Buying and Caring for Block-Printed Cloth

How to spot hand printing, and how to wash and store it so the vegetable colours hold.

Hand printing shows in small irregularities: a slight shift where a block met the previous impression, a variation in ink density across a repeat. Perfectly identical repeats across a whole length point to machine printing instead.

The back of the cloth tells the same story. Hand-blocked pieces carry a softer, less uniform reverse than screen or rotary prints, and the outline block's line will show through with natural variation.

Wash block-printed cloth separately in cool water for the first few washes, because vegetable colours can release excess dye. Do not soak for long periods and do not use strong detergents.

Dry in shade rather than direct sun for storage-bound pieces; occasional sun-bleaching during the making process is part of the craft, but repeated harsh sun at home fades the dye over time.

Store dry and folded, away from damp, so the natural fibres and the mordant bond are not stressed between uses.

• Look for slight shifts at block joins.
• Check the reverse for uneven ink.
• Wash cool and separate for the first washes.
• Dry in shade; store dry and folded.

Further reading

• Blocks and Dyes Behind a Print
• The Printing Process Step by Step