Linen fabric
Linen fabric's texture is well-suited to block printing because of its slightly rough and textured surface, which helps the ink adhere to the fabric, resulting in crisp and clear prints. In addition, linen fabric is known for its durability and strength, able to withstand the pressure and friction of the block printing process without tearing or fraying. This makes it a reliable choice for printing projects.
During my experimentation, I discovered that linen fabric is also absorbent, which means it can hold a good amount of ink. This helps to ensure that the ink is evenly distributed across the fabric, resulting in a consistent print.
Another reason I chose linen fabric is that it is made from natural fibers, which aligns with my final concept of being more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
The problem
The block printing process is a manual technique that demands a high level of skill and precision to ensure that the design is evenly and accurately applied to the fabric. As a result, even small variations in pressure or alignment can cause the design to appear slightly different on various parts of the fabric, which is especially noticeable in large-scale fabric pieces like mine. Due to these challenges, I found it very difficult to align the blocks properly, making it an inefficient process for producing large quantities of fabric.
fabric problem solving
To solve that issue, I decided to use fabric tape. I printed each block separately on fabric, cut around it, and then used the tape to place it in the right position on the large scale fabric. Then, I printed onto the fabric to ensure that the alignment and measurements were correct. After that, I used an iron to secure it in place.
