Block Printing on Fabric

[@starboard6372]

I had my mind blown when I followed a suggestion to clean my printmaking tools with MURPHY'S OIL SOAP. I use acrylics, but I'm betting it would work fantastically well on oil paints....I pretty much SOAKED my brayer in the MOS and did not agitate it. The paint practically melted off and I was able to wipe it clean with little rinsing....I was also able to save the soap because it was so clear; PLUS it smells great.

[@TextileIndie]

Great tip! Thank you for the suggestion. We're planning a new round of fabric printing and surface design, so I'll try it out and add it to the new content.

[@glassman304]

On your first print, the cotton linen, it may have printed darker if you had pulled a first print onto paper and then re-inked. I find this a necessary step to "prime" my blocks.

[@TextileIndie]

Thanks for the tip! I'll try priming my block from now on.

[@yoadrienne]

I just found you today after watching like a million block printing videos. I enjoyed this video and I am surprised you don't have more followers. Quality content! Thanks for putting in the work.

[@TextileIndie]

Thanks for watching! I really appreciate the encouragement!

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

A fantastic thorough demonstration. :-)

[@TextileIndie]

Many thanks! Are you making a stamp project. I'd love to here about what you're creating.

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

@@TextileIndie I hav just returned to linocuttng-orinting some very old ones and planning some new ones. We w see how t goes. :-) I usually specialise in old hand made photographic methods-salt prints and gum prints. very dfferent from lino. :-)

[@TextileIndie]

@@TERRYBIGGENDEN I'll have to look into salt and gum prints, I'm not familiar. If you happen to be on Facebook or Instagram and want to share photos of your projects be sure to tag us @textileindie We love to see what folks are working on.

[@Francinegeo]

Great tutorial, you talk slowly enough and clearly, and right down to cleaning the tools. I like to draw and paint with watercolor, my interest in your tutorial, is to print on curtains for my home. Thank you very much

[@TextileIndie]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! Watercolor is a fun medium, I like dabbling in it too. I hope you have a grand time printing your curtains.

[@jamiecoutu5964]

Your video is amazing. Thanks for the tips on cleaning the equipment with natural ingredients!

[@TextileIndie]

So glad you found it helpful! The oil based clean up can be rough, so happy to help😊

[@Wildevis]

Basically a fine woven smooth cotton prints best, like Egyptian cotton as I also find it dyes beautifuly. I am surprised how nicely the velvet prints

[@TextileIndie]

I agree, Eqyptian cotton is really nice to work with.

[@insafsersar3485]

Amazing 🤩! Thanks 👍🏼😊 I will try it soon

[@TextileIndie]

Have fun!

[@PDN11141]

I learned something so am pleased!

[@TextileIndie]

So glad you learned something! Thanks for watching.

[@nitishsingh4965]

Good job

[@TextileIndie]

Thanks

[@georgiabartholomew6850]

Beautiful!

[@TextileIndie]

Thank you!

[@illustratornamedkasper]

Hi there! I would like to print on felt - do you know if this is possible (as this is quite a thick material)? Great vid, new subscriber here!

[@TextileIndie]

Thanks for subscribing! You can block print on felt, but the print ends up looking very grainy. Similar to the print I did on the velvet fabric. Because the surface of felt isn't consistent or smooth it doesn't evenly pick up the paint.

[@illustratornamedkasper]

@@TextileIndie ah okay, thank you. I am gonna go with cotton instead then =)

[@ericfitz05snakes]

Do you reccomend 24 or 48 hours before ironing for heatset?

[@TextileIndie]

Probably 48 just to be safe. But if you tap the ink lightly with your finger and it seems dry (non comes off on your finger), then it's probably ready. Just be sure to use a pressing cloth or scrap fabric over the print before applying the iron😊. I've ruined some designs by forgetting that step.

[@ashleylamp7574]

@@TextileIndiehey there! Fellow printmaker here. I’m having a tough time with my block printing. I’ve done all the steps you listed above and in the wash, my prints come out faded :(. I also use speedball oil based ink but I buy mine in the bigger puck looking containers. My work space can get pretty humid this time of year so I even took extra precautions and waited almost 2 weeks for everything to be dry to touch. I heat set everything before putting it in the wash but I’m still running into this problem. Any help is greatly appreciated.