How to Make a Block Print Tea Towel

How to Make a Block Print Tea Towel

When I came up with my list of 22 goals for 2019 back in January, my secret craft project for the year was to make 100 mugs. I bought a ceramic mold and tried real hard, but after the first 25-30 mugs were epic failures, I decided that mug making probably wasn’t for me and donated all the supplies. 

And so then, I began to look around for a different project.

In early spring, a block printing class popped up at a local arts center. So with my neighbor in tow, I set off to try my hand at that. And well, it was sort of a success.

Not because we both left the class happy with what we had created, but because it had sparked an interest in wanting to continue to create new things in this medium I had just stumbled into.

I had planned on making 100 block print tea towels to offer in my for my Etsy shop for the holidays.

But that was before we decided to sell our house at the last minute.  And well, right now with it being only 6 weeks since we moved and the house still a bit of an obstacle course inside, and a fence to get in before the ground freezes and a family room to finish, {and 11 roman shades to make for that room} the only project I want to work these days is turning our house into a home. 

That being said, I didn’t want to leave you empty handed. I wanted to show you how to make a block print tea towel. And also let you know that this was SUPER SIMPLE to do. If you are looking for something a little different to make for friends and family this holiday season, block printing is a sure fire winner.

Here we go! The photos at the top of the post with the finished tea towels and pillow were things I made recently on my own. The tutorial photos below were taken as I progressed through the block printing class.

Supplies I Used

• Speedball Speedy-Cut Printing Blocks
• Mikisyo Power Grip Carving Tools, Five Piece Set
• Tracing Paper
• Watercolor Paper
• Speedball Screen Printing Ink
• 4 in. x 3/8 in. High-Density Foam Mini Paint Roller Set
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Pre Washed and Ironed Dish Towels {I tried out these: Flour Sack Towels 28″x28″ and 18″ x 28″ Dish Towels * The 18″ x 28″ were my favorite both texture and size wise}

How to Make a Block Print Tea Towel

Step 1 

Draw your design onto a piece of tracing paper. The small rubber like carving blocks we used in class were 4″ x 6″ and so the size of our tracing paper was cut to 4″ x 6″ as well.

Your design will print backwards so be sure and take that into consideration, especially if you are planning on incorporating words into your design.

Step 2

Flip the design over against the rubber like block and rub over the lines of the drawing with a pencil so that the lead on the other side transfers to the block.

Step 3

If your lines are faint, you can outline them with a pen.

Step 4

Carefully use the carving tools to remove the rubber where your design was.

One of the books I really enjoyed looking at during the class was Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens by Lena Corwin.

Another great book on the basics of block printing was Print Pattern Sew by Jen Hewitt.

Both of these books were full of tips and ideas. If you are on the hunt for a gift for a teen or a college student who loves art projects, I would think a box of supplies, some fabric and one of these books would make a smashing gift.

Next comes the fun part. Printing!

Step 5

Lay a piece of watercolor paper on a work surface and tape down the edges.

Step 6

Squirt a little screen printing paint onto the watercolor paper and move it around a bit with the so there are no lumps of paint.

Step 7

Using your foam roller, roll a smooth layer of ink across the cut side of your printing block.

Step 8

Carefully place the printing block onto your {pre-washed and ironed} fabric, ink side down, and press gently.

Step 9

Let the design sit for 24 hours to make sure it is completely dry.

Step 10

Iron your finished piece to set the ink. I was worried the ink might stick to my iron so I used a thin flour sack towel as sort of a buffer between the iron and my stamped piece of fabric just to be on the safe side. {It didn’t stick, but I felt better doing that}.

That’s it! I told you it was super easy. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Each week, from now until Christmas, I’ll be posting a tutorial. So stay tuned for more DIY ideas.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,

~Mavis