C O O P E RA T I V E E X T E N S I O N S E RV I C E

U N I V E R S I T Y OF K E N T U C K Y C O L L E G E O F A G R I C U L T U R E
H.E.2-838

Marbling
MarblingMagic Extension
Bette
Clothing
Jo Dedic
Specialist

Marbling, an ancient craft dating back to the 8th century, is a Smooth fabrics produce more vibrant colors. White and off-
very creative art form because no two designs are ever white fabrics will show colors more clearly, although lightly
exactly alike. Basically, marbled items are created by using a colored fabrics can be used. If in doubt, test a small sample
thickener in a shallow pan of water and floating colors across first to make sure you like the results.
the waters surface. Using simple tools, you add paint and Fabric is easiest to marble while it is in a flat state
swirl it into patterns, lay the item to be marbled on the top of before it is made into a garment, although presewn garments
the water, pick it up and rinse it off. The pattern that was on and three dimensional items can also be marbled. For your
the water is transferred to the item. first few projects, use flat fabric rather than a garment and
Marbling is basically a simple process but can be as keep the project small. Small projects are easier to do,
complex as you choose. Although there are general guide- require less time, can be done more easily by one person and
lines, there are no hard and fast rules. You learn by trial and are less expensive because you can use smaller containers
error; what works for one person may not work at all for with less thickener.
another. Many companies sell both yardage and presewn
Various types of surfaces can be marbled, such as garments in white that are designed to be dyed or painted.
fabric, paper or even wood. Although the marbling process is Fabrics that are unfinished so as to receive the colors better
similar for both paper and fabric, there are important are often referred to as P.F.P. fabrics which means they are
differences. The instructions in this publication will discuss prepared for printing. Unfinished presewn garments are
only fabric marbling. usually referred to as blanks.
Although marbling can be a very quick and easy
process once you begin, the steps leading up to the actual Safety Considerations
process take planning. Be sure to allow enough time to Federal and state laws require that all craft products bear a
assemble all of the supplies that you will need and to prepare warning label when there is a possible health risk to the user.
your fabric. Some of the items you require may need to be Although the products used when marbling fabrics with paint
ordered by mail. are among the safest in the arts and crafts industry, always
In order to marble fabric, a thickener of some kind read product labels and directions carefully.
must be added to water to create a consistency like that of In general, follow these precautions where appropri-
unset gelatin so that the colors will float on the surface. ate when working with any surface design project:
This thickened water is then referred to as a size or bath. nWear rubber gloves so that chemicals are not absorbed
The techniques presented here that describe the process of through your skin.
marbling will be the same regardless of the product used to
nProvide adequate ventilation if fumes are present. This
thicken the water. However, chemicals and other products
means cross ventilation or an exhaust fan.
used in conjunction with thickeners may vary, depending on
which thickener is used. nWear an approved dust mask when handling powders so
The most commonly used thickener is carrageenan, you dont inhale dye or chemical dust.
an extract of Irish moss, which comes in a powdered form. nDont breathe fumes. Dust masks dont help with fumes.
Although it may be difficult to find locally, it is easily nKeep dyes, paints and chemicals away from unsupervised
obtained by mail from marbling suppliers. Buying carrag- children. The colors look like food to them.
eenan by the half-pound or pound is considerably less nDont use cooking or eating utensils for craft projects.
expensive then buying commercial products sold under brand
nIf you store anything in the refrigerator, tape the container
names. They are used in the same way, but the ratio of
closed, and label it clearly. A skull and crossbones would be
thickener to water may vary. Always follow product direc-
a good mark.
tions.
A variety of washable fabrics can be used for nPregnant women should be particularly careful. Discuss the
marbling. Natural fibers work best, although blends may also use of dyes and chemicals with your doctor before you begin
be used. One hundred percent polyester does not work well. a project.

