Printing Block

Printing block for textile. Border, scalloped band of leaves above a band of flowers and leaves. When the block was printed in repeat (as it would be in use) it would form a stripe; perhaps a border design. Printing blocks are created by professional block makers who carve the design into wood. A single block-printed pattern may require several differnt blocks, with each block used for a separate element of the overall design. The pattern can be applied either directly with substantive dyes and with pigments or submerged into a dye bath after being printed with mordants (to adhere) or resists (to repel).