Block Print Tutorial for Repeating Patterns in Cosplay!
When you need to paint a repeating motif, or worse create the illusion of patterned fabric, masking tape or freezer paper can be a lot of work. Screen-printing is an option, but if you don’t have space or funds for another hobby, consider block-printing.
I’ve used this technique a few times, for my Rapunzel bodice and skirt panel, as well as trimming some skirts.
Here I’ve used:
-A 12x12 piece of Softoleum, available for about 15$ in Canada, smaller pieces for less. You can also use Lino blocks or Soft-Kut blocks, but I find Softoleum sturdy and easy to cut.
-A Lino Cutter will run you about 10$ and comes with 5 blade shapes.
-Speedball Fabric Paint in Amethyst and Night Glo White
1. Start by drawing your design onto your stamp block. Here I made a stencil, for accuracy. If your design isn’t symmetrical, keep in mind your print will be a mirror of how your stamp looks!
2. Use a Lino Cutter, like the red one on the left, to trace the edges of your pattern, where your negative space should be. Then scrape away inside the places you want empty. I also cut off the border so you need to carve away less space, and also can use the leftover for smaller stamps.
3. Your stamp should look more or less like this, with all the areas you don’t want painted hollowed out.
4. Prepare your paints. The Speedball Amethyst was pretty close to my fabric colour, so I’ve mixed it with the lighter Night Glo fabric-paint. The Glo properties have lent a green tinge than you would not normally get using normal white.
*Do a test-swatch to decide your colour is correct on your fabric.
*You should probably test your entire stamp to make sure it isn’t mirrored, and that all intended negative space has been removed.
5. I apply paint to my stamp using a sponge brush, but you can also fill a pallet or use non-porous surface as a pallet, then dip your stamp.
The sponge gives you more control over how much paint is used, but is more likely to result in a sheer stamp.
If you dip your stamp in paint, it will be more opaque, but be warned the more paint, the more likely unwanted splatters and rough edges will occur.
There are paint rollers available for block printing, which can also be used to paint your stamp.
When your stamp has paint on all the positive space, flip it over and press it, paint-down, onto the desired place on your fabric. Be careful not to shift it once it has touched, or this will result in a double image or blurred edges. To make sure pressure is applied evenly on larger stamps, I place a book over top.
6. Take off your book or other weight, then carefully peal off your stamp, making sure not to let it slip back onto the fabric or you still risk a double image. Ta-dah!
7. Repeat as many times as needed.
This example is for my current Anime North project, Shoomlah’s historical Rapunzel, so if you’d like to follow progress I’ll be posting here, and to my cosplay page.
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