How to Make Paper Cloth – a Tutorial
“Paper cloth” is the very unscientific term for combining scraps of papers on top of fabric. It creates a sturdy new material that you can sew, cut, collage and play with. I’ve seen it here and there, but thought we needed a little tutorial to get us stated.
Let’s make paper cloth!
You will glue small pieces of paper onto a larger sheet of fabric and then cover it with a silk paper. It’s quite easy but a bit time consuming. The papers I use are mostly recycled from gift wrapping. I will describe how I created mine, there are lots of ways you can do yours different.
No rules, just a fun tutorial on how you can get started and glue, glue, glue!
Let’s go through what to use, how to create the material and then start playing!
Stuff you’ll need when making Paper Cloth
- Muslin or cotton fabric.
- Scraps of thin papers like wrapping paper, silk-, tissue-, napkin- mulberry-, Japanese paper, text pages etc.
- Big sheets of (white) tissue paper.
- White glue, a mixing cup and a brush.
- A plastic surface to protect your table. I used a plastic table cloth, you can cover your table with baking parchment too. Everything will get gluey and messy, but it’s fun so set it up and start experimenting!
- Extras: glitter, stamps, ephemera, shimmer paint, sequins, acrylic paint, leftover threads, gift ribbons, stickers, pieces of fabric, ink, sequins, yarn, lace etcetera.
iHanna’s Paper Cloth Tutorial
If you’ve gathered your materials it’s time to start. I worked on the floor of the bathroom because this can be quite messy, but if you have a big oil cloth you can cover your table with that. In that way you don’t have to worry when the cloth gets soaked with glue – which it will be.
1. Spread out your fabric. You can cut a piece of fabric and lay it out flat on your working surface. I choose a white cotton fabric so that the colors of my layers would show up well.
2. Mix the glue with water. You can probably use any white glue (Elmer’s, Craft glue, modpodge etc), but if you’re unsure I’d recommend a bottle of regular school glue. I used a white all-craft glue, it says on the label that you can use it for wood, fabric and paper, so that’s great.
Mix 1 part water to 1 part glue, or 2 parts glue to 1 part water, you will have to experiment to get the result you want. I mixed 1 to 1 and the fabric came out quite stiff after it had dried. Maybe if you dilute your glue a bit more it will be less stiff. What you should aim for depends on what you want to use your paper cloth for in the end. A book cover could probably be softer than a postcard, for example…
3. Gather all the paper scraps and materials you can find around the house before you start creating/gluing. Things that you want to add to your surface. Tear them into small pieces, wrinkle them if they feel too stiff and make a pile of yummy colors.
4. Time to start creating! Paint the glue+water mix onto the cloth canvas and press down paper scraps like you’re making a background collage. I mostly added pieces next to each other but also layered a few colored silk papers on top of other papers, to create layers and depth. The glue will seep through the fabric, that’s good I think.
5. Layer with (transparent) tissue papers
When you’ve covered the whole surface add another layer of glue on top of everything and press down a sheet of white tissue paper (one that is just a bit larger than the fabric piece) on top of your collage. I use recycled white tissue paper (that was used as gift wrap I collected after Christmas). That kind of used papers are already crinkly from the being used around gifts, but you should try to smooth it out as you press it down into the glue. Tissue (or silk) paper becomes very fragile when it touches the glue and becomes wet, so be careful not to lift or move it around or it will rip.
I think part of the fun of this project is trying to use recycled materials and things you find around the house. Why not experiment with newspaper print or text book pages as well? That would give you a more vintage look than what I created that is very polka dot and colorful (which is very much to my taste).
6. Last step is more glue
Paint a thin layer of the glue mix on top of the covering tissue paper and you’re finished! Well, almost. To start using the paper cloth you will need to wait quite a while, up to +24 hours, until all the layers are thoroughly dry.
If you feel like continuing you can further decorate your paper cloth with acrylic paint, glitter glue or more layers, but this is optional. Another material that is fun to incorporate is napkins. You can cut out motifs and use little bits in your layers, or use them as patterned paper and play with colors.
I did not paint my cloth paper because I was oh so curious on how it would look when it dried. It was a fun surprise to see how transparent the white silk paper became when wet. And when it had dried for 24 hours it still look colorful and cool. I’m happy with the result.
I’m done:
Wohoo! One of my first pieces of “paper cloth” is finished! I did mine in quarters as you can see, so the glue would not dry before I added the last layer. I will cut it up later and do “various projects” with it… I don’t have a plan, just a few ideas.
