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

PaStlme.
Wood block printing as one OF the deco
rative crafts is receiving It's fun need
OF appreciation this winter, and charming
table covers. sash curtains, dtvani piilows'
magazine covers, bureau runners and ta-
BILE squares assume new glories when
sketched artistically by the new process.
1t has taken art workers a consider
able time to become thoroughly conversant
with its possibilities. but its application
to house furnishings is at once SO eNldent
and it's field SO wide that 1T now needs
no champion to further its cause.
One of the first questions asked oy
those who are a bit unfamiliar with ts
present adaptation is: How does it differ
from stenciling? 1t is a distinction rather
than a difference, for while the block
printing does all that stenciling does, II
goes further and presents a wider neid
OF usefulness-or SO 1t appears to women
workers in the craft.
That wood block printing lends a more
commercial value to the material with
ont detracting from it's excellence as hand
work is one of the claims made Tor IT.
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.
Geometricul 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 saNors of ort-
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 a 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 way back in 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. For example, from japan
today there come the most artistic
chintzes, every bit printed by hand in the
quaint geolnetrical 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
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 un-
bleached cotton quite as delightful hang
ings can be made as though raw silk, bur-
lap or mummy cloth is used.
Any girl who can do stenciling can dc
the block printing, and il she happens to
know a bit about wood carving so much
the better. for if one has neither the in
Kenuity nor the taste to cut ones own
wood block-which, by the way, is a very
simple matter-it can be bought in certain
shops in the city for small sums. 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.
ainners. it might not be a bad plan to
start with the blocks purchased In the
shops. Then. when once familiar with the
method, it is always possible to 20 ahead
! ! and delve further into the detail of the
craft on ones own responsibility.
As in stenclh1E, great care and acct
! iacy must be exercised in the craft, Blu
that, as a matter OF fact, might be a eau
ton that would apply to decorative
work of any sort; While some workers
use pine for their ~block-this OH the sup
position that If a gill is intending to cut
her w block it is easier-others prefer
close grained wood, like pear. 1t is an
erroneous impression that pine is easier to
cut than a wood OF harder fibre. for the
mere fact Of its softness gives the knife
the opportunity of slipping, SO that it re-
i quires a well trained hand to manipulate
the tool.
Pear wood, therefore, has been found
most satisfactory. and small pieces can be
obtained at any woodworker's or cabinet
shop. Blocks may be cut anywhere from
one-half inch to one and a half inches in
thickness. though the latter depth is pref
erable, as it is easier to hold firm when
making the impression. The surface
should be very smooth. SO that no ~inequal-
tiles in the grain catch in the fabric and
SO destroy the uniformity Of the design.
Plane the surface we'll before applying
the design and sand paper as we'll. i
Select . pretty design, not too large, and
trace It on Japanese rice or any firm paper
with a se~mi-transparent surface and paste
1t to the block. Have the lines we'll linked,
80 hat 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 patterns
cut imply with a penknife are as effec-
tive as though regular wood carvers' tools
were used.
II a girl wishes to go to. the expense, or
II she has already done a bit Of wood
carving and 80 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
chiseis with straight, curved and slantins
edges and three gauges, one with a
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 cllisel
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 mo!stcned with waite. and removed.
OF course the idea is to gouge or chip