experiments in block printing for christmas gifts this year. handmade linen tea towels and cotton canvas duck envelope-style pillow cases. the most successful prints (shown here) were cutouts of thin foam glued onto corrugated cardboard. this provided adequate “give” to get the prints to completely transfer to the fabric with acrylic paint (thinned with fabric medium). linocuts were giving poor transference, either because of the ink, the fabric, or the transfer method (even with a soft surface under the fabric). 

My newest DIY instructional for making your own block printed textiles from veggies (like yams and potatoes!) is live on Inhabitat. Check it out here and try your hand at making unique self-made textiles, tea towels, pillows, gifts, cards and more!