Block Printing

For a long time, I’ve been a fan of block printing for home decor and fashion. It instantly gives a classic look.

I thought it would be fun to share how I made my own block print patterns and also round up some favorites in apparel, home decor, and fabric.

The great thing about block printing is it pairs well with so many styles from boho to modern to traditional.

Introducing My Block Print Collection

I’m so excited to share my newest patterns with you which I created with vintage Indian Block Prints. I have four variations of the pattern you see above and it’s currently available in my Spoonflower shop as fabric, wallpaper and ready-made home decor elements.

The gray (shown above) perfectly matches Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl – just in case you have that in your own home, like me. I’m actually of thinking of papering our kitchen wall with this.

I ordered some samples of the wallpaper last week and was so impressed with both the print quality and also the size. There really is nothing like holding your designs as a product for the first time.

How Did I Make My Block Print Pattern?

Are you guys wondering how I made my patterns? I bought some wonderful vintage block print stamps from my friend Marie at Native in Scituate Harbor. I’ve also bought wooden block print stamps at Brimfield.

I knew I wanted to try and create patterns with these so I used the following:

Materials to Create a Block Print Pattern

• Paper – I used Canson XL watercolor paper
• Palette tray
• Brayer
• Vintage Indian Block Print Stamps (or you can make your own using this kit)
• Speedball Ink

Process:

Step 1 – Place ink on tray. Use the brayer to spread it across the tray evenly.

Step 2 – Press your block stamp into the ink

Step 3 – Evenly press the stamp onto paper. In the above prints I created some stamps with more texture as I wanted that hand stamped look for my pattern. I ended up layering the different prints in one pattern.

Step 4 – Allow to dry. You can frame these prints or do different things with the original prints.

Materials Needed to Create the Pattern

• Hand stamped block prints (detailed above)
• A Scanner / Camera / Phone
• A Computer
• Adobe Illustrator

Process

Step 1 – You’ll need to get your pattern as an image so you can use a phone with a good camera, a DSLR camera, or a scanner. I like to use a scanner because it creates even light. If using a scanner try not to use a highly textured paper which is why I like the Canson XL paper. You will want to scan your pattern at 300 DPI in black and white and high contrast.

Step 2 – Create a vector file in Adobe Illustrator using image trace. Be sure to select ignore white (this will remove the background). Alternatively you can remove the background in Photoshop.

Step 3 – Create a tiling square in Adobe Illustrator and make your pattern. You can also turn the scanned images with the background removed into a Smart Object in Photoshop and use the Pattern Preview Mode to create a pattern you can view in realtime.

I know this all might seem really technical but wanted to give you a brief overview of how I did it and how you could make your own if you want to.

If you guys are interested I’m happy to write a post dedicated to creating patterns or the differences between Photoshop and Illustrator. Just let me know.

What is Block Printing?

Block Printing, or relief printing, is the method of creating a pattern by pressing a carved stamp onto a surface. Usually the block prints are hand carved. This technique is usually used on paper or fabric.

Block Printing In Asia

Block Printing originated in China and there are examples dating back to 220 AD. Block Printing spread across Asia to Korea and Japan. We had the opportunity to visit the Hokusai exhibit in Boston at the MFA to see his amazing block prints. He’s most famous for the Wave but he also did many in the traditional Japanese style.

Each color you see is created by a different block.

Block Printing in India

India has become synonymous with block printing especially on fabric. Creating block printed fabric is a very involved process from hand carved wood blocks, to bleached fabric, and stamps being soaked into mustard oil to prevent warping before printing.

Once ready to block print they stretch the fabric onto the surface and painstakingly hand print each design. The design can be a simple pattern with three colors (so three stamps) and more intricate designs can involve over 30 stamps (which means over 30 colors). The stamp ink is very thick.

In the video below, Marie captured the hand-stamping process. The fabric is stretch over 7 meters and this is the first color and layer of three.

Once the hand block patterns are stamped the fabric is brought to the rooftops to dry and cure in the sun. This allows the inks to set.

Look at this view of the fabric billowing in the breeze. How beautiful!

The fabric is then cleaned and ready for the finishing process which includes ironing, stitching, cutting, and inspecting and then it is sent around the world to be enjoyed!

Block Print Apparel

Oh my goodness there are so many beautiful clothing with block prints from high end to really affordable. Here are a few I love.

Block Print Home Decor

Look at these gorgeous hand blocked pillows. I can see them thrown onto a beautiful white slipcovered couch or something rattan.

Block Prints for the Table

Wouldn’t these be so pretty for your next gathering?

Let’s Keep in Touch

Did you enjoy this post? If so, let me know! I hope you enjoyed seeing my new block patterns and learning more about the history of block printing. If you have time I’d love you to check out the new collection.

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