A cloth bookmark printed with a real featherCotton or canvas strip, fabric paint. Roll paint thinly on the feather and press it under a sheet of paper.
A cushion cover constellation of raised dots joined by flat marker linesDark cotton cover, dimensional paint and a fabric marker. Dots first; join them when dry. Fix as the label says.
A fern printed down a tea towel with fabric paint and a real frondCotton tea towel, fabric paint. Brush paint on the frond's underside and press it under paper. Fix as the label says.
A bandana with a hand-drawn border of arrows all pointing clockwiseCotton bandana, one fabric marker. Tape it flat. Work round the edge without turning the cloth. Fix as the label says.
A canvas apron whose painted pockets are full of painted toolsCanvas apron, fabric paint. Paint two pocket shapes and a brush, a spoon and a ruler poking out. Fix as the label says.
A canvas sun hat with a ring of raised dots round its brimCanvas hat, dimensional fabric paint. Stuff the crown with paper so the brim lies flat. Fix as the label says.
A cloth gift bag with a raised six-armed snowflake on its frontSmall cotton bag, white dimensional fabric paint. Card inside the bag. Three crossing lines, then the tips.
A cotton scarf with brushed stripes that fade as the brush runs dryCotton scarf, fabric paint. Load the brush once per stripe and pull it the full width. Fix as the label says.
A cushion cover constellation of raised dots joined by flat marker linesDark cotton cover, dimensional paint and a fabric marker. Dots first; join them when dry. Fix as the label says.
A cushion cover with a night skyline drawn in fabric markerPlain cotton cover, fabric markers. Card inside first. Rooftops, then dots for lit windows. Fix as the label says.
A cushion with a cat outlined in a raised line of dimensional paint and left unfilledCotton cover, dimensional fabric paint. One steady line; do not go back over it. Fix as the label says.
A dotted name in dimensional fabric paint across a canvas pencil caseCanvas case, dimensional fabric paint. Chalk the letters, then dot along them. Dry it flat. Fix as the label says.
A fabric pennant painted with a crest for a team that does not existFelt or canvas triangle, fabric paint. A shield, an animal and a made-up motto. Fix as the label says.
A felt bookmark with a raised snail trail wandering down its lengthFelt strip, dimensional fabric paint. One wobbly line and a small spiral shell at its end. Dry it flat.
A pair of plain curtains with a painted vine climbing the leading edgeCotton curtains, fabric paint. One wavy stem first, then a leaf at every bend. Fix as the label says.
A pair of slipper socks with a spiral of raised paint dots on each soleCotton socks, dimensional fabric paint. Slide card inside each sock. Dot from the middle out. Fix as the label says.
A pillowcase map of an invented island in fabric markersCotton pillowcase, fabric markers. Coastline first, then mountains, a river and a compass. Fix as the label says.
A set of cloth napkins with a different painted fruit in one corner of eachCotton napkins, fabric paint. Same corner on every napkin. Two colors per fruit. Fix as the label says.
A stretched canvas where a raised outline stands proud of a flat wash of colorStretched canvas, acrylic wash and dimensional fabric paint. Let the wash dry, then pipe the outline over it.
A stretched canvas with a white-on-white raised pattern in dimensional fabric paintStretched canvas, white dimensional fabric paint. Rows of dots and waves; the shadows make the picture.
A table runner crossed by the painted footprints of an invented animalCanvas runner, fabric paint. Cut one sponge foot and print it in pairs down the cloth. Fix as the label says.
A tea towel painted with one oversized lemon branch running corner to cornerCotton tea towel, fabric paint. Sketch in chalk, paint the leaves before the lemons. Fix as the label says.
A tea towel with raised-paint stitches: dashed lines that look sewnCotton tea towel, dimensional fabric paint. Short dashes in rows and crosses, like a sampler with no needle.
Dye and resist 12
A bandana tie-dyed in a spiral from its centerCotton bandana, dye. Pinch the middle, twist it into a flat coil and bind it like a sliced pie. Fix as the label says.
A cloth of white polka dots from dabs of paste under a brushed colorCotton square, flour paste and fabric paint. Dab paste dots with a spoon, dry, brush color over, then rinse.
A cotton scarf dipped three times so one dye deepens toward its endCotton scarf, one dye. Dip the whole scarf briefly, then two thirds for longer, then the end. Fix as the label says.
A cotton square bound round marbles for a field of ringsCotton square, dye and marbles. Wrap each marble in the cloth and bind under it. Fix as the label says.
A fish drawn in flour paste on a cloth square, painted over and washed outCotton square, flour paste and fabric paint. Pipe the fish, let the paste dry, paint, then rinse the paste away.
A pair of cotton socks banded with rubber-band stripesCotton socks, dye. Wrap bands tightly at even gaps from toe to cuff. Fix as the label says.
A paste-resist name banner on which the letters stay whiteCotton strip, flour paste and fabric paint. Brush thick paste letters, dry, paint the whole strip, then rinse.
