Discovering block printing

In the Autumn I attended a Wood Fair. While I was there I came across these beautiful hand carved Indian printing blocks. I had no idea how to use them, but couldn’t resist buying them anyway.

 

 

My fascination continued when I discovered some hand block printed fabric from The Cloth House in London. I wanted to see if I could use this technique to print my own designs on fabric, so I did a bit of research online and bought a kit to carve lino. The ink supplied was for paper, so I started by making handmade cards (available to buy at http://folksy.com/shops/MyCreativeExperimentalLife).

 

I wondered if I could use something I already had in my craft supplies to print on fabric, so I tried oil colour on cotton calico. I used foam cut outs stuck to wood using PVA glue to make a simple pattern. It went on well but took weeks to dry!

I’m hoping to buy some fabric ink so I can make cushions too. Watch this space!