A New Revolution in Textile Art

Beautiful Blocks! The Art of Pattern Theory.

By Jamie Malden

There is a new revolution in the world of textile art. A simple way to make your fabric come alive. After centuries in the wilderness people are finally waking up to Block Printing.

Block Printing is one of the easiest ways to liven up a dull bit of material, even a plain bit of white cotton can be made exciting with a wooden block and some fabric paint. So why has Block Printing been ignored for so long? The problem is that people are afraid to start printing because they think their patterns will come out wrong and the fabric will be ruined. Not any more, we have provided a quick and easy guide to Pattern Theory. Following the basic techniques of Pattern Theory means you will never go wrong, however much you print and believe me, once you see how great these ideas look, you will be printing a lot.

Pattern Theory divides into eight subcategories and, once you have mastered these, you can combine them to make hundreds of styles each one different from the last.

Rows and Columns
The first and most obvious technique is rows and columns. This is just what you expect, placing your block prints along a horizontal row or down a vertical column. Things to try are; playing around with the spacing between the individual blocks or between the rows/ columns. A top tip is to use a ruler to make it easy on yourself and keep the spacing accurate. Vary the spacing between blocks and rows and see what inspires you.

Brick
Again, this technique is fairly self explanatory. If you look at a brick wall you will see that each row is offset from those above and below it. See if you can mirror that with your printing. A ruler is definitely handy for this style.

Half Drop
Half Drop works on the same principle as brick but the pattern is turned through ninety degrees. So, with this technique, it is the columns that are offset rather than the rows. Half Drop and Brick patterns work really well with both square geometric designs (the space between the blocks looks incredibly effective) and circular blocks. Circular blocks, particularly give an amazing visual impact.

Mirror
Mirror patterns turn the block through one hundred and eighty degrees to form a mirror image of the initial block at a different point on the fabric. Mirror pattern works best with actual images, something like the tree in the photograph provided, as you can experiment with using mirroring to create an entirely new image. A top tip is to get a small hand mirror to see what your pattern will look like before you commit yourself to printing. Try altering the point around which you mirror your image, some could be very close, while others could have more space. Let your own imagination inspire you.

Rotation
Rotation, again, works best with an image to print rather than a geometric pattern. Choose a fixed point on your fabric and rotate the Block around it. Using this technique you can create fabulous shapes out of the individual blocks. If you vary the distance from the fixed point you can make, triangles, squares, hexagons, even up to something close to a circle. Try picking different distances from your fixed point within the same pattern to create a star.

Random
Random does exactly what it says on the tin. After keeping so rigidly to individual pattern theory sometimes it is nice to print as your imagination takes you. The most important thing to remember with this technique is to be bold and follow your heart. If you do that you can't go wrong. Mistakes are part of a truly individual pattern so embrace your errors, don't panic over them.

Block on Block
Block on Block is also known as over printing. In this style you place another image over the first printed image. A top tip for this technique is to make sure you use a lighter colour for the first image otherwise you will not be able to see your second print clearly. Try changing the orientation of the image for the second print, or use a different image all together.

Shadowing
Shadowing is the most difficult of the techniques to master, but probably the most effective when you get it right. The same principles apply as for Block on Block but this time the second image is moved only fractionally across the first, to create the effect of a shadow or ghost. Obviously for the 'shadow' to work the image must be in the same aspect. Try to keep the direction of the shadow consistent across the fabric so that the shadow effect is constant.

That is all there is to Pattern Theory, once you have got to grips with these simple styles the world is your oyster. Combining techniques can create really exciting patterns and if you experiment with colour you will soon be the proud owner of some gorgeous fabrics, totally unique to you.

If you want to get started with Block Printing but are unsure about the best way to go about it, visit The Indian Block Company. They will provide you with everything you need to begin, including practical step by step guides on how to get printing. I hope this has inspired you to get printing and start creating some beautiful fabrics. Join the revolution, together we can change the way we look at fabric. •

© 2010 Jamie Malden. All rights reserved.

3/21/10