Block Printed Sarees

Block printing is the technique of printing patterns by means of engraved wooden blocks. It has been the most extraordinary though the slowest of all processes of textile printing. Since it is done by hands it is naturally a slow process, but it yields highly artistic outcomes. Wooden blocks for textile are made of box, holly, lime, sycamore, plane or pear wood.

Though these blocks may vary in size they must always be between two and three inches thick and the wood chosen are two or more pieces of cheaper wood like deal or pine. In this technique, several blocks are tongued and grooved to fit each other and are then finely glued together. In addition to the engraved block, there should be a printing table and colour sieve. While the table should be a stout framework of wood or iron that could support a thick slab of stone of different sizes that could fit the width of cloth to be printed.

Modern ladies love to experiment in innovation and block printed sarees complete the intense desire of trying something new and fresh that appears gorgeous and delightful.

Printing Process:

For creating block printed sarees, the printer draws a length of cloth over the table and marks it with a piece of coloured chalk or a ruler where block is to be applied. Now the printer applies the block and presses it firmly and steadily on the cloth in order to create a fine impression by striking it on the back with a wooden mallet. The printer continues to create impressions, and each succeeding impression is designed in a precise manner until the length of cloth is all printed. When the drawing process is over the printer puts it on the drying wire to be dried. In course of time, various modifications of block printing have been employed but two types such as tobying and rainbowing remain of great practical value.