|
Printing
Bill Quay Fabric Workshop has a print capacity of 20 - 30 metres of fabric per week depending on the number of colours in the design.
Designs are hand printed onto a range of fine natural fabrics using screen, lino and block printing methods. The print table is 3m long and designs are built up using small screens with A4 < A1 print areas.
Colour The colour count reflects the number of stencils used to print a complete design. Each stencil prints one coloured shape of the design along the whole length of the fabric. Over a 10 metre length each colour will result in up to 250 print impressions – amounting to well over 1000 for a 5 colour design – every one of which carries attendant possibilities of blots and misprints. Each colour run contributes to the price per metre of the House fabrics. Additions Our screen stencils are paper cuts which gives versatility to the print process. Colour exploration is a hallmark of our printing, creating links between parts of the colour spectrum through changing tones and shades – this gives the fabric surface a dynamic quality – sometimes subtle and calm, sometimes surprising and vibrant, occasionally discordant. Further embellishments - particularly on Artists' fabrics are done with embroidery, beadwork, quilting, hand colouring, calligraphy, transfers, applique – any intervention that the artist feels contributes to the character of the piece! Fabrics in stock production are all natural fibres - cottons, silks and linens. Upholstery strength flat weave canvas can also be printed. Currently rolls of fabric with Fair Trade or organic certification are in limited supply - often woven to order , then imported from the country of origin. We look forward to a roll or two in the Autumn! Variety and Irregularities Bill Quay Fabric Workshop encourages participation and collaboration in the production of its fabrics The opportunities for co-design, facilitation and printing together make Bqfw a conversational place where more than one pair of eyes and hands are likely to have played a part in the making of each piece. Much (but not all!) of the variation and irregularity of Bqfw fabrics is due to the small scale hand printing method of building a whole piece through an accumulation of small gestures : the more decisions we take and gestures we make, the more room there is for variations to creep in. It takes time and experience to recognise that these are not fatal mistakes – they can open up possibilities for resourceful restoration or contribute a lively diversion of colour or rhythm. Where possible we will spend time integrating unplanned variations. The result is a richer piece of fabric with a unique feature. Environmental information We print on 100% natural fabrics. Most of our printing is done on Chapa silk which has a low risk of flammability, being slow to ignite and tending to self extinguish. Cottons go up in flames quickly, without a flame retardant treatment. Fabrics pre-treated with flame retardant will be indicated in the product description as FP. Additional advice on flame proofing can be given on request. All ink and paint systems are water soluble - we use Sericol Texiscreen Aqua AJ and Daler System 3 acrylics for printing on both paper and fabric. 95% of our print blocks and stencils are made from natural, bio-degradable materials – paper, wood and vegetables. We now offer to send fabrics out in returnable, postage paid bags, and will refund or contribute to friends of the earth every £1 saved on using new packaging. Please feel free to telephone or email us with any questions you may have. |
Paper stencil ready to print
Colour variation
Beading
Resourceful embroidery
Printed insert
Re-usable fabric bags
|
| © Bill Quay Fabric Workshop | Design by Michael Mortimer | Photography by Steve Conlan |
