Textile printing with parts of plants.

Textile printing with potato.

The potato is one of the most popular and capable plant for printing textile. The motif made out of potato is multiplyable but only before it drys out (approximately 1-2 days)

This is an ancient technique. Afrincans cut pristine symbols out of squash for adinkra printing. They decorated their clothes depending on the meaning of these symbols. The paint was extracted from plant and crystals.

We can use our own symbols. The pinetree is the symbol of the eternally present love mostly used during christmas.

Accessories, materials, tools:

• Textil
• Potato
• Marker to draw motif on the potato
• Cutter to cut the motif
• Textile paint
• Water color
• Bowls for the paints
• Brush or sponge to apply paint on the potato
• Newspaper

Directions:

• Designing the motif. The motif should be simple regards to the cutting technique. Keep in mind the size of the potato restricts the motif.
• Cutting the motif. Cut the potato half. Wipe the wet surface of the potato before start drawing. Draw the motif on the flat surface. Cut those pieces which dosen’t belongs to the motif off with the cutter. So the motif will be raised on the surface of the potato. You can also make negativ motif. Cut those pieces which belongs to the motif off with the cutter. So the motif will be sunk on the surface of the potato.
• Design the cover. Design a layout and colors on a paper. Use the prepared potato and water color.
• Textilepainting with motif made out of potato. Place newspaper under the textil. Paint the textil paint on the potato motif using the brush or the sponge. Make tryouts on the newspaper. If it turns out as expected press the potato on the textil following the layout. Using the potato motif without repaintig it makes ligther color and interesting effect. Before using different color on the same motif wipe remaining paint off of the potato. Dry and iron first on the back side the finished textile to fix the paint on it.