AG R I CU LTU R E HO M E E CONO M I CS 4-H D EV E LO P M E N T

nIf you experience an adverse reaction from using any could be used. Combs and rakes needed to make tradi-
product, stop using it at once. tional patterns can be purchased from marbling suppliers
nUse common sense and pay attention to what you are or made with a minimum of effort.
doing. Dont work when you are tired or when you are
eating or drinking. Preparation
Marbling is a MESSY procedure, so plan accordingly.
nIf there is any chance of getting the dyes or chemicals in Wear old clothes or a large work apron. Cover work
your eyes, wear protective goggles. surface and surrounding floor with newspaper or plastic.
Running water is convenient but not necessary. You will
Fabric Preparation need a bucket for rinse water in which to rinse your
Before marbling your fabric, wash and dry it in the manner marbled item. Have a clothesline or drying rack ready to
that you will care for it later. This will preshrink the fabric hang your fabric with something underneath to catch drips.
and also remove any sizing that may be in the fabric that The size will clean up easily with water, but it will be
would prevent the paint from adhering. slimy. The paints will color everything they touch.
After the fabric has been washed and dried Make sure the room is relatively dust free. Do not
accordingly, it should be treated with a mordant. This is eat, drink or smoke while marbling as one drop or crumb
a chemical that combines with a dye to form an insoluble in the size can ruin it.
compound, thus fixing a color permanently. You will also You will need good light, a table or counter that
obtain brighter colors if you use a mordant. Different types is a comfortable height for you to work on and enough
of alum (potassium aluminum sulfate) can be used as a room to hold your pan, all your colors and tools. The size
mordant, and these are easy to obtain by mail order from a and the paints need to be at the same temperature. It is
marbling supply house. Alum may be used at the rate of handy if you can leave everything set up in the same area
one-half cup to a gallon of hot water. beforehand.
Always wear rubber gloves when working with
alum. Stir the solution, and let it sit until it is room Preparing the Size with Carrageenan
temperature. Soak the fabric for about an hour, then For best results, prepare the carrageenan the night before
squeeze out the excess liquid and hang to dry. The fabric you plan on using it, or approximately 12 hours before use.
should be flat and free of wrinkles before marbling, so Begin by using a basic proportion of two tablespoons of
press if needed. Wrinkles will leave white lines in the carrageenan for each gallon of water.
marbling.
Do not leave mordant in the fabric for longer than The Blender Method
a week before marbling because it will weaken the fabric. Although carrageenan dissolves easily, it is much
If you decide not to marble an item after you have applied easier to prepare in a blender in two separate batches. This
mordant, just wash it out. is safe to do; a food grade of the same product is used to
stabilize ice cream and yogurt! To mix, add one tablespoon
Marbling Equipment of carrageenan and fill a blender three-fourths full with
You probably already have some of the items you will warm water and blend. The mixture will be quite frothy.
need, such as a bucket and small containers to mix and Pour it into a clean bucket. Put another tablespoon of
hold your paint. You will also need a waterproof pan or carrageenan into the blender, add water, and repeat the
tray that is two to three inches deep and one or two inches procedure. Pour this mixture into the same bucket. Add
wider and longer than the item you intend to marble. The water in the bucket to make one gallon, and then stir the
tray can be made out of almost anything but should be mixture. Repeat the process until you have made the
light in color so that you can see the paint floating on the amount desired.
surface of the size. A plastic dishpan, aluminum baking
tray or kitty litter tray will work fine. You could also make Aging and Adjusting the Size
a frame using 1 x 4-inch framing wood for the sides and The thickened mixture will feel slippery. Pour the
white or clear plastic for the liner. You could also use a size into the container you are going to marble in, and let it
cardboard box as a frame and line it with plastic. rest 12 hours, preferably at room temperature. This resting
You will also need some kind of color applicators period breaks up tiny bubbles that can cause white specks
to get the paint onto the surface of the water. You could on your work.
use a whisk, eye droppers, straws or plastic squeeze Patterns may also have rough edges if the size is
bottles. not aged. You will need to make enough size to fill your
Pattern making tools are used to manipulate the container approximately one to two inches deep. It would
floating paint into a design. You will need a stylus to make be a good idea to make an additional amount that you
freeform designs. Any object with a single long point, such could place in another small container to use as a test size
as the end of a rat-tail comb, knitting needle or chopstick, for the colors you plan to use. (See section on Preparing

