An Amateur's Screen Printing Guide

It's Zoo Project festival on Friday, and as I have been getting really into screen printing lately, I thought I would try out a design on an old vest. I have decided to go to Zoo Project as a zebra, so this is the stencil I have used. See my step by step guide below of how to screen print a design at home in under 15 minutes.

Step 1 - Prepare Your Materials

I have used a printed zebra design, a scalpel, a screen printing frame, a squeegee, and a paintbrush (for touching up)

Step 2 - Cut Out Your Design

I have printed my own design from a stencil I found on Google. You can create whatever you want for screen printing, however if you are trying this for the first time then test something simple. 

I cut around my design with a scalpel on top of an old book that I don't mind marking. 

Make sure you cut your design out correctly and ensure that there is an edge (if you want one) to contain fabric paint within a specific area.

Step 3 - Prepare The Garment 

In my case this is an old vest that I am testing the design on. I have inserted a hard canvas in-between the vest to stop any fabric paint slipping through to the other side. 

If you have a larger garment then you may want to pin it tight at the back to ensure the fabric paint is printed correctly. 

Step 4 - Print The Garment

I have placed the cut-out stencil on top of the vest and then put the screen printing frame on top of the stencil. I inserted some plain paper around the stencil to make sure excess paint doesn't go onto the vest. When ready, add a big blob of your fabric paint just above the stencil. 

If this is your first time using your screen printing board then make sure you follow the correct instructions for set up (pre-wash) ext.

Step 5 - Screen Print

Use the squeegee to push the paint over the stencil and repeat up and down a few times to ensure an even coverage. I have put my knee over the board to make sure it doesn't slip. 

Step 6 - See Results

When finished printing, slowly and carefully remove the frame from the garment.

When removed, ensure that you wash your screen printing frame thoroughly to remove the fabric paint and decrease staining. 

Step 7 (If Needed) - Touch Up

If your print is slightly transparent in places, then use a small paintbrush to touch up the design. 

Step 8 (Or 7) - Ready To Roll

When finished hang up to fully dry. 

When dry, iron the garment on the reverse side with no steam to seal the fabric paint. 

Now I am ready for zoo project!! I can't wait!

Notting Hill Carnival 2013

I thought I wouldn't make this one, but luckily my train pulled in to London from Bristol just in time for the sun to show an appearance, which made up my mind about going down to have fun with the people of London. 

In the past I have travelled to Notting Hill Gate and spend hours just walking around aimlessly, looking for the best rig and fancy costumes. But this time I decided to head off to Westbourne Park station and check out the CMC Matrix Sound system on All Saints road for some heavy bass and jungle sounds! 

Although I only stayed for a few hours, it really hit home that I do genuinely love Notting Hill Carnival and all there is to offer. 

Check out my pics and videos below

Making Music

Cosmo Sheldrake is a master looper and multi instrumentalist who regularly performs on multiple instruments including the banjo, loop station, keyboards, double bass, drums, didgeridoo, penny whistle and more. 

The Fly Part 2 captures his journey into making music by using different sources within various surroundings. He creates an interesting piece using animals, objects and movement; shown in the video below. 

Cosmo Sheldrake 'The Fly Part 2' live on the trap from Bat On Ball Creations on Vimeo.

Pimp My Prosthetics

Prosthesis designer Sophie de Oliveira launched The Alternative Limb Project, a range of unique and distinctive prosthetic limbs. Customers have three categories to choose from; realistic, surrealist, or unreal. 

Personally I think the designs are an amazing way to portray the wearers own personality, and give a greater option for those who don't want to live with just a standard design. 

See more designs on The Alternative Limb Project Website

Ultra Fry

Last Thursday I was invited to pop down to see the Any Forty Volume preview exhibition at Roktic in Brick Lane, that included an illustration collaboration with Ultra Fry. 

 Ultra Fry is a London artist specialising in black and white handcrafted pattern design, characters and lettering. His work is influences by his personal experiences of the 'sleep paralysis' phenomena in addition to Eastern cultural design and fantasy. 

 I really liked his monochrome work, with extremely eye-catching drawings and intricate detailing. See some of the images I captured from the exhibition below (please note that images contain an Instagram filter)

For The Easily Distracted

A quirky short film by Miranda July that offers an interesting solution to daily distractions. 

Voyage On The Planet

Designer Chiu Chiu shares her vision of what the apocalyptic future will be like with her project 'Voyage On The Planet' by creating a survival kit in the form of a backpack that contains a plant; providing the wearer with breathable air. 

The project explores the uncertainty of the future, and questions my thoughts about what will be deemed as necessary wearables, and whether these wearables will be stylish or not?

Read more on PSFK

Read more about wearable technology here 

Fashion That Fights Malaria

Matilda Ceesay takes a more personal approach to malaria prevention with her Spring 2012 collection called 'Njehringe'. The designes contain a new experimental smart fabric infused with insecticide crystals that are safer and more durable than current skin-based repellent sprays. 

This is a great example of a designer that makes clothes for more than just fashion. 

Read more at Fashioning Technology

Pantone Food Combinations

Check out these playful takes on Pantone colour swatches with food combinations by designer David Schwen. From peanut butter and jelly to eggs and bacon, these minimalist combinations may make you feel slightly hungry. 

Read more on Another Magazine

If I Controlled The Internet

I only come across this today but I think it is a really awesome poem by Rives about how he would make the internet if he controlled it. It will be interesting to see if any of the visions become a reality in the future. 

Crochet Bombing

I have previously featured the trend that is catching everyones eye around the world - object bombing, where artists cover or plant messages in every day objects to make them more interesting and visually exciting. Today's post see's textile artist Olek cover a four-car locomotive in crocheted technicolor camouflage. I think this is a great idea for advertising and promoting new talent. 

Read more on Colossal, or chek out yarn bombing and poetry bombing on the Fashion Futures blog

Mobile Pop Up Stores

Mobile pop up stores are the in thing at the moment, with COS creating a signature minimalist style functional display installation, Brothers creating a suitcase 'trunk' style store, and Forbes reporting on the newest US trend of motor shops. 

I think the idea of get-up-and-go for retailers is quite exciting, and with an ever changing audience base, it is a great tester to find out the best locations for stores. 

Read more on Trendland, PSFK, and Forbes

Light Up The Pitch

Here is a film that captures footballer Lionel Messi's body moments on the pitch with custom LED lights wearing his adidas football boots. 

Read the full story on Design Boom

Fabulous Freaks

Bart Hess's futuristic latex-clad mutants have been popular amongst celebrities such as Lady Ga Ga for his odd yet original designs. As a strong believer of the beauty in ugly, and a self-ascribed 'geek'. Hess is still working out his private obsessions like many others. 

Read the full story and interview on Dazed Digital

Hacked: Ice Lollies

Something to try this summer holidays: Sprite and Gummy Bears ice lolly. 

Found on Another Loves

Design Pinball

Graphic designer sam Van Doorn turned his old pinball machine into an instrument of design. The ball is the brush that creates something on paper, as does the obstacles on the table. 

Read more on Lost At E Minor

Precious Trash

Swedish designer Johanna Tornqvist makes garments out of recycled textile and plastic materials by pleating and stitching together with the same precision as haute couture. 

Recycled clothing is something we are seeing as ever more relevant, especially with 3D printing becoming mainstream.

Read more on David Report