The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-02-03
Wood Block Printing Will Prove
an Interesting Study and
Pastime.

Pastime.
Wood block printing as one of the deco
fative crafts is receiving its full meed
OF appreciation this winter, and charming
table covers, sash curtains, divan pillows.
magazine covers. bureau runners ana Va
BILE squares assume new glories wheh
sketched artisticauy by the new process.
1t has taken art workers a CONSIDER
able time to become thoroughly conVersaft
with it's possibilities. but it's application
to house furnishings is at once SO evident
and it's field SO wide that it now needs
no champion to further its cause.
One of the first questions asked ny
those who are a bit unfamiliar with It's
present adaptation is: How does it differ
from stenciling? 1t is a distinction rather
han a difference, for while. the block
printing does all that stenclling does. ~
goes further and presents q wider feld
OF usefulness-or SO it appears to women
workers. in the craft.
That wood block printing lends a more
commercial alu to the material with
out detracting from itn excellence as hand
work is one OF the claims made for 1t.
The colors are stronger and more definite
and the uniformity of the pattern supplies
a sense of satisfaction that is frequently
wanting in the case of indistinct stencil
tracery.
Geometrical designs are more applicable
to the wood block printing than anything
else. and as there seems just now to be a
revival OF everything that savors of orr
entalism this is an added element In its
favor. At any rate it is having a wonder
full rage, and women who are having
their apartments or rooms done over are
turning them into the hands of decorators
in block printing and every studio in town
that makes q speciality of it is rushed
with orders or with applications from
girls who are anxious to learn the art.
1t is interesting to remember that wood
block printing is hundreds of years old
that away back i'll China, Japan and India
1t was made use of as it is today, and
many of the charming fabrics that come
to us from the far east are decorated In
this fashion. Flo example, from Japan
today there come the most artistic
chintzes. every bit printed by hand in the
quaint geometrical designs for which the
Land of the Rising Sun is famous. But
frequently the materials used are not the
sort either In color or weave that will suit
the demand, and then the JOY of adapting
old ideas to modern textiles is an incentive
OF it's own.
1t is good for borders. centers or sur
faces. and therefore capable of a variety
of applications. There is an almost
illimitable field so far as materials and
textiles are concerned, for from such in.
expensive stuff as cheese cloth and I'm.
bleached cotton quite as delightful hang.
ings can be made as though ray silk, bur.
lap or mummy cloth is used.
Any girl who can do stenciling can dc
the block printing, and If she happens t.
know a bit about wood carving SO much
the better. for if one has neither the in.
| genuity nor the taste to cut ones owr
wood block-which, by the a Is a very
simple matter-it can be bought in. certain
| shops in the city for small sum OF course
If the block is made there is always great,
err opportunity for the exercise OF original
ity and artistic taste. However,, for be
start with the blocks purchased In tn,
shops. Then. when once familiar with tn,
method, 1t Is always possible to go aheat
and delve further into the detail Of tn.
! craft on ones own responsibility.
As in stenc1f1E, great care and acct
1acy must be exercised in the craft, blu,
that, as a matter of fact, might be a eau.
| work of any sort. While some worker.
use pine for their ~block-this OH the sup
position that II a gill is intending to GU
her w block 1t is easier-others prefel
clase grained wood, like pear. 1t is al
erroneous impression that pine is easier tt
cut than a wood of harder fibre, for tls
! mere fact Of it's softness gives the knit.
the opportunity of slipping. SO that 1t re
! quires a well trained hand to manipulat.
the tool.
Pear wood, therefore. has been fount
most satisfactory, and small pieces can b,
obtained at any woodworker's or cabinet
shop. Blocks may be cut anywhere from
one-half inch to one and a half inches II
thickness, though the latter depth is pref
cradle, as it is easier to hold firm wher
making the impression. The surface
should be very smooth. SO that no ineaual
tiles in the grain catch in the fabric anc
so destroy the uniformity Of the design
Plane the surface well before applying
the design and sand paper as we'll,
Select {. pretty design, not too large, and
trace IT on Japanese rice or any firm paper
with a semi-transparent surface and paste
it to the block. Have the lines we'll linked
30 that when it comes to cutting there will
be no confusion. One of the delightful
things about this craft is that it is posi-.
BILE with very little equipment to get re.
suits. For example, very simple pattern.
cut simply with a penknife are as effec.
tive as though regular wood carvers' tool.
were used.
II a girl wishes to go to the expense, O,
If she has already done a bit OF wooc
carving and SO has the outfit, more elab.
crate results can be obtained. The tools
she would need would cost in the neigh.
borhood Of 81 and the set consists Of three
chisels with straight. curved and slantins
edges and three auRes one with :
straight and two with curved edges.
Paste the design which has been preyi.
ously traced on the block Of pear wood
then all is in readiness to begin operations
For vertical lines use the straight chiseI
In outlining the design and the other tools
will indicate their uses as the work pro.
crosses. Outline the pattern to every last
detail After that the paper pattern may
pc moistened with water and removed
OF course the idea is to gouge or CHR