A pillowcase fan-folded and bound for stripesCotton pillowcase, dye. Pleat it like a paper fan and bind it at even gaps. Fix as the label says.
A pleated cloth bound at intervals for a ladder patternCotton strip, dye. Pleat lengthwise, then bind across every few fingers' width. Fix as the label says.
A set of napkins folded into triangles and dipped at the cornersCotton napkins, dye. Fold each into a small triangle and dip only the three points. Fix as the label says.
A sunburst cushion cover: pinched at the center and bound three timesCotton cover, dye. Pull the middle up into a cone and bind it in three places going down. Fix as the label says.
A tea towel scrunch-dyed in two neighboring colorsCotton tea towel, two dyes. Crumple it into a loose mound and bind it lightly. Fix as the label says.
Printing and stamping 12
A bandana stenciled with one paper-cut moth repeatedCotton bandana, fabric paint and a card stencil. Dab with a nearly dry sponge. Fix as the label says.
A banner of bold initials made with a stencil and a spongeCanvas strip, fabric paint. Cut the letters from card, tape them down and dab over the holes.
A cafe curtain printed with cloud shapes cut from a kitchen spongeCotton curtain, white fabric paint. Cut a sponge into a cloud and print in loose rows. Fix as the label says.
A cloth bookmark printed with a real featherCotton or canvas strip, fabric paint. Roll paint thinly on the feather and press it under a sheet of paper.
A cotton square printed with the ridges of a card scrap, turned each time for a woven lookCotton square, fabric paint. Brush paint on the ridges of a card scrap and press. Turn it for a weave.
A cushion cover printed with garden leaves in three greens, the palest laid down firstCotton cover, fabric paint. Palest green first, darkest last, each print overlapping the one before.
A fern printed down a tea towel with fabric paint and a real frondCotton tea towel, fabric paint. Brush paint on the frond's underside and press it under paper. Fix as the label says.
A pillowcase chained edge to edge with linked circles printed from a cup's rimCotton pillowcase, fabric paint. Dip the rim in a saucer of paint. Overlap each ring with the last.
A table runner striped by a block wrapped in stringCanvas runner, fabric paint. Wrap string round a wood block and roll paint on. Print side by side.
An apron hem printed with a border of potato-cut trianglesCanvas apron, fabric paint. An adult cuts the potato. Print point up, point down along the hem. Fix as the label says.
Cloth gift wrap printed with rows of cork dotsCotton square, fabric paint. Print one row, then set the next row in the gaps. Fix as the label says.
Napkins scattered with prints from a bee cut into an eraserCotton napkins, fabric paint. An adult cuts the eraser. Turn the stamp a little for each print.
Scrap collage on a hoop or a canvas 12
A bouquet in a hoop with scrap-circle blooms and ribbon stemsPlain cloth in a hoop, scraps and ribbon, tacky glue. Glue the stems, then overlap the circles above.
A canvas tree whose leaves are every green scrap in the bagStretched canvas, brown felt and green scraps, white glue. Trunk first. Crowd the leaves at the top.
A color study of scrap squares overlapped like roof shinglesCanvas, scraps of one color family, white glue. Start at the bottom row and overlap upward.
A fabric fish on canvas with scales cut from striped shirtingStretched canvas, striped scraps, white glue. Turn each scale so its stripes run a different way.
A hoop moon of gray scraps with a cloud of lace across itDark cloth in a hoop, gray scraps and lace, tacky glue. Overlap the grays; the lace goes on last.
A landscape of torn fabric strips on a canvas, pale scraps for sky and dark for hillsStretched canvas, cotton scraps, white glue. Tear the strips; frayed edges read as mist.
A night city cut from dark denim with yellow felt windowsStretched canvas, old denim and felt, tacky glue. Cut the skyline as one piece. Windows in rows.
A patchwork heart glued from nine squares of different printsCanvas or card, cotton scraps, white glue. Glue a three-by-three block, then trim the block to a heart.
A pet's face in an embroidery hoop, built from felt and patterned scrapsPlain cloth in a hoop, felt, tacky glue. Largest shapes first, eyes and nose last. Nothing is sewn.
A scrap bird perched on a real twig glued to the canvasStretched canvas, scraps and a twig, tacky glue. Body, wing and tail are three teardrop shapes.
A street of scrap houses on a canvas, each in a different printStretched canvas, patterned scraps, white glue. Rectangles and triangles only. Draw doors in fabric marker.
A sunset in a hoop from bands of ribbon, warm at the bottom and cool at the topPlain cloth in a hoop, ribbons, tacky glue. Lay the bands edge to edge and trim round the hoop.
Wall hangings and banners 12
A banner of five felt flags that spell a short wordFelt rectangles and string, tacky glue. Notch each flag's foot. Glue contrasting felt letters on.
A bunting of fabric triangles folded over a string, each from a different scrapScraps cut as diamonds, string, fabric glue. Fold each diamond over the string and glue it shut.
