Design, Carve & Print Your Own Textile

Explore the process of block printing on fabric and learn how to turn your own ideas into repeatable textile designs.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll design and carve your own printing block, then use it to create prints on fabric. You’ll learn the fundamentals of relief printing while experimenting with pattern, repetition, placement, and colour.

Whether you’re interested in textile design, fashion, illustration, or simply want to give your fabrics a personal touch, this workshop is a fun and practical introduction to hand printing.

What You’ll Learn

Designing Your Block
Develop a simple image or motif suitable for relief printing and learn how to think about positive and negative space.

Carving the Block
Learn how to safely use carving tools to cut your design into a block and create different marks and textures.

Preparing Your Print
Learn how to apply ink evenly to your block and prepare your fabric for printing.

Printing on Fabric
Transfer your carved design onto fabric by hand, experimenting with placement, repetition, scale, and composition.

Pattern & Repetition
Explore how a single motif can be repeated and arranged to create larger textile patterns.

Colour Experimentation
Experiment with different ink colours and combinations to create your own textile designs.

What Is Block Printing?

Block printing is a relief printing technique where an image is carved into a block, leaving the raised areas to hold ink. The inked block is then pressed onto a surface such as paper or fabric to create an image.

It is a simple but versatile process that can be used to create illustrations, patterns, textiles, clothing, and decorative objects.

Who Is This Workshop For?

This workshop is suitable for:

• Beginners interested in block printing

• Artists and illustrators

• Anyone interested in textile design

• Makers who want to customise their own fabrics

• People looking to explore relief printmaking

No previous printmaking experience is required.

What You’ll Make

You will create your own carved printing block and use it to print a series of designs onto fabric.

Experiment with a single image, repeating motif, or all-over pattern to create your own textile design.

Bring Your Own Fabric

Participants are to bring their own fabric or textile items to print on.

Suitable options include:

• Cotton fabric

• Fabric panels

• Tote bags

• T-shirts

• Clothing

• Patches or textile scraps

For the best results, choose light-coloured, relatively smooth cotton or natural-fibre fabrics. Please bring clean, pre-washed fabric where possible.

Printing blocks are provided by the studio.

Class Type

Open sessions are available for this class if you cannot make the offered time slots. Let us know your availability and we can schedule you in.

This class happens every 3 months, on the 2nd Sunday.