fabric prints

Video – ideas for monoprinting fabric with the gelatin plate

Making prints with the gelatin plate is experimental and spontaneous.

It is possible to print on fabric as well as paper. In the video below get an idea of what types of marks are possible when printing on fabric with inks and the gelatin plate.

If this looks interesting read more about the online class, Monoprinting Fabric.

In this class you will learn how to make the most of your:

  • tools
  • marks
  • skills and ideas.

Hope to see you in class!

play with printing on fabric

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Flour sack towels fun for printing

If you follow me, then you know that I am a process person and often don’t care about getting a result. But I have found a way to play and have a product.

Flour Sack Cloths!

gelatin print flour sacks

I got 5 white flour sack cloths at Walmart for less than $5. They are about 27″ square. They are thin and a bit textured.

I find that they are a good size for printing on. They are pretty ease to move around my work table and still be able to reach all of the fabric.

print on flour sack cloths

One thing that I love about printing on these flour sack cloths is that I get to enjoy my handiwork. I use them for hand towels and dish towels around the kitchen.

If you want to explore hand printing on fabric, then join us in the next session of Monoprint Fabric, the online printmaking class. Read the details and sign up today. Class starts March 12th, 2018.

 

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20 reasons to Learn to monoprint fabric

My students have shared their reasons for wanting to learn more about monoprinting fabric with the gelatin plate. Read on and see if you can relate.

Monoprint on fabric with hand stitching by linda germain

  1. Make fun fabrics to make clothes for grandchildren.
  2. Learn the benefits of different applications of hand-printing at home.
  3. Discover and master the differences between printing on fabric and paper.
  4. Get ideas on how to incorporating the fabric into work.
  5. Just get started with gelatin printmaking
  6. Obtain lots of time saving information about products, inks and tools
  7. Learn to use objects and color to create a great impression
  8. Discover how to fabric keep looking good and bright
  9. Make choices to keep the soft hand of the fabric
  10. Add printing on fabric to your mixed media skills
  11. Make completely unique fabrics for mixed media projects
  12. Accent woven fabric with printed marks and surface design.
  13. Expand your knowledge of how to compose a pleasing image/pattern
  14. Be inspired new ideas from everyone in the class
  15. Explore and develop your sense of design
  16. Have such messy fun!
  17. Embrace a little play time
  18. Expand the possibilities using the gelatin plate!
  19. Make new fiber art projects
  20. Learn to make clear prints

Do you have a reason to explore gelatin printmaking on fabric? If so, then join us in this session of Monoprinting Fabric.  This online printmaking class starts soon.

Read the details on the workshop page.

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Is monoprinting your style?

When many folks think of printmaking they think of t-shirts or multiple impressions of the exact same image.

Monoprinting and monotype are quite different. They are one of a kind impressions. There is a element of spontaneity and discovery in each print.

hand printed tote bag using the gel plate

Which style sounds like you?

Me. I am definitely a monoprinter. I love the playful discovery process of techniques like gelatin printmaking, trace monoprinting and other mixed media approaches.

hand printed dog tote bag

Because I teach, I am sensitive to both the tight and technical approach and the freer monoprinting style. Sometimes I find myself trying to push myself into the tight and technical. Frustration is always the result. Then I realize I am trying to be something that I am not.

Ahhhh….

monoprinted book bag with the gelatin plate

I let go of the tight and technical expectations and generally my printmaking gets a lot better.

So if you are aware of your style – embrace it fully and let your magic be revealed.

hand printed fabric using the gelatin and glycerin plate

Monoprinting on Fabric is for folks who want to create unique pieces of fabric for other projects, wall art, quilting, home decor and crafts.

Read the details and join us.

Is monoprinting your style? Read More »

Printing a Tote bag with small gelatin plate

This morning I refreshed a couple of my gelatin printing plates. As you may have discovered they shrink a bit and get stiffer over time. This happens because the water evaporates.

You can see in the picture below that the gelatin plate shrank about 1/2 ” on the top and bottom.

gelatin plate that has shrank a bit

Before melting the printing plates, I cut some rectangles, squares and circles. I found that it was easy to cut the gelatin with scissors. I punched the circles with recycled caps, but I think a nice cookie cutter would make a cleaner cut.

tiny gelatin and glycerin plates for hand printing on fabric

Then I pulled out some acrylic paint and hand printed this tote bag! Fun stuff.

hand printed tote bag

If you would like to explore hand printing fabric with the gelatin plate then read the details and join us in the next session of Monoprinting Fabric. Class starts soon.

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