For options on what to do with your paper cloth check out Kristin Roach’s cool e-book Paper. Card. Ribbon. that I recently reviewed here. In it you’ll find patterns for cool sewing projects designed for cloth paper. I made postcards (!) from some of my paper cloth – I’ll show them in my next post.
This is what the paper cloth looked like when it had dried completely:
You can keep adding layers to your paper cloth when the glue is dry. Paint acrylic washes, inks, doodle with markers or crayons or add glitter glue here and there. You can also sew on this material, so bring out your sewing machine and keep playing on top of the cloth!
How to use it
Machine embroider it. Cut it up. Make different forms like flowers or hearts or circles to use in other mixed media projects. I think it will make great book covers or envelopes. I’m sure you can think up many more uses. Fold it into a box? Make a place mat for your work desk? Keep experimenting!
I made a whole bunch of DIY Postcards with my paper cloth – for the DIY Postcard Swap that I host (you’re more than welcome to join us if you feel like sending out some happy mail too):
Let me know what you make!
If you feel that you got some value out of this blog post please consider (if you can) to donate a cup of coffee to the creator iHanna via Kofi. It’s quick, easy and very very much appreciated:
You might also want to check out these from the Studio iHanna Shop
More Tutorials here and a few fun free downloads here.
Your paper cloth is even more gorgeous in person!! I love the way the threads and sequins are sandwiched and peeking through the layers… thank you so much for the beautiful postcard that came today. I have loved your swap and have been such a lucky recipient of beautiful artwork. You’ve got some serious arty connections girl! xxx tj in germany
TJ, thanks for your comment! You must try to make some “paper cloth” yourself, it was such fun to finally get to use all those thin papers I’ve been saving on. Glad you liked the postcard too! Yay!
Your paper cloth looks sensational. Thanks so much for sharing it with us
Alison
HANNA!!!
I’m reading this at work and I can’t WAIT to try it. Do you KNOW how many paper and tissue scraps I have?!? Do you KNOW how much I want to make it my OWN? I am going to dive into this when I get home. If I don’t show you the results in a week or so, it means I glued myself to the table and I can’t get to the computer!
oooh such yummy papers!!
I think I can even spot the postcard you sent me in that papercloth you made. Am I right?
Lucky me to get a piece of this !! :D Thanks!!
I feel like spending the night making a papercloth myself. If not tonight, I will certainly do it later…or sooner :P
Thanks for sharing so many great ideas, Hanna!!
ps:
Need a new journal?
I’ve sewn a “junk journal kind of book”. I made it after reading your “sewing on paper”-blogpost (you are so inspiring!!)
Check out my blog and join the draw if you like the journal :)
hugs, ?shild
Wow, this is SO pretty! I love it! Thanks so much for the how-to, I’ll be linking.
wow, i’m adding this to my list of “things i want to make”! gorgeous colors – i wonder if it’s too stiff to embroider by hand?
I love this idea! Thank you for sharing, must try it over the weekend :)
Hi Hanna! I haven’t read your blog in years–but I’m so glad I’ve found you again! This paper is lovely… I am so inspired by all your creative energy bursting from the seams here.
Thank you for this awesome tutorial/idea. I’m looking forward to trying it myself!
Wow love this idea it is going on my loooong crafty to do list, but some day I will get it all done and then i will be soo happy.just a question:How did you come up with this idea?I always think this is an intresting thing to now. Its like being able to read someone crafty mind . Call me weird but I’d like to know.PEACE!
Ps. thanks for commenting on my blog:)
I surely will try this as soon as I can. I love all the mixed colors and materials.
Joana
I will try it too
This has been on my to-do list for a while. A friend just made some, if you look at my blog it is the Book RR with the tags…..she made it with her paper fabric. It’s awesome!
This is such a friendly, well-written, well-illustrated tutorial. Like everyone else, I can hardly wait to start making messes!
I love this, Hanna, thanks so much for putting together the tutorial!
This is SUCH a great idea. i cant wait to try it out!
Thank you very much for such a great tutorial! I was just going to ask how, you think, such paper cloth could be applied but then I found your next article on cards from papercloth. Great idea! Thank you!
This is friggin’ amazing! Totally using it with my art students! Thank you! xoxoxo
I just LOVE this and can’t wait to try it out! thanks for the demo!
