Block Printing: How India Makes Textiles Using This Technique
Have you ever heard of block printing? It is the process of making prints on different textiles using blocks. Let us dive deeper into the origin and info about block printing.
History And Origin Of Block Printing
Block printing was a technique the ancient Chinese used. Historically, it is also believed that Indian artisans and craftsmen borrowed the technique from the ancient Chinese and used it in India. Ever since that, block printing has been used in ancient India for at least the 12th century. This method was also thought to be 2,000 years old. That is at least 20 centuries old of a business! This exquisite form of art also has become a cultural stamp in Indian clothesmaking.
Block Printing Use
Well, you guys might have another question floating somewhere in your head “How is block printing used?” The technique is very simple and straightforward. People craft various designs on wooden blocks and then dip the wooden blocks into the dye that is going to be used to make the fine print. They dip the block face in the design. Then, they take a cloth and put the print on the cloth. They do this multiple times until they have made their final print.
Block Printing Fabrics
have you ever wondered what fabrics they use in block printing? Well, the answer is lying in India's cotton fields. The list of states that produce cotton in India is…
- Gujarat
- Maharashtra
- Telangana
- Andhra Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Karnataka
- Haryana
- Rajasthan
- Punjab
- Odisha
Also, the way the cotton fabric is different from other textiles is ….
- Durability
Cotton is less durable than wool, but more durable than silk. Cotton fades over time, while polyester retains its color.
- Skin types
Cotton is suitable for all skin types, while polyester may not be suitable for people with skin allergies.
- Care
Cotton should be pre-washed to account for shrinkage. Use a sharp needle to prevent snagging. Use a medium heat setting and steam to remove wrinkles.
- Sewing
Use sharp fabric scissors or a rotary cutter for clean edges.
This fabric is also proven to be more natural than any other fabric and does not contain any animal materials or contents like sheep wool.
Dyes Used in Block Printing
Also, you might have one single question roaming out in your head somewhere “What dyes do they use to create these marvelous prints? ” The answer is also very simple. Vegetable dye is the most popular for block printing. Why you ask? Because vegetables are not that expensive and vegetable dye is not proven harmful to human skin. the most popular dying color in Indian block printing is the color indigo. Indigo dye is extracted from the leaves of the Indigo Ferra Tinctoria and can be used to color fabrics like cotton and silk.
Conclusion
Block printing has been a staple in our Indian culture. This style of fabric printing has been widely accepted around the world. People have been growing crazy for this type of fabric printing. If you want one of these block prints, you can buy it at my mom’s shop …
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