A burlap hanging stenciled with one large leafBurlap, a card stencil, fabric paint. Fray the bottom edge on purpose. Dab the paint; do not brush.
A canvas door banner with your name stenciled above a painted sunCanvas, card stencils, fabric paint. Stencil the letters, then paint the sun freehand beneath them.
A cloth scroll with a stick at the top and bottom and a painted branchCotton strip, two sticks, fabric glue and paint. The lower stick is the weight that holds it flat.
A felt hanging with three glued pockets for letters or pencilsFelt backing and three felt rectangles, tacky glue. Glue each pocket on three sides only.
A felt pennant with a made-up motto in cut felt lettersFelt in two colors, tacky glue, a stick. Cut the letters freehand and glue them along the middle.
A hanging woven on a cardboard loom from torn fabric stripsCard with notched ends, string and strips. Weave over and under; push each row tight against the last.
A no-sew banner on a dowel with a glued hem and a painted mountainCanvas, a dowel, fabric glue and paint. Fold the top over the dowel and glue it. Paint when dry.
A rag hanging of knotted fabric strips on a stick, trimmed to a VCotton strips and a stick. Loop each strip over the stick and pull its ends through. No glue.
A rainbow of fabric strips tied along the top of a hoopAn embroidery hoop and strips in six colors. Knot each strip on and let the ends hang in color order.
Four seasonal cloth panels that swap on one dowelCanvas rectangles, fabric paint, ribbon loops. Each panel has two glued loops, so it slides on and off.
Wearable pieces for a show 12
A cape of overlapping paper feathers on a cloth baseAn old sheet and colored paper. Staple the feathers in rows from the hem up. Ties at the neck are ribbon.
A collar of pleated paper fans stapled to a ribbonPaper and ribbon. Fold five fans, staple each at its base and space them along the ribbon.
A crown of fabric leaves glued to a card bandCard and green scraps, tacky glue. Overlap the leaves so every stalk is hidden. Tape the band to fit.
A headpiece of rolled-paper horns on a card bandCard and heavy paper. Roll two cones, snip tabs at their bases and tape the tabs inside the band.
A long tail of knotted fabric scraps tied to a beltCotton scraps and a cord belt. Knot scrap to scrap until it reaches the floor. No glue or staples.
A pair of arm cuffs woven from fabric stripsCard bands and cotton strips, tape. Slit the card, weave the strips through and tape the cuff shut on the arm.
A pair of card wings with fabric-scrap feathers and ribbon shoulder strapsCard, scraps, ribbon and tape. Glue the scraps in rows. Tape the ribbon loops firmly to the back.
A paper-bag vest, fringed along the hem and paintedA large paper grocery bag and paint. Cut up the front, cut a neck and two armholes, fringe the hem.
A sash listing invented awards in fabric markerA long cotton strip, fabric markers. Letter three made-up honors along it. Knot it at the hip.
A shoulder piece of layered felt scales tied on with ribbonFelt in two colors, tacky glue, ribbon. Glue scales in rows on a felt crescent and punch two ribbon holes.
A skirt of long folded newspaper strips stapled to a waistbandNewspaper and a cloth tape waistband. Fold each sheet into a long strip and staple it on, overlapping.
A tunic from one folded cloth rectangle with a head slit, painted front and backAn old sheet, fabric paint. Fold, cut the slit along the fold, paint both sides and tie a cord belt.
How it works
These 80 fabric art ideas treat cloth as the medium: painted, dyed, printed, cut and glued, with no sewing machine. Each names the cloth and how the piece is made.
Read the full guide
Fabric paint ideas, flat and raised
Fabric paint and markers runs from a tea towel with one oversized lemon branch to napkins with a fruit in one corner. Ten use dimensional fabric paint, which dries as a raised line; two of those are on stretched canvas.
Wearable art ideas for one show
Wearable pieces for a show are made to be worn once: a cape of paper feathers, a collar of pleated fans, a crown of fabric leaves. They are joined with staples, tape, ribbon and glue.
Fixing and washing follow the label of the paint or dye you bought. This list claims nothing of its own.
Questions and answers
What are easy fabric arts and crafts ideas?
The Easy mark is on 30: a rag hanging of knotted strips with no glue, a pillowcase fan-folded and bound for stripes, a bunting of scrap triangles folded over a string, a crown of fabric leaves on a card band.
What can I make with fabric scraps without sewing?
Scrap collage on a hoop or a canvas holds 12 that are glued, not sewn: a street of scrap houses, a hoop sunset in ribbon bands, a patchwork heart trimmed from nine glued squares.
How does resist dyeing work?
Something stops the dye reaching part of the cloth. In tie-dye the cloth is folded, twisted, pleated or crumpled and bound with string or rubber bands. A paste made from starch can do the same job as a drawn line.
What can you print on fabric with?
A real fern or feather, a cut potato, a cork, the rim of a cup, a sponge, a card stencil or a block wrapped in string. Printing and stamping holds 12, each with its cloth.