My block printing journey in Rajasthan

Last year, during my burnout recovery and life coaching, I realised I needed more adventures – time for myself to reconnect and create.

Around the same time, my friend Clare, who lives in Canada, told me she was taking a sabbatical to travel. She asked if there was anywhere in the world I’d like to join her or anything creative I fancied doing.

We briefly considered some local craft courses but quickly decided to go all out and book a trip to India to learn the art of block printing. It felt perfectly fitting since Clare and I first met in India 21 years ago on a youth mission trip (and discovered we lived just a mile apart back home!)

During our research, we found the Wabisabi Project, a block printing and natural dye studio in Bagru, the home of block printing. “Wabi-sabi” means finding beauty in imperfection, a philosophy that deeply resonated with me.

We were about to book a four-day workshop when I was hit with a hefty vet bill. I messaged Clare to say I’d sadly have to put the India plan on hold while I figured out my finances. I thought perhaps it wasn’t meant to be. Then, almost like a sign, I checked my email and saw a message from the payroll department of my corporate job: I’d been overpaying tax for years. The refund was exactly the amount the workshop cost. The universe was nudging me forward! The next few months were spent booking flights, sorting visas and submitting block design ideas.

Our stay was at a charming BnB in Jaipur, run by Sheetal, a crochet community facilitator. Our first day was a whirlwind of iconic sights – Amber Fort, Jal Mahal, royal family tombs – followed by hours of shopping for block-printed fabric.

The workshop began with meeting Avinash, Wabisabi’s director, at the home of a master block carver. Together with his sons, he helped us bring our block designs to life. I expected six hours hunched over a piece of teak wood to be gruelling, but the time flew by. It was hard work, but so much fun and very satisfying.

The master carvers preparing my moon phases block design

Finalising the blocks for us

Carving one of my blocks

My various blocks

The next day, we headed to the Wabisabi Project base at an old farm on the outskirts of Bagru. Avinash and his team have transformed the space into a studio for printing and dyeing. Avinash explained the process of scouring and mordanting fabric – a 12-day preparation involving soaking, beating, steaming, oil emulsion, cow dung and being left in a heap under a blanket in the dark before more washing and drying in the sun.

And then we got to print, dye and create colours. Over the days, we used our blocks to print with iron acetate, alum paste and clay, and dyed our fabrics with madder root (hot process) and indigo (cold process).

Stages of printing with dyes

Dīdī (translates as “elder sister"), who made the best chai

One of many puppy cuddles

One morning, we visited local printers and dyers working in their homes in the heart of Bagru. Most families have their own dye pots – either outdoors for hot dyeing or indoors for cold dyeing – and there's common land to dry their fabrics under the sun.

Mordanted fabric being laid out to dry in the sun

Dyed fabric drying in the sun

Fabric going into the indigo dye pot

Avinash explaining the indigo dye process

Dyed fabric being laid out to dry in the sunshine

Fabric drying on common land in Bagru

To see the contrast, we also toured a factory where machines and chemicals dye thousands of meters of fabric. The factory sits on a slum site, and toxic dye waste is poured into a lake on the premises. It was difficult to see and Avinash reminded us that our choices as consumers ripple far beyond us – the more clothing we buy, the more toxic waste harms the communities living there.

Piles of fabric waiting to washed

Fabric being washed

Walking amongst the various fabric baths

Machine dyeing

Dried fabric being gathered ready for dyeing

Dyed fabric being screenprinted and screen printed fabric being gathered

Screen printed fabric drying in the sun

Back at Wabisabi, the pace was slower and deeply therapeutic. I was completely immersed in the craft. We were also lucky to share the experience with members of The Oddly Evolving aerialist/dance troupe, whose gentle company made the days even more special.

Moon phases printed in mud resist

Covering the printing with sawdust to help it dry and stop it sticking

Fabric being dipped in indigo dye vat

Finished moon phases printed fabric

I’m so grateful to Clare for joining me on this adventure, to my gorgeous family for encouraging me to go (especially my husband who gently supported me through my wobbles when I thought I couldn't possibly leave the children for a whole week!), and to everyone at the Wabisabi Project for their insights, guidance and fun.

In the photos above I'm working on a moon phases design using block designs I commissioned. Stay tuned - I’ll soon share the full process of designing, carving, and printing with a block, along with photos of my main finished fabric. Spoiler alert: it’s stunning, if I do say so myself!