Girl's Block Printed Dress

Firstly, you need to deconstruct your shirt by removing both sleeves. Cut along the stitch line so that you retain the shape of the armhole.

TO SEW

Remove the collar and yoke of the shirt by cutting across the shirt, from armhole to armhole and where the first button hole finishes. You may want to draw a line with a ruler and tailor’s chalk first to make sure it is straight and even on both sides before cutting.

Once you have decided on your printing block and colour, prepare your block by placing a medium amount of paint onto a plate. Lightly distribute the paint onto a sponge before applying a light layer onto the print block. If you apply to much paint you will lose the detail of the block.

To prepare your fabric, undo the buttons of the shirt so that the fabric can be laid out flat (you may also need to give it a press). Before you start to print, place a newspaper underneath your fabric. This gives you something to press into and produces a more even and clear print. When ready, press the block onto your fabric and then re-apply the paint after every print to ensure bright and clear results every time.