BY Admin
Hand Block Printing is an ancient printing art done by hands, using teak wood carved in many different patterns, styles, and designs. It uses the carved wooden or linoleum blocks, as distinguished from printing designs that are pressed on the fabric. The most special form of printing art was developed in China and then re-introduced in India. This was earliest known with an actual date is a copy of the Diamond Sutra dated back to 868 AD, though the practice of block printing is probably about 2000 years old.
How to print fabrics using block?
The fabric to be printed is firstly washed of starch and soft bleached if the natural color of the fabric is not desired. In the case of dyeing saris where borders or the body is tied and dyed, it is done before starting off with the process of Block Printing. The fabric is later washed again to remove the excess of dye and then dried in sunlight thoroughly.
Later the fabric is placed on the printing table and tucked with some small pins to let it remain in its place. Now it’s an important stage of making everything done uniformly with no ripples and waves. The color that is mixed separately is used to dap the wooden block in it, to further print it on fabric.
The first step is the production of the original stuff first which is laid on a large, smooth wooden block and fixed perfectly. Next craftsmen of various skill levels, ranging from master carvers of the fine work to the talented artisans for cheaper blocks or less important sections, carve the original painted, drawn or written image into the block of wood. The block was then carefully placed on the fabric, using the pitch pins to remain stuck in its place.
For every print you dab on the fabric will result in a different style that leaves you astound for once. The block was then carefully positioned on the fabric and delicately pressed on further. Once the fabric is printed and dried out in the sun, you can now roll it in the wads of newspaper to prevent the dye from adhering to another layer and steamed in boilers constructed for this purpose. Silk fabric is also steamed this way after printing and the material is washed thoroughly in large quantities of water.
The final product which then comes will simply be great and beautiful which will leave you spellbound for once. To learn more about this ancient art, you can go for a block printing workshop in Jaipur and get the best experience of textile printing.