Block printing resources for beginners

I confess, I always read the manual. It cramps my style, but I love the delicious feeling of anticipation.

It’s been helpful and detrimental, really. I read to prepare myself before starting, but the more I ‘prepare’, the harder it can be to begin. Overwhelm, indecision and doubt can steal the joy from creating, and it’s something I’d like to overcome. I think this one’s for my therapist, though. (Hi, E!)

So this is my version of throwing caution to the wind. Initially, I started with the one resource before jumping in (Jen Hewett’s Craftsy course on fabric design: block printing), and as I’ve progressed, I’ve collected the others.

Not all of the resources I’ve listed are themed block printing; some serve me as inspiration (such as the Marimekko book), and others help with related skills (tutorials on how to draw seamless repeat patterns).

If you dare peer down the rabbit hole that is Pinterest, this is my block printing board.

A note: I’ve either bought or borrowed the books listed, and I have personally paid for the courses. I am not sponsored, nor affiliated.

If you’re thinking you’d like to buy from this list, please consider buying from an independent bookstore, a second-hand copy or borrow from your neighbourhood library. Don’t forget your library bag.

Amanda x

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BOOKS

Rubber Stamping: Get creative with stamps, rollers and other printmaking techniques

Author: Stephen Fowler

How to Make Repeat Patterns: A Guide for Designers, Architects and Artists

Author: Paul Jackson

Stamping & Printing: 20 Creative Projects

Authors: Émilie Greenberg, Karine Thiboult-Demessence

Print, Pattern, Sew: Block-Printing Basics + Simple Sewing Projects for an Inspired Wardrobe

Author: Jen Hewett

Block Print Magic: The Essential Guide to Designing, Carving, and Taking Your Artwork Further with Relief Printing

Author: Emily Louise Howard

Block Print: Everything you need to know for printing with lino blocks, rubber blocks, foam sheets, and stamp sets

Author: Andrea Lauren

Print Workshop: Hand-Printing Techniques and Truly Original Projects

Author: Christine Schmidt

¡Estampa! (In Spanish)

Author: Fábrica de Texturas

Lotta Prints: How to Print with Anything, from Potatoes to Linoleum

Author: Lotta Jansdotter

Marimekko: In Patterns

Author: Marimekko

Designing Patterns: For Decoration, Fashion and Graphics

Author: Lotta Kühlhorn

Botanical Line Drawing: 200 Step-by-Step Flowers, Leaves, Cacti, Succulents, and Other Items Found in Nature

By: Peggy Dean

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ONLINE COURSES

Fabric Design: Block Printing

Craftsy course by Jen Hewett

Botanical Patterns in a Sketchbook: Conquer the Blank Page

Domestika course by Paulina Oshu

Print Design with the Quincunx Technique

Domestika course by Mónica Muñoz Hernández
(In Spanish, with English subtitles)

Block Printing

Craftsy course by Christine Schmidt

Sketchbooking with Handmade Stamps

Domestika course by Jeanne McGee

Reasons to Repeat

Domestika course by Mónica Muñoz Hernández
(In Spanish, with English subtitles)

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FREE TUTORIALS

How to Make a Repeat Pattern by Hand / Create a Pattern Tile / Seamless Pattern / Making Repeats

YouTube tutorial by Paulina Oshu

Designing a Repeat Pattern by Hand

YouTube tutorial by Handprinted

Estampado Pata de Gallo
(Houndstooth stamp)

Instagram video by Fábrica de Texturas (in Spanish, but you’ll glean from simply watching)

How to Create Hand Drawn Repeating Patterns

YouTube tutorial by Baylee Jae

¡Estampación a lo grande! Pattern de terrazzo súper fácil
(Large scale stamping! Super easy terrazzo pattern)

Instagram video by Fábrica de Texturas (again, in Spanish, but don’t let this stop you from watching along)