Block Print Purse

Materials:

pencil
permanent marker
linoleum blocks
carving tools
brayer
orange and camel ink
ink tray
floral print fabric (flower pattern)
2 coordinating solid color fabrics (1 for the outside and 1 for the lining)
fusible interfacing
fusible batting
fusible bonding web
magnetic snap
needle and thread
1" wide grosgrain ribbon
sewing machine
iron and ironing board
scissors
tracing paper

1. Trace a flower design from a swatch of fabric. Place tracing paper over the flower and outline the design with a pencil (figure A).

2. Turn the tracing paper over and cover the back side heavily with a pencil for a graphite transfer (figure B).

3. Place the tracing paper face-up on the linoleum block and trace over the original drawing. The flower design will now be transferred onto the block.

4. Thicken the lines on the linoleum block using a permanent marker (figure C).

5. Carve out the negative space on the block with carving tools (figure D).

6. Pick another smaller flower, and using the same steps above, make another linoleum block. This time, carve out the positive space.

7. Cut two pieces of 6" x 7" solid colored fabric for the purse and cut two pieces of the solid colored lining fabric the same size. Cut a 1-inch square out of the two bottom corners. Cut iron-on fusible interfacing the same size for each of the four pieces. Cut two pieces of fusible batting the same dimensions (figure E).

9. Stamp flowers onto the right side of the purse fabric, inking the linoleum block as necessary (figure F).

10. Spread camel ink on the small flower linoleum block and stamp flowers on the purse fabric until the desired design is achieved (figure G).

11. Randomly stamp the design over the lining fabric (figure H).

12. Let the ink dry overnight.

13. Iron all pieces to heat-set the ink.