Cotton Printing or Block Printing

Cotton printing (block printing) is a traditional hand printing technique for printing cotton (and other textiles) using hand-carved wooden blocks. It is one of the oldest printing methods in the world, primarily known from India (such as Bagru or Rajasthan), but also popular in the Netherlands as a craft and heritage. 

How does it work? 

Blocks: Patterns are hand-carved into wooden blocks (often teak or sheesham wood). 

Process: Stretch fabric (usually cotton) tightly on a table. 

Dip the block into paint or printing paste. 

Press the block onto the fabric by hand (often repeated for repeating patterns). 

Multiple blocks and colors for complex designs. 

Finishing: Fix the paint (e.g., with steam or heat) for wash resistance. 

Often using natural dyes for an environmentally friendly result. 

Features: Unique & artisanal — Each print is slightly different due to the manual printing. 

Sustainable — Little waste, no machines needed, suitable for small runs. 

Applications — Clothing, bags, curtains, wallpaper, artwork. 

Advantages over machine printing — Artistic, tactile, and more environmentally friendly, but slower and more labor-intensive. 

In the Netherlands, this technique is actively practiced and taught, including at the Katoendrukkerij in Amersfoort. 

It is ideal for workshops and creative projects. 

In short: a centuries-old, manual stamping process that creates beautiful, durable patterns on cotton!

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