pastel colours.
- If marbling on paper, do not apply too much paint to the surface of the size, as this will cause the print to run.
- Allow the colours to spread or move the paint around with either a comb or a stick
- Blow the marbling paints with a straw to move the colours, or lower the straw below the surface to blow bubbles.
- When you are happy with the pattern, carefully lay the wrinkle free paper or fabric onto the surface of the size and leave it to rest for 5-10 seconds.
- Lift off, and lay on a tray paint side up to dry. Placing a small object under one end of the tray will help to drain away excess moisture.
- Once dry, rinse gently under cold water until the slippery Carrageenan has been removed.
- Allow fabric to dry for 24 hours and heat-set the paints with an iron to make washfast. Allow to cure for 2 weeks before washing to significantly improve colour permanence. Paper does not need to be heat set.
To use the size again, the surface can be cleaned by laying sheets of paper kitchen towel onto the remaining paint so that it is blotted up. Any marbling paint that has sunk below the surface will not affect future prints.
More Tips for Marbling
- Iron fabrics and paper to remove creases. This will ensure that the marbled pattern will transfer unbroken.
- Use Jacquard Marbling Color Synthetic Gall which will make the paint float better and spread further on the marbling size. It can be used to make one colour dominate over another, add clear voids or gaps in your design, or to create marbling colours from other acrylic based paints
- The patterning from marbled wooden, clay or stone can be made more durable by applying a couple of coats of clear varnish.
- If you wish to extend the colour range, Jacquard Lumiere and Neopaque paints can also be used for marbling, as can any acrylic based colour. The consistency of the paint may need altering with a small amount of water so that it will float on the marbling size. You may need to dilute acrylic paint by as much as 1:1 with water.
