Printed and Dyed Textiles

Mixed Ability. For beginners and those with some prior art and design experience, who wish to return to refresh skills and build up print techniques. This is a structured course that offers a progression of learning over the year. You can join the course termly or for the year. Classes are friendly and informal, and you can build up your skills at your own pace.

The course will give you an introduction to fabric printing and dyed textile techniques. The aim of the course is for students to explore a variety of block, stencil making and fabric printing skills, learn about dyes, print and fabrics.
You are encouraged to develop a creative approach to printed textiles, build up confidence and enjoyment working with fabrics.
Explore images, colour mixing, mark making, surface texture and pattern, experiment with print techniques and fabrics. Collect visual research to inspire and develop your project.
There will be museum/gallery visit once a term. Students will be encouraged to explore the design process via visual research, sketchbook, design ideas/ experimentation to printed fabric and fabric product.
At the beginning of the course a project theme is suggested by the tutor, or you can use a personal project theme. Returning students can develop an individual programme that is structured to add new goals to those already achieved, in agreement with the tutor.
Students can work on a range of printed and dyed fabric samples, exploring print techniques and produce a final printed textile prototype product/art textile for the end of the term. During the course the digital design process using Photoshop will be introduced as a means of creating a design, and stencil for prints Students have the opportunity to submit work to exhibitions held at the Mary Ward Centre during the year.
Term 1 Block printed and Dyed Textiles
Monoprints with improvised blocks, found objects and materials, pre-made stamps, direct transfer and indirect transfer prints. Make a variety of relief print blocks-collage blocks, Poly block, vinyl, and lino during the course. Block print single image and reduction prints, simple repeat pattern onto fabrics. Colour mixing with water based print inks to print on paper and fabric. Monoprints and 2+ colour block prints. Cold water dyes to hand paint and dye, tied resist, and block print on dyed fabric. Print on natural Fabrics- cotton, linen, muslin, silk. Students will have the opportunity to print dyed and block printed designs for a product- e.g. small wall hanging, scarf, bag, book cover. Students will be shown examples of block printed designs on fabric from world textiles, historical design sources and by current designers.

Term 2 Screen Printed Textiles
Screen-print onto fabric and build up skills and techniques during the term .Make a variety of stencils for screen printing and print fabrics. Use cut and torn paper stencils, photocopy stencils, acetate stencils to print designs. Monoprint silkscreen for painterly prints. Photo stencils- the student will learn how to make a stencil for a photo silk screen, to process and put onto the screen to print during the course. Students may use digital image or hand drawn artwork for photo stencils. Knowledge of Photoshop is useful but not essential.
Students may print on a range of fabrics. Colour mixing with water based pigment screen inks and binders to achieve different print effects. Single colour prints, colour blends and overprints. Learn to register a print. Experimentation with techniques is encouraged, Students may print single image, or a small scale repeat. Print fabric, a textile product, one off garment or art textile. Students will be shown examples of screen prints on fabric by textile artists and designers. We will look at examples of screen printed fabric design.

Term 3 Mixed Media Textiles
Explore a range of print techniques to produce art based textiles exploring mark making texture and colour, combine techniques. Work with a variety of materials and techniques: Hand painting on fabric, wax resist. Silk screen print and sublimation print. Heat Transfer prints, special effect inks for screen and heat transfer- foils and flock. Manipulation of fabric surface, Fuse, stitch, bond. Synthetic fabrics and experimental materials to create textile artworks, textural surfaces, experimental stitch. Students are encouraged to explore and experiment, combine print techniques and expand skills in personal projects. Examples of work by textile artists and designer makers who produce mixed media textiles and contemporary craft textiles will be shown to the group.
By the end of the course students will have:
1. Collected visual research and used it as inspiration for textile design
2 .Explored a range of design ideas-printing onto fabric, experimented with a range of printed textile techniques and materials, explored motif, colour, pattern and texture. Used and combined techniques. Selected a design for development.
3. Developed an understanding of printed and dyed textiles-design, processes, properties of materials and suitability of chosen techniques. Developed confidence in the subject area.
4. Final outcome-Selected from design ideas and produced a final textile product/art textile by the end of the course that demonstrates an understanding of design and a progression of skills and techniques learnt on the course.
5. Understood and followed the Health and Safety guidelines when using equipment and materials e.g.: wearing protective clothing when handling dyes, appropriate care cutting stencils and blocks for printing, using electrical equipment safely.
6. Returning students will be able to structure a personal project in agreement with the tutor that will develop an understanding of print design, extend print skills and combine techniques in new work. The final textile outcome to demonstrate a further progression of learning.

Handouts on techniques, suppliers lists for equipment and materials will be given. Demonstrations of dyeing and printing practice i.e.: How to screen-print a design, prepare a dye bath etc, will be given to the students during the course. Images of print techniques, printed fabric samples, books showing examples of textile design and work by designer makers will be shown to the group for inspiration. Demonstration and discussion will take place in a group and to the individual students.
Questionnaire at the beginning of course to inform tutor of skills and interests.
Questionnaire midterm to assess ongoing progress of projects Feedback form, and evaluation at end of the course to assess course objectives completed.
One to one discussion between tutor and student; group discussions.
Feedback is available from the tutor throughout the course.

Information about the course will be given to students at the first session of each term.
To each session you should bring:
* Apron/overall for print and dye classes-textile inks can stain -wear old clothes for printing
* A4/A5 sketchbook or file
Visual ideas to inspire your prints
* HB Pencil, fine black pen
* Roll of masking tape
* Inks and dyes are provided by the college.
Fabric is available to buy from the tutor at each class, or you can bring in your own fabric remnants. Specific Information for dye classes will be given at the beginning of the term.
It would be helpful for students to bring along to class sketchbook/file, drawings, photos and images for inspiration. Students are expected to prepare some visual research, design ideas or stencils, during the week to help them to benefit fully from the time available in practical classes.

Other textiles courses are available at the Mary Ward Centre, you tutor will advise as to your next steps.

There is detailed information in Reception about all our courses at the Mary Ward Centre.
Information about other learning opportunities can be obtained from Learn Direct: www.learndirect.co.uk and from the following websites: www.floodlight.co.uk; www.hotcourses.com; www.citylit.ac.uk; www.wmcollege.ac.uk; www.morleycollege.ac.uk