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the Paint). more paint. However, even if the paint spreads way out,
Experimenting with your colors will help you you could use it that way; it just results in a paler color.
determine if you have the right consistency of size. Keep in mind that all colors from the same
Adjusting the size is easy. To thicken, use a larger propor- manufacturer may not need thinning at the same rate. They
tion of carrageenan; to thin, just add water. all will react differently, so each one must be tested before
If you are going to mix the size in one location use. If you have thinned your paint so much that it is pale
and transport it to another, clean plastic gallon milk and it still does not float, add a little Photo-Flo or Marble
containers could be used. Remember to have the size at EaseTM. Some brands of paint work better when thinned
room temperature before you use it. with a little of these products, which are available in either
photo supply stores or in some arts and crafts stores. These
Selecting Colors are surfactants which will help the paint resist the surface
Acrylic fabric paints in liquid form are the easiest colors to tension of the size and therefore float. (Ox gall is also a
use. They can be cleaned up easily with water and are surfactant used when marbling paper, but it should not be
readily available in most arts and craft stores. Although used with fabric paints).
dyes, water colors and oil-based paints can also be used for If you are really having difficulty and do not wish
marbling, they require slightly different techniques, and to use a surfactant, try switching to another brand of paint
products/chemicals will vary with their use. Only the use and see if it works better for you. This is one reason you
of acrylic paints will be discussed in this publication. might want to sample just one or two colors from one
There are a number of different brands of acrylic company before buying many more. It is a good idea,
fabric paints, and they are available in a wide selection of however, to select all of your colors from the same
colors. Buy small jars or bottles in one or two colors to manufacturer because sometimes (but not always) mixing
begin with. Some paints will float better than others, so different brands will ruin your size.
experiment until you find the brand that works best for You will need to have a small container and a
you. (Remember that what works best for someone else separate color applicator for each paint color you use.
may not work best for you!) Baby food jars make great containers.
It is a good idea not to mix different brands of Always retest your colors before each marbling
paint in the same size. If you want to have white as part of session. If, as a group, the colors do not spread, the size
your design, you will either need to include a white paint, may be too cold or too thick. If the colors spread into
or use white fabric and leave areas of your size clean so stones the size of plates, the size may be too warm, too
that the white of the background fabric will show through. thin, too young or too old. Experience will be your best
judge.
Preparing the Paint
Paint works best when it is the consistency of light cream Adding Colors
or whole milk. Some brands of paint will work fine as they Before you add colors, first skim the size to reduce the
come from their container; others may require thinning. To surface tension and to break up any tiny bubbles. Tear a 3-
test, pour some size into a small pan (approximately 8" x inch strip of newspaper the width of your pan and,
8") so that it is about two inches deep. (If your container is beginning at one end, drag the paper over the entire
too small, the test will not work). This size pan will surface.
provide about the same surface tension as a larger one, and Begin to add your colors. You will notice that as
you will be able to test your paint without getting the size you add drops of color, the stones will bump into other
for your project dirty. stones, changing their shape and position. You can also
Select an eye dropper, straw or other item of drop color on top of stones for additional effects. Continue
choice to transfer paint to the size, and place one drop of to add paint until the surface is covered with paint. At this
paint on the size. Test transferring the paint with the same point, as you continue to add paint, the first stones you
object as you plan on using for your project; otherwise made will become smaller and smaller. You can use this to
your paints may not be properly adjusted. your advantage, creating small areas of intense color.
Ideally, the paint will spread out in a circle about
three to four inches in diameter and float on the surface of Preparing your Design
the size. This circle is referred to as a stone. If the drop Using a stylus, rake or comb, make a freeform or tradi-
just sits there and does not spread outward, or if it sinks, tional pattern. Remember that the more a design is worked,
then the paint is too thick and needs to be thinned. the smaller and more refined it becomes. If it is overdone,
If you need to thin your paint, start with two parts the colors can mix, and the design can become muddy in
water to one part paint. Regular water can be used to thin appearance.
the paint unless you have very hard water; then you would
need to use distilled water. If the paint spreads out over a Printing the Fabric
very large area, then it is too thin, and you should add To print a flat piece of fabric, have someone help you by

