I’m a big-time fan of graphic art and block printing, especially as applied to textiles. Simple, clean, yet often kitschy shapes work amazingly well to create images–that can range from subtle to subversive–on fashion and home decor pieces. There aren’t many who do it better than textile artist Lotta Jansdotter, so I was thrilled when I got my hands on her new kit, Lotta’s Printing Studio.
The kit includes design sponges, 2 knives (for lino cutting), and 5 of Lotta’s signature drawings in stencil form.
As a knitter and crocheter, I’m always interested in how I can incorporate other media types into my yarnwear. I’ve done a bit of experimenting with some super basic painting and lino printing on knitted pieces but thought it’d also be fantastic to give stencil printing a shot. In a recent I Love to Create article, I showed how to hand-dye organic yarn and knit it up into a CowlKerchief which as it turns out, makes the perfect canvas for said stenciling. Here’s what I did and how you too, can print on yarn-y garments!
Hand-Dyed CowlKerchief, Enhanced with Lotta’s Printing Studio
Lay CowlKerchief (or desired knitted garment) with stencil on top, on a flat surface. Dip printing sponge in fabric paint (I used Tulip’s Soft Fabric Paint), then blot over stencil. For darker image apply more paint and pressure; for lighter image apply less. You’ll find that the design sponge works really well with the yarn because of how absorbent it is. Keep in mind though, when working with the hills and valleys of the knitted stitch, you’re not going to get the perfectly solid, stencil line that occurs when printing on fabric. I actually love this aspect of it though; the unevenness adds an additional textural layer!
I chose to use the Wall Motif on my knitwear (I’m an anarchist, like that ;-)) which requires two stencils. If you do the same, then repeat the step above; using a 2nd color of fabric paint. The design sponges are puffy enough that you should be able to just use the opposite end for the 2nd color, without having to dirty an additional one. One less thing to clean = more time to craft!
What you end up with is a mixed-media accessory that because of color, placement and textile choices, is uniquely you. Now that’s something to be proud of!
Jaunty neckwear not your thing? Try printing on knitted blankets, pillows, sweaters, scarves (still neckwear, but less jaunty), hats and more–have a great time printing!
✨To celebrate Christmas in July, get 10% off if you pre-order this month.
Use code 12DAYS2022👏🏻
This year’s theme is 12 Days of YAY! We’re thrilled to offer two palette choices:
Aluminum Tree (neons/neutrals), and Ice Castle (blues, white, teals, greys).
Go to link in bio, tap on photo, or https://www.yarnyay.com/products/12-days-of-yay-advent-box to learn more about what’s inside and to secure your box!
It's almost July and that means it's time to debut YarnYAY!’s Fall/Winter Designer in Residence - the amazing, vibrant, and talented, Toni Lipsey aka @tlyarncrafts ! We're big fans of her work in both the crochet and Tunisian crochet realms and couldn't be more thrilled to have her on the design team for the season.
✨This means that, as of our July box (on sale now) YarnYAY! subscribers will receive one of her patterns, designed especially for us! 🧶
Welcome Toni, we’re thrilled to have you as part of the team! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Dear community,
The majority share of the knitting, crochet, and crafts industries, and the community that supports them, are women and non-binary folk with uteruses. After yesterday's devastating supreme court decision, essentially removing women's constitutional rights over our own bodies, need to support one another. We need to love each other enough to not give up. I see you. My heart is with you.
Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to be on a Zoom action-meeting run by a major women's healthcare organization. We feel powerless, but one of the suggestions they gave for things we can do is to donate to grass-root organizations that focus on women's healthcare clinics.
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻, 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱-𝗻𝗲𝘄, 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗬𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗬𝗔𝗬! 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 @keepourclinics It'𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.
(Go to the link I’m my @vickiehowell bio to shop).
With love,
Vickie
#yarnyay #roevwade #1973 #womensupportingwomen...
As a knitter and crocheter, I’m always interested in how I can incorporate other media types into my yarnwear. I’ve done a bit of experimenting with some super basic painting and lino printing on knitted pieces but thought it’d also be fantastic to give stencil printing a shot. In a recent I Love to Create article, I showed how to hand-dye organic yarn and knit it up into a CowlKerchief which as it turns out, makes the perfect canvas for said stenciling. Here’s what I did and how you too, can print on yarn-y garments!
