This very unusual heat set watercolor is non-toxic and made of recycled materials. The watercolors are erasable on paper and wash completely out of fabric until heat set in an oven or ironed. The colors are bright and beautiful and a unique experience for students.

This project requires painting, sewing and assembly skills.

Grade Levels

Junior High through High School

Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson, students would be able to:

1. Practice combining disciplines as they will paint, sew, and assemble in the course of this project.
2. Experience with a unique medium, heat set watercolor paints.

Procedure

Step 1: Design Sculpture and Cut Pieces

1. Choose a size no smaller than 14 × 14 (2 pieces needed).
2. Use a regular pencil for drawing design on fabric.
3. Make two pieces for a front and a back, label "front" and "back". Do not cut design out until after heat fixing.
4. Tape both pieces to a table top with masking tape. Stretch as tightly as possible.

Step 2: Paint Design

1. This project does not take a lot of paint. Apply paint with a soft round or flat brush. Premix the colors on the palette or allow to blend on the fabric. The watercolor will mix and dry quickly. At this point the paint can be washed out of fabric under a faucet, (erasable on paper).

Step 3: Heat Set the Design

1. The best method is to place fabric between two pieces of baker's parchment paper. Iron slowly on cotton or medium high heat until paint does not lift off fabric at the touch. Some trace of paint may be left on paper.
2. Other method: Heat set on a cookie sheet in a 225° conventional oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Both of these methods may be used on papers using the same temperatures and times.
4. Additional paint may be applied after heat setting but you must heat set again.
5. Paint is fixed but will lose some color over time when washed.

Step 4: Assemble

1. With painted sides face to face, pin edges.
2. Hand stitch on the design outline. Leave a 3" space open for reversing and stuffing.
3. Cut out shape 1/2" from stitch line.
4. Turn fabric right side out so that salvage is inside.
5. Stuff with filling.
6. Carefully sew remaining 3" shut.

Step 5: Decorate

1. Attach any yarn, beads, buttons, feathers, ribbon, etc. you would like.
2. Cut and use scraps from cut off salvage fabric.

Extended Lesson

• Subject suggestions: sun faces, flowers, animals, cars, buildings
• Discuss addition of legs, tail, scales, hair, windows, etc.
• Hang by sewing on a sawtooth, Velcro or braid handles.
• Teach basic embroidery stitches.
• Make puppets, hats, costumes, pillows, purses.
• Design only front, use plain fabric on back.
• Substitute rice paper for the fabric. set, cut, and glue rather than sew.