Printing Block

Printing block for a textile. Thick, buta-shaped block of wood with one side carved in relief with floral patterns. For printing patterns onto fabric with dye. 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).