Block Printed Textile

Last weekend, my friend Dylan Meconis took me to Wildcraft for a block print textile class!

What do those words even mean? 

Basically, you carve out a design on a block, dip it ink, and then stamp it down onto fabric, leaving your beautiful design emblazoned across the surface. 

If you want a repeating pattern that continues (ideally) seamlessly across the length of fabric, first you draw your design in the center of a square paper, leaving empty space around all the edges.

Then you cut that initial design into four equal squares and swap around their position so now all that empty space that was on the outer perimeter is now in the center. That's where you draw a brand new element. This is the design that you'll carve out on your block. (Actual instructions on making a repeating tile pattern can be found here) 

Then you ink it up-

-and stamp away! 

Stamp! Stamp! Stamp!

Stamp till the cows come home.

I really dig the texture-y look and I'd love to learn how to use multiple colors! I'd also love to learn how to keep the prints uniform, so there's not quite such and obvious seam line. But for a first try? Not bad!

Oh, yes, those are beets.