Have you heard of blockprinting? I recently did a super cool blockprinting workshop with Nathalie Cassee of De Katoendrukkerij Amersfoort. The first specialized blockprinting workshop in the Netherlands! Blockprinting is the oldest way to print textiles and originated in India. How exactly does it work? I tried it out.
Handmade prints
Besides being the oldest way to print textiles and paper, it is also the most labor-intensive. For example, you work with wooden blocks, into which various beautiful figures are meticulously chiseled by hand. The various trendy designs on the block prints Nathalie invents herself. She then has them made in India for a fair price. A way of doing business that personally makes me very happy.
Nathalie learned blockprinting from artisans and ateliers in India and Europe and can therefore rightly be called an expert. She also made custom blockprints for the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, Museum Volkenkunde Leiden, Fries Museum Leeuwarden, Musée d'art et d'histoire de Neuchâtel (Ch) and many others. She shares her knowledge and experience in her workshops and master classes at the Volmolen in Amersfoort.
De Katoendrukkerij in Amersfoort
On Oct. 24, 2020, De Katoendrukkerij will officially open its doors at the Volmolen in Amersfoort. Together with the Koppelpoort and De Lieve Vrouwetoren it is one of the most famous features of our city. AND the perfect match with De Katoendrukkerij. Because since its construction in 1645, the Volmolen had various functions, including the processing of wool.
So there is a historical connection to textiles, which makes it extra special that you can revisit it now in 2020. Another fun fact: the very first cotton printing plant in the Netherlands was also established in Amersfoort in 1678. Many Amersfoorters earned their money in the textile industry back then, so De Katoendrukkerij is now bringing this centuries-old technique back to Amersfoort.
Stamp your own bag
Back to the workshop, where I stamped a cotton bag. After a brief explanation, I chose the blockprints I wanted to work with. Which might have been the hardest part, because there was so much fun to choose from! After some practice on paper, it was time to stamp a bag. With the technique in my fingers, a bit of precision and concentration, the bag became more and more beautiful.
Before I knew it, I was experimenting lustily with different prints and colors. And I still had 101 ideas for other bags. There were so many beautiful prints to choose from. And actually a T-shirt is also a lot of fun to design yourself. In short: I have enough inspiration for another workshop!
Getting started yourself?
Would you like to attend a block printing workshop with a friend? Starting this month De Katoendrukkerij its doors in the Volmolen and you can attend several workshops and master classes in block printing and the combination of printing and embroidery. Are you already experienced? Then you can also rent a printing table there. And, very nice, you can also buy wooden blockprints. Because not only are they beautiful to work with, they also look great in your home for decoration.
The photos in this blog were taken by: Michelle Koopmans