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holding the edges of one side while you hold the edges of the washer and dryer just fine, but its better to be safe than
the other side. Gently let the middle of the fabric drop sorry.
down onto the size. Then let each side drop down
smoothly and evenly out to each edge. Leave the fabric on References
the surface of the size for about a minute, then peel it off
the size, being careful not to touch it except at the corners. Chambers, Anne. The Practical Guide to Marbling. New
If you are working by yourself, you could also York: Thames and Hudson, 1986.
tack an item onto a piece of cardboard and lower it gently
onto the size all at once. If you plan on marbling some- Cohen, Daniel, and Paula Cohen. Marbling on Fabric.
thing like a T-shirt, trace the T-shirt onto cardboard, and Loveland, CO: Interweave Press, 1990.
cut the cardboard to size. Insert the cardboard between the
front and back of the shirt. Place plastic or wax paper Fawcett, Kathy and Shoaf, Carol. Marbling Fabric for
between the shirt and the cardboard so the other side of the Quilts.
item does not get wet. (If it gets wet, it wont pick up
paint). Use straight or push pins if necessary to keep the Fox, Polly. Marbling on Fabric. Taos, NM: Fresh Ink
garment taut on the cardboard. Lower one side, then lift off Press, 1990.
and place face up while you prepare your colors for the
other side. Then repeat the procedure with the other side. Fox, Polly. A Marblers Companion.
Rinse the completed fabric in cool running water
or in a large bucket of clean water. Hang the fabric to drip Kolander, Cheryl. A Silk Workers Notebook. Loveland,
dry. After it is dry, let it continue to hang for two days to a CO: Interweave Press, Inc.
week to cure. It is then ready to heat-set by ironing or
putting in a hot dryer for 20 minutes, depending on fiber Loeffler, Katherine. Profiles of Suminagashi, Turkish, Oil-
content. Always check the paint label for directions. base and European Marbling Methods. Santa Fe, NM:
Peregrine Arts, 1985.
Clean-up and Storage
Skimming will pick up any paint left on the surface of the Maurer, Paul and Diane. An Introduction to Carrageenan
size from previous marbling so that your size can be reused and Watercolor Marbling. Pennsylvania: self-published,
or stored. Paint left on the bottom of your pan will not 1984.
interfere with surface printing. If you plan on marbling
again soon, cover the size to prevent dust from settling on it. McCann, Michael. Health Hazards Manual for Artists.
Clean up with water if you plan on marbling New York: Nick Lyons Books. 3rd ed., 1985.
again; avoid soap as it contaminates the process. If the size
is too dirty, throw it out. Size can be saved for future use, Nevins, Iris. Fabric Marbling. Sussex, NJ: self-published,
although the length of time will vary depending on the 1985.
type of products used and the temperature it is stored at.
Clean carrageenan will spoil in a couple of days ___________________. Traditional Marbling. Sussex, NJ:
in hot weather, faster if contaminated with acrylic paints. self-published, 1985.
However, you could store carrageenan covered in the
refrigerator for several weeks. You can easily tell when ___________________. 105 Helpful Marbling Hints.
carrageenan is spoiled because it will lose its viscosity and
thin out; it will also smell like the sea. Carrageenan Parker, Julie. All About Silk: A Fabric Dictionary &
powder should be stored in an air-tight container and kept Swatchbook. Seattle, WA: Rain City Publishing, 1991.
in a cool, dry place. (Includes 32 fabric samples).

Use and Enjoy Rossol, Monona. The Artists Complete Health and Safety
After you have dried, rested and ironed your marbled Guide.
fabric creation, use it with pride and treat it with care. It
would be a good idea to hand wash and air dry or wash on Taylor, Carol. Marbling Paper and Fabric.
the gentle cycle using a mild detergent. It may go through

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Issued 3-93, 5M
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