The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-02-03
NEW ACCOMPLISHMENT
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS


away the buclts round. leaving the design
either in high or low relief. according To
'iic taste of the clufs worker. As a rule
the block in which the design is In marked
relief gives the best results. However.
This is a mere matte. OF taste and can he
cut In either fashion.
III Is the aim, OF course, in block print
ing to press the block N a pad OF coior
and then upon the material. thus getting
the precise impression of the design. 1t
is applied at regular intervals over the
surface of the TEXTILE. and, as may be
imagined, the effect Is not only aighlS
original. but Invariably extremely artistic
as we'll. l...-.
Even n very simple block used with
ordinary printing ink will produce the
most artistic results. and a set of bed
hangln2s of unbleaci,ed muslin done for
al old fashioned four poster. recently
seen. We're simply stunning. And the
common red ink OF III II. applied
to the same material Is capable of wOnd-
derfully effective results. Formerly bed
spreads and bed ~hanglnKs were printed In
this fashion. and 1t is u not at all UNI
common sight to zee q square of such a
spread framed and hung up In a home
where Old fashioned things are loved for
their artistic as we'll as practical value.
Naturally the utilization of colors adds
tremendously and Is productive of much
more artistic results.
AS soon as the block Is ready then
comes the consideration of the color pad.
There there is still another chance OF Sc
lection. Cheese cloth in. many layers is
sometimes used as a foundation for the
pad. but. generally speaking. several lay
ers of felt are preferred. Best Of all Is
to select a square ofswood quite a bit
larger than the block and cover with sew
eral thicknesses OF felt. This should be
tackled In place; otherwise 1t will slide
and become annoying. A piece of glass is
sometimes used. or even a plate. but
neither is SO we'll liked as the wood for
the foundation.
Over the pad the color is spread. The
wood block is pressed into the color and
stamped quickly and firmly on the ma
terial. A different pressure will be needed
according to the quality OF the material
used. A light pressure Is given a thin
material and a firm impression such a
fabric as burlap or crash. In fact, the
latter frequently must be hammered in
order to receive a perfect impression both
as to line and color.
1t Is the aim to get a good Impression
we'll colored without too much paint. so
that 1t Is best after pressing the block
on the pad to wipe Off any saperfluous
color with a piece OF waste cloth that 1t
Is advisable to have at hand. In fact, 1t
Is always safest to test the result on some
odd pieces Of material before putting it
1 " SAc llitdl test.
Not only inks and oils. but dyes and the
! opaque coiors may be used. but either
dextrine. mucilage or some nxative must
be added to give the proper consistency.
If oils are used they should first, be di-
luted with turpentine or kerosene and then
~thickened with dextrine. the idea being to
give the color with the least amnunt OF
paint used. The same method ia followed
with the dyes and opaque colors. though
to the former may be added simply muci-
lage.
Great care should he taken lest the color
lie in too great quantities on the left, else
the block will take up too much and the
design be spoiled. Many craft workers pre-
fer to apply the color TO The block with a
broad fiat brush. and this plan Is adopted
In the classes at the Y. w. C.. A., where
some Of the best block printing In the city
Is done by the students. The color is
mixed In precisely the same way with gum
traEacanth or .deAtrine and the pad 10
done away with. 49,
ro 1H s4Ist Il ! 81 18Th 4 Z! &a gsi e. sT.t s II. fabric
! Urea from creases so that the design shall
be printed evenly. Some girls take an
f pli l1oniak o efa ':gatf gag 9v ~ v gXeT I ( several
TO be printed is tackled. The depth Of
material aids in obtaining a correct inn
preston and transfers the paint more
evenly to the goods. 1t Is always adyis-
able to take advantage OF whatever aid,
one may, such as using pins to guide the
Should one block be placed out of align
ment 1t will be apt to spoil the whole pat
tern. In printing stamp quickly and
firmly.
This sort OF work Is practical, for the
reason that II done In oils the bureau
covers. cushion covers and the like NAV
pc laundried-if carefully d~one-without
L In ilIIinD tho .7aSiov, sd
done by. a young girl which is pictured
in the illustration gives an idea Of what
may be accomplished III block printing nv
experts in the art, In this case the blocks
were Of several sizes and shapes. and az
there Is a block for every color n can
readily be seen what exquisite results can
be obtained. The curtains are quite az
handsome as any that are imported. and
though the preparation of the blocks
meant a good deal of work, once cut they
can be used indefinitely. The adaptation
OF designs is another interesting feature.
Tor a girl OF ingenuity can pick up pretty
patterns almost anywhere II she uses her
eyes and Is clever with tracing paper. AS
a matter OF fact, 1t does not require talent
or genius. simply a little dexterity In
manual and the stick-to-itive-
ness to perseYere to the end.
Bed curtains. bed spreads. cushion Gov
ers and divan covers. kimonos, the scarf
shawls 80 popular Of late and a thousand
and one dainty things for household and
personal wear can be decorated in block
printing. And il a girl is possessed OF
really artistic taste she can go further
block. touch 1t up with the proper color
ing and make the impression on rice pa
per, and she Will have q most charming
japanese print. broad and impressionable
In scheme perhaps. buN a truly effective
thing that she Will not hesitate to hang
m the wall W f~o MO IT, IL W.......-.x-.L