Studio notes : Hand printing fabric
This past few weeks I’ve been hand printing fabric, mostly linen, using my own hand cut stencils and various little tools found around my home and sewing studio.
I used to hand screen print many years ago, and am loving coming back to my own hand printed fabric designs.
By not using screen printing tools I’m able to be quicker and more flexible with the designs I’m creating, as well as the speed with which I’m getting more fabric printed up.
I’ve been spending a whole day making different hand cut stencils or gathering discarded and unusual items to use as printing blocks.
This pebble print was created with a hand cut stencil. I used a special paper created for stencil printing. It’s designed for easy cutting, and holding up to wet paint and washing off. It lasts quite a long time, if cared for, which means that you can re-use the stencil over and over.
Using fabric paint and a stipple brush, I created dimension to the pebbles by using various amounts of paint and pressure to each one. With varying paint build-up it leaves some parts darker and some parts with no paint at all.
I actually teach all this inside my online course Hand Printed Fabric : Print, Paint, Stitch.
I sewed it into a fully-lined tote bag, which I share inside the course too.
Hand printed linen tote bag with Pebble design
Stitching into the pebbles with a variegated thread.
I wanted to share some snaps from my studio table, from the past weeks. I don’t always share these images on Instagram, so thought you’d enjoy seeing what I do each week in my studio.
I used to work from the kitchen table, but now have my own room. Since the kids moved out at the start of last year, I have one of their bedrooms. My own little room with a lockable door. Space to lay out my work, have my sewing machine, fabric folded neatly in a cupboard.
The fact that I don’t have to pack everything up every day, or the whole family avoid the table for days on end.
Using natural indigo powder with fabric medium. I’m making a quilt with this square-ish design.
Printing using found objects - throw away lids from empty moisturiser bottles and the rubber of a pencil.
