Textile Printing at Leeds Art College
Hello everyone!
I thought it was about time for a full round up of my Textile Printing course. This is going to be picture heavy I’m afraid and I’ve not even included all the pictures!
Weeks 1 and 2 we worked with disperse printing using heat set dyes on man made fabrics. Using paper soaked in dye and a giant heatpress, I played with geometric shapes on coloured polyester and crepe.
Week 3 we made paper stencils using scalpels and when taped to mesh screens we could pull binder ink through onto any fabric we liked. Mine was an utter disaster due to poor squeegee technique and rubbish stencil.
Week 4 was about free form painting direct onto a screen using Procion reactive dyes. I printed a splatter print onto cotton lawn and silk.
Weeks 5 and 6 we prepped for future sessions by coating screens in light sensitive emulsion and thanks to a huge light box we exposed imagery onto the mesh. We drew the images in thick black pen to act as positives and when the screen was exposed the black areas washed away creating a negative that would allow ink to pass through in just those areas. I chose pineapples!!
While our screens set we also dyed silk, satin, velvet and cotton in big pans using tiny amounts of dye and lots of hot water. Excitingly I also got to use the digital printers while our fabrics soaked! I printed 1.5m of paper crane print cotton drill and 1.5m of painterly triangle print silk.
Week 7 was the start of my pineapples adventures! We pulled binder ink through our screens onto any fabrics we wanted. I chose to print fluorescent pink ink on white cotton and crepe de chine and black ink on brown polyester.
Week 8 we tried discharge screenprinting where a smelly seaweed-based paste bleaches the colour from dyed fabric. As well as devore printing which removes cellulose fibres leaving the man made fabric base behind – e.g removing the nap from velvet to create a relief. I used my pineapple screen again to discharge print on my dyed cotton and silk. And freestyled a brush painted devore print on my dyed satin and velvet.
Weeks 9 and 10 I decided to expose a new screen with hummingbirds and printed onto some colourful viscose. I printed teal ink on pink and pink ink on purple. Plus I had time for a sneaky little bit more disperse printing.
It was such a wonderful course, I’m actually a little sad I can’t repeat it next term but I’ve already signed up to a pattern drafting course.
Here are the details for Textile Printing: The course I did was a short evening course run by Leeds Art College, over 10 weeks for 2.5hrs. The tutor is Kirstie Williams who also runs independent print courses.
The course costs £185 with all materials provided but you bring extra if you want to print something specific.
I ended up with enough fabric for 3 dresses, 4 tops, and plenty of A2 pieces for tote bags or small garments – silk pineapple knickers perhaps?!
The new term starts in a couple of weeks so I suggest you sign yourself up asap if you’re interested!
30 Comments
Amy G
It never would have occurred to me to do something like this but it looks amazing. Thanks for sharing your experience and can’t wait to see what you make with your lovely fabrics
anIdlemind
Gosh Amy, these results are amazing! I’ll go for a tote bag and pineapple pants please 🙂 You should seriously consider setting up an online shop for all the amazing stuff you produce. You’d have your first NZ customer right here!
almondrock
Haha thanks so much! I’d love to turn this into a business but alas not yet. Maybe one day 😉
bimbleandpimble
This looks like so much fun! What awesome fabrics you have designed!!!!!
almondrock
Thanks my dear! I’m so happy with my output
nx44
Love love love your prints! I wish this course ran here. I have finally got into a good rhythm with my at-home screenprinting attempts after a few mishaps. Too many ideas, not enough time though 🙂 Your next course sounds equally as fun!
almondrock
Oooh yay! I was meaning to ask if things had gotten smoother. I totally understand the too many ideas vs time issue!
Mags
That sounds fantastic. Wish I lived close enough. Your fabric is impressive.
almondrock
Thanks so much! Maybe there is a one off class near you? Or you could play around with fabric paint at home? It’s so much fun!!
stitchedupsam
Wow, that sounds like an amazing course! I wish we had something like that near me that doesn’t involve going into London. Love the fabrics you’ve printed.
almondrock
Maybe you can convince fabric hq to run a class!
Swirlyicing
Very creative! Looking forward to see what you make with these amazing prints. X
almondrock
Thanks mum! I best not ruin them eh? Eek x
Kerry Patterson
This looks brilliant and you printed a lot of lovely fabric! I’ve screenprinted a few times, and used to work at a artist printmakers workshop where artists screenprinted, it was fine art printing but same techniques.
almondrock
Ooh how cool, you have first hand experience. I would totally enjoy playing around with it full time to find out what works best… If only!
Rachael
Omg, pineapples!! Do you reckon they’ll run this course again in July and August? I’m so tempted….
almondrock
Sadly they don’t run the full 10 week courses over summer but think they have some single day classes so keep your eyes peeled!
Caroline
Looking forward to seeing what you make with your funky fabrics x
almondrock
Cheers! I’m excited to see them up!
travelknitter
That course looks like so much fun! I love the prints you made – the pineapples are especially wonderful.
almondrock
Heehee the pineapples are hilarious aren’t they! The tutor was like, “errrr what?! Ok go for it!”
Katie
OMG, I am so jealous. This sounds incredibly amazing and good value considering how much totally unique new fabric you get out of it. I’m googling for a nearby thing near me now!
almondrock
Yaaaaaay you’d love it too. I think it appeals to people with a love of graphic print/geometics/bold colours
Lynne
What a great class, and all your printing looks brilliant! I’m a bit jealous because sadly there’s nothing like that in my part of the world. Good luck with the pattern drafting class, I’ll look forward to seeing how you get on.
almondrock
No way? Nothing? That’s such a shame. There’s a bit you can do at home on your own if you’re keen. I’d definitely recommend it!
seamsoddlouise
Fabulous! Thank you for sharing, Pineapple knickers would be so cute! The last adult-ed class I did was ceramics and I loved it. So much fun being with other like minded people, learning and creating. May look out for something similar for next Autumn,
Charlotte
What an awesome course – your fabrics are amazing! I’m sure pattern drafting will be fantastic too.
gingermakes
Wow! What a fun class!!!!!!!! Your fabrics are all SO cool!!!!!
Helen // Grosgrain Green
I think this looks utterly amazing! How wonderful. I’d love to do something similar. Your fabrics are all beautiful.
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