DIY Fabric Printing - How to Screen Print a Cotton Fabric by Hand in 5 minutes
With very little investment and almost no technical knowledge or complex apparatus, we will get you started on screen printing. It's a common misconception that one needs a costly setup for screen printing. We have used an Indian cotton fabric (muslin), which is an organic cotton fabric. We make small paisley patterns in this session. We describe the whole technique of printing and treating the fabric afterwards.
The materials needed for this are:- Cotton Fabric
- Color (dye)
- Color Binder
- Color Fixer
- Screen Pattern
- Applicator
Except for Screen Pattern, you can get everything else in any Hardware store. Contact us if you need Screen Patterns.
Do visit the Block Print Cottons section of our online store.
Comments
Meena nair said:
Mam pl tell me where I can get screen with designs on it.
meera said:
what kind of binder and fixer should i use. Is there any name for that?
meenu said:
Where I get the binder ink and fixer
meenu said:
Where I get the binder ink and fixer
veena said:
Hi
How do I get the design on the screen? can u help me? i searched in google but i didn’t get. so u pls.Thanks
Regards
Kaveri Vasudev said:
It was a wonderful tutorial on printing on fabrics. Thank you. Want to details abt ur workshop. Is it held in bangalore. If so, could u pl give the details. Thanx
Kasif said:
Jenny, love your fabric and your t-shirt! And your blog!Are you coinmg to the workshop this year? We’d love to see you and your Mom again!Mary
Marie Vetter said:
Dear DesiCrafts,
I am sending you a big thank you from France !! Thank you for helping me and take the time to explain everything.
I have carefully read your advice and I am going to try all this. I will let you know how it worked.
You are very very kind and once again, MERCI !!!
Very sincerely,
Marie Caroline.
DesiCrafts said:
Dear Marie,
Thank you for your detailed query about fabric printing!
Many craft enthusiasts like you have written us about printing supplies (specially the dye and the fixer). We have right pigments and color fixers available with us but due to customs regulation about sending liquid items, we are unable to deliver these products to our customers abroad. We will try to help you with printing issues that you are facing.
There is a possibility that the dye that you are using is not meant for fabric printing. Or the dye and water mix that you are making is very thin.
There is a company called Pebeo that sells fabric paints brand Setacolor. It’s a very popular brand and you should be able to find it in any shopping mall or stationary shop. If you don’t find it, you can start with any Acrylic paint meant for fabric printing.
While printing using a block, you must keep your fabric stretched on a flat surface with a proper padding (felt or any thick fabric). Pinning the fabric on all corners is the best way to keep fabric stretched while printing.
You can use a brayer to spread paint on the wooden block evenly. The paint that you are using should be consistent. To test the consistency of the paint /dye, you should try printing on a waste cloth first. If the print is not coming properly and if the motif has rough edges after printing, you should try diluting the paint. You will easily find a solution to dilute the paint. If you are using Setacolor or any other Acrylic paint, you don’t need to add binder to make the dye.
Binder helps to make dye consistent. You can make binder at home by mixing little bit of water in few tablespoons of a water based glue. Just make sure that the glue is mostly colorless otherwise it will affect the color of the dye. Start with small amount of dye and see if you get the desired outcome.
Usually, reverse ironing and washing the fabric multiple times at altering the temperature is the best way to fix color of fabrics printed with vegetable dyes. In case of synthetic dyes, reverse ironing after 48 hours of printing is suggested. Fabric printed with Acrylic paints should not be washed in hot water and should be ironed on reverse side.
We hope these tips will be useful for you! Please try these and let us know the outcome.
Best Regards,
DesiCrafts
Marie Vetter said:
Dear DesiCrafts,
I have just watched the video about screenprinting and I have a few questions. My sister went to Jaipur for a vacation and brought me back several carved wooden stamps absolutely beautiful. Since then I have tried to print with them using regular clothe dye which I buy here In France. No success. I know that I need a binder and probably a fixer to keep the dye on the fabric. I was wondering if the products you show on the video would work for hand block printing. I f not do you have the right products and do you sell them ? I would appreciate any kind of help because we have nothing at all in France regarding hand block printing..
Thank you s very much for your help,
Kindest regards,
Marie Caroline.
DesiCrafts said:
Dear Monica,
We will surely help you in this regard. We have your e-mail address. Let us send you the information about some good places in India where you can master the art of block printing and screen printing. We’ll also write to you about sourcing plain shirts and Tees.
Regards,
DesiCrafts
monica said:
Hi
would love to come to india to attend a printing textile class and all other technique still in use in your country.
I am an italian artist working on my own and I have clients in Switzerland, Uk, USA, Mexico, Africa.
I’m also looking for interesting new white plain tshirts and other item to print and sell. Do you have interesting adresses for me?
Thanks
Regards
Monica