Come by my blog , I’m having a charm swap that might interest you!
I can;t wait to try this with my kids. Thanks!
oooh this looks lovely and so much fun!
I found you via crafty crow and must pass this link along on my blog too in the next day or two!
Thanks so much for sharing!
COOL.NESS.
thank you for the idea!
melinda
Great tutorial! I made some postcards too! Here they are!
http://punkprojects.blogspot.com/2010/02/postcards-aceos.html
thanks!
I love this! So beautiful and simple. I featured this tutorial and linked to this post in my Friday Favorites! ~Lanie J.
Another person who makes fabric paper, KOOL!
I go back and forth between muslin and newspaper. Happy happies.
I just had to try this out :) It’s great, thank you for this tutorial.
You can see my results here http://sonja68.blogspot.com/2010/03/vikend-to-do-jev.html
I’ll be glad if you would’ve visited me.
This paper is beautiful. Thanks for a wonderful way to use some of my beautiful papers and scraps. Btw, your blog is amazing, so much rich information. Thanks again.
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have a space on my wall that I just want to add color to. I think this is the answer! Your blog is so inspiring. Thanks :) I’ll be linking on Facebook.
Thank you sooo much for your wonderful ideas & tutorials. You are my daily inspiration for color & projects. Just finished my first paper cloth and hope to make a wallet and maybe a table runner. Did have trouble applying glue to the paper before I placed my final piece of tissue. So I just kind of dabbed it on. Again, thank you for sharing & your wonderful sense of adventure!
This looks like so much fun! I can’t wait to try it!!!!!
Now, this is really cool! I want to try this!
I love it! The colors make me drool and the tutorial makes me want to go give it a try. I will let you know how it turns out!
In the meantime, keeping making your beautiful art!
I’m an art quilter and have been trying to figure out how to use paper on fabric and them free motion quilt it, so I think I’ll try this. From all my research on making paper fabric, if you use 1 part glue to 4 parts water, it is much less stiff, which is the result I want. But we’ll see. I’ll let you know when I try it. Thanks for the information. Carla
Hi there! Great great ideas here, and thank you so much. I am hoping to make some of these and then print my artwork on them. Do they take well to computer/printer ink? Have you ever experimented with any of that?
Thanks :)
Rebecca
Glad you like the idea Rebecca, but to print on such an uneven and glossy surface would not be too smart I think. I doubt it would look any good… But try it, it might work if you do it a bit differently than I did here… :-)
Hello, this looks very interesting. I’m trying to set up a project for my clients to do to express their creative process as a group for Sexual Assault awareness month called the Clothes Line Project. Would I be able to do this on a large bed sheet and glue collage process (fabric paper) directly to the sheet? And could I also use paint and other mixed media: lace, other material..paper..glitter etc)? I do not want to sew or stitch any of the process to the sheet..just glue. Thanks ..this process looks like fun.
Hi there Janet,
you could absolutely do this in a larger scale, and as it says in the tutorial: adding paint, glitter etc is possible and a great idea! But just remember, the thinner the material the easier it is to get it to stick down. Tissue paper is ideal.
I hope your group enjoys this activity, let me know how it goes!
How do you soften the cloth up to use it in sewing garments?
I don’t think it’s supposed to be used as a fabric for clothes, but as a stiffened cloth for mixed media. I doubt any clothes made in this way would drape well, or function as clothing if it wasn’t for an art project. :-)
Beautiful! We can do so much with this tutorial. Thank you for passing the knowledge.
Thanks Maribell, glad you enjoyed this tutorial.
Hi there! Thanks for the post :) I’m interested in making prayer flags that have meaningful pictures on them for my family. Do you think this could be done with a single printed paper and maybe weatherproofed with some outdoor clear coat or scotch guard type product?
If I were to make prayer flags for outdoor hanging year round, I would use cloth, and do embroidery or image transfer on them. Fabric will hold up the best, and looks lovely waving in the wind. For paper, it’s always difficult even if you would try to cover it in plastic, but you could try of course, it’s up to you.
Good luck with your project. :)
I love this! Your paper cloth is gorgeous and so colorful and has inspired me to try it!
Thank you so much for showing us this technique. I wish I could post a photo of what I made, but don’t know how.
What different paper and fabric can you use? my daughter is doing this at school and has to look up what paper and fabric she could use and we can’t find anything on the internet to help her.
Yours looks lovely.
Thank you