Block Printing

June 10, 2012
NGOC MINH NGO
Use everyday objects like buttons and string to make graphic and beautiful block-printed fabrics and papers.
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Credit: Johnny Miller

You probably know all about the carved-potato trick or, of course, your own thumb. Or maybe there’s a little girl in your life who presses her princess stamps all the way down your left arm. Such has been your understanding of making prints. But have you considered that odd button? A scrap of string? The berry basket in the recycling bin? These everyday objects -- and many, many more -- can be used to make graphic and beautiful block-printed fabrics and papers. The process is easy enough for a summer afternoon, and it requires very few supplies beyond the stuff you already have on hand.

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Materials

Credit: NGOC MINH NGO

What's it going to be? You can't always tell by looking at an object how it is going to print. Yes, some are pretty obvious, such as the dice. But others are complete surprises. Before printing on a sheet of fabric, play around a bit on paper: Practice patterns on paper, but if you plan to print on fabric, also test how the paint looks on a swatch.

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Pattern Play

Credit: NGOC MINH NGO

These linen towels only look as though they were silk-screened; their designs were really made by manipulating the following household items.

1. Overlapping triangular toy blocks.

2. Triangular toy blocks.

3. The bottom of a mini tart tin, the rim of a drinking glass, and a button attached to a wooden block.

4. Rubber band wrapped around wooden block.

5. Bottoms of hexagonal and circular jars and buttons glued to wooden blocks.

6. Rope glued to a wooden plank.

7. Straw star.

8. Bottom of a plastic berry basket.

9. House numbers screwed to a scrap of wood.

10. Toy-animal block.

11. Potato masher.

12. Buttons glued to a scrap of wood.

13. Woven wooden-bead trivet.

14. Tart tin and button.

15. Bottle stopper.

16. Buttons.

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Pattern Options

Credit: Jody Kivort

Consider the shape of the thing and how you want it to repeat. This masher is a great tool to try.

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Pattern Options

Credit: NGOC MINH NGO

The masher can be used end-to-end for a linear striped effect, alternated horizontally and vertically, or overlapped for a boxy graphic that is then repeated.

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Tote Bags

Credit: Jody Kivort

Cotton My Bag totes, from $1 each, muji.us.

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Napkins

Credit: Jody Kivort

Uno linen napkins, in Natural and Carbon, $6 each, cb2.com.

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Density

Credit: Jody Kivort

Decide whether you want to print close together or far apart. The same object -- like a bottle stopper -- can result in two very different looks.

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Density

Credit: NGOC MINH NGO

The loose pattern follows a grid, and the tighter pattern, inset, places the starbursts in a staggered order.

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Shoes

Credit: Jody Kivort

Anchor canvas espadrilles (similar to shown), $20, urbanoutfitters.com.

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Multiple Objects

Credit: Jody Kivort

Combine different objects for a more complex pattern, like buttons, the rim of a glass, and a mini tart tin.

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Multiple Objects

Credit: NGOC MINH NGO

Experiment with samples to see which order works best (we started with the glass and positioned the tin inside).

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Transparency

Credit: Jody Kivort

Layering semitransparent paint creates a whole new color in the overlapping area (almost like gingham). Use the dimensions of the block to determine the grid.

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Transparency

Credit: NGOC MINH NGO

And don’t worry about inconsistencies -- they're part of the charm.

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Notebooks

Credit: Jody Kivort

Recycled paper notebooks, from $1.50 each, muji.us.

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Stationery

Credit: Jody Kivort

Matte flat cards, $5.50 for 25; matte envelopes, $6.25 for 25; paperpresentation.com.

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T-Shirt

Credit: Jody Kivort

Kids' baby-rib cap-sleeve tee, in Baby Blue, $10.50, store.americanapparel.net.

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Tips and Tricks

Credit: NGOC MINH NGO

If you want to print on textiles, experiment with a variety of fabric paints. Some brands are more transparent; some are heavier -- so each gives a different effect. Mix in colorless extender to make the paint semitransparent -- if you overlap colors, you can create a new shade.

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