Block Printing and Digital Pattern Design
A course by Marta AfonsoTextile Designer and Illustrator
A course by Marta Afonso, Textile Designer and Illustrator
Discover manual stamping techniques that bring fabrics to life and create an original digital collection of patterns
The ancient art of hand stamping has been reinvented thanks to digital pattern design. Marta Afonso, a textile designer, illustrator and the founder of Atelier Karaka has embraced this combination of tradition and technology because it enables her to customize a wide range of products and settings while preserving and emphasizing the manual aspect of this craft in her work.
In this course, learn how to manually stamp fabrics using the traditional block printing technique. Marta also shows you how to create an exclusive collection of digital patterns to put on clothing, accessories, textile products, merchandise, and stationary.
What will you learn in this online course?
22 lessons & 34 downloads
What will we do in the course?
4 minutes, 27 seconds
Necessary materials
8 minutes, 14 seconds
Collection creation: mood board
15 minutes, 18 seconds
Color palette definition
8 minutes, 42 seconds
Sketches and refinement of graphic elements 1
18 minutes, 29 seconds
Sketching and refinement of graphic elements 2
17 minutes, 51 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start by getting to know your teacher Marta. She tells you about her experience in the world of manual fabric stamping and how her studio Atelier Karaka came into existence. She also shares what inspires her to create illustrations and patterns and walks you through the content covered in the course.
In the second unit, learn about the block printing technique and what materials you need for it. Explore the characteristics of different engraving materials and the types of fabrics and stamps you can use. Then, define the theme for your pattern collection based on a reference mood board and color palettes.
Now it’s time to create your stamps. Start by sketching your designs and engrave each one working from the simplest to the most complex. Follow Marta’s lead and learn how to manually stamp fabrics and create a variety of patterns and visual effects.
Scan and import your designs into Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and create our own pattern collection. See how to organize your designs, explore different repetition patterns, and work on the colors and rapport of your collection.
In the last unit, choose which patterns to include in your final collection and set the scale for your designs. To finish the course, Marta explains how to apply your pattern collection to different fabrics and products and shares some tips on how to market and sell your work in both brick and mortar and online stores.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Make a set of three stamps for manual fabric stamping and create a digital pattern collection to use on clothing, accessories, textile products, merchandise, and stationary.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to discover or broaden their knowledge of manual stamping and create digital patterns, whether for personal use or for marketing exclusive products.
Requirements and materials
You don’t need any previous knowledge of block printing or manual stamping, but basic notions of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator are recommended.
The materials you need for this course include some type of carving block for your stamps (linoleum, soft cut, or rubber), linoleum gouges, paper, pencils, tracing paper, textile ink, a linoleum or sponge roller, smooth fabric (preferably made of natural fibers), a ruler or square, masking tape, a scanner, and a computer with internet connection and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
Very enjoyable course. The tutor went into plenty of depth and finding how to create seamless patterns in different colourways was great. My only wish would be for the course to cover how this could be achieved in free or budget-friendly software (eg Procreate) as not everyone can afford Illustrator.
- 2 months ago
I am excited to progress with this course , as Marta will be covering a wide application of Lino block printing. I have already developed basic skills prior to this course and look forward to its application onto fabric and other products, also using digital skills.
- 3 months ago
Curso estupendo de estampado en telas, ¡me ha encantado! Marta explica muy bien cada paso, empezando con el estampado en bloques básicos y acabando en los patrones digitales con tus propios diseños originales del estampado en bloques. ¡Muy completo! Lo recomiendo :)
- 3 months ago
Adorei o curso! Muito inspirador ! Está tudo muito bem explicado, de uma forma simples e acessível, mesmo para quem é novo nestas "andanças". Muito obrigada : )
- 4 months ago
Absolutely beautiful course with so many helpful tips to get started with block printing!
In 2015, Marta decided to combine her background in pattern/dressmaking and lino/woodcutting with her professional experience in graphic design to create Atelier Karaka, a studio specializing in manual fabric stamping, pattern design, and illustration.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- What will we do in the course?
- U2
How to begin
- Necessary materials
- Collection creation: mood board
- Color palette definition
- U3
Hands to work
- Sketches and refinement of graphic elements 1
- Sketching and refinement of graphic elements 2
- Sketches and refinement of graphic elements 3
- Engraving of stamps 1
- Engraving of stamps 2
- Engraving of stamps 3
- Manual stamping on fabric
- U4
The digital magic
- Scan and organize
- Elaboration of standards: grids 1
- Elaboration of standards: grids 2
- Elaboration of standards: grids 3
- Rapports definition and coloring in Photoshop 1
- Rapports definition and coloring in Photoshop 2
- U5
Final fabrics and application in products
- Selection and adjustment of scales
- Disclosure and commercialization of standards
- Application of manual and digital standards
- FP
Final project
- Block Printing and Digital Pattern Design
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FAQs
The course is intermediate level, perfect for those who already have some experience with crafts, illustration, or design but want to deepen their skills in manual printing, block print, and integrating digital processes.
You’ll need fabrics, papers, specific inks, handmade stamps (block print), carving tools, materials for preparation and cleaning, plus a computer with access to software like Illustrator and Photoshop.
You’ll learn manual printing techniques, block print, creating unique patterns, repeat design (rapport), natural dyeing, collection assembly, digital process integration, and how to personalize fabrics and papers with your own illustrations.
Block print is a hands-on printing technique where you carve stamps and apply ink directly onto fabrics or papers, crafting unique, one-of-a-kind patterns by hand.
The course covers everything from hand sketching and stamp carving to digitizing, creating repeats (rapport), and building collections using tools like Photoshop and Illustrator to expand your creative options.
You’ll be able to develop pattern collections for clothing, table accessories, handmade wallpaper, wrapping paper, and other personalized products using both manual and digital methods.
Drawing skills aren’t required, but basic drawing knowledge helps when creating original patterns and customizing stamps for manual printing.