How to Print on Fabric with Lino: A Beginner's Guide
Turn your lino block into a handmade tote bag, tea towel or fabric patch with this simple next step in your printmaking journey.
If you've already carved your first lino block, printing onto fabric is a brilliant way to take your design beyond paper. Whether you're decorating a tote bag, making a set of tea towels or creating your own fabric patches, lino printing lets you transform everyday textiles into something uniquely yours.
In our previous tutorial, Max Black showed us how to make a lino print, from transferring your design to carving and printing on paper. The process for fabric is very similar, but there are a few key differences that will help you get cleaner, longer-lasting results.
In this tutorial, Max shares her favourite tips for printing on fabric using Pébéo Setacolor Fabric Paint and a soft carving block.
What You'll Need
Easy Cut Lino (or another soft carving block)
Printed design
Soft pencil (or Transfer Medium if following the previous tutorial)
Craft knife (X-Acto or similar)
Water-based fabric paint (such as Pébéo Setacolor)
Brayer (optional, if using printmaking ink instead of fabric paint)
Cotton or canvas fabric (tote bag, tea towel or similar)
Scrap card or paper (to place inside the fabric while printing)
Iron (for heat setting the fabric paint)
Table of contents
Why Use Soft Block Instead of Traditional Lino?
If you've already completed our paper printing tutorial, you'll notice one major change straight away.
For printing on fabric, Max recommends using a soft carving block rather than professional grey lino.
Although traditional lino holds incredibly fine detail, fabric has a textured woven surface that can make those tiny details difficult to print cleanly. A soft carving block compresses slightly against the woven texture of the fabric, making it easier to achieve bold, even impressions., making it much easier to achieve bold, even impressions on canvas and cotton fabrics.
Transfer Your Design
Rather than using transfer medium, Max transfers her design using a simple pencil rubbing technique.
Step 1
Print your design and trace over all of the lines with a soft pencil.
Step 2
Flip the design over onto your soft carving block. Rub firmly over the back of the paper using your fingers or a burnishing tool until all the graphite transfers.
Step 3
Lift the paper to reveal your transferred line drawing.
Unlike the transfer medium method, only the pencil lines transfer to the block. Keep your original reference image nearby while carving so you always know which areas should be removed.
Carve Your Soft Block
Soft carving blocks require much less pressure than traditional lino, making them an excellent choice for beginners. Because they're softer, however, they don't hold extremely fine detail quite as well. If your design contains lots of tiny marks, consider making it slightly larger or simplifying some of the details.
Step 1
Begin carving around the outside of your design with a V-shaped cutting tool.
Step 2
Gradually carve away the inner shapes, checking your printed reference regularly as you work.
Tip from Max: "You can't put it back once you've carved it away."
Step 3
Use a craft knife to trim away the excess material around the outside of your design until your block is ready for printing.
Apply the Fabric Paint
Unlike paper printing, where ink is rolled onto the lino with a brayer, fabric printing works best with a sponge. This gives a more even print and makes it easy to blend colours directly on the block.
Step 1
Dab fabric paint onto the raised surface of your carving with a sponge. Avoid brushing the paint on, as this can push paint into the carved areas.
Step 2
Experiment with multiple colours to create gradients and layered effects.
Step 3
Check that you've applied an even layer of paint across the raised surface before printing. Too much paint can fill fine details, while too little may produce a patchy print.
Print Onto Fabric
Step 1
Place a piece of scrap paper or card inside your tote bag or beneath thin fabric to prevent paint bleeding through.
Step 2
Position your lino block where you'd like the design to appear and press down evenly with your hands.
Step 3
Carefully lift the lino block away to reveal your print.
Heat Set Your Fabric Print
Allow your fabric paint to dry completely before heat setting.
To make your design permanent:
Turn the fabric inside out or place a thin cloth over the printed surface.
Iron using a medium heat setting.
Continue ironing for around five minutes.
Once heat set, your design will be ready to wear, wash and enjoy.
What Can You Print?
One of the joys of lino printing is that a single carving can be reused again and again. Once you've mastered the basics, try printing onto:
Tote bags
Tea towels
Cushion covers
Aprons
Fabric patches
Pencil cases
T-shirts
Canvas zip pouches
Experiment with different paint colours, repeat patterns and layouts. Even using the same carving with a new colour palette can completely transform the finished design.
Tips from Max
Keep your printed reference nearby while carving.
Test your paint and pressure on scrap fabric first.
Use a sponge instead of a brayer for more even coverage.
Don't overload the block with paint.
Work fairly quickly, as fabric paint dries faster than printmaking ink.
Build up designs using several smaller lino blocks for more interesting compositions.
Can you lino print on any fabric?
Natural fibres such as cotton, canvas and linen usually produce the best results because they absorb fabric paint evenly.
Why use a sponge instead of a brayer?
A sponge helps apply an even layer of fabric paint without forcing paint into the carved areas of the block.
Do I need to heat set fabric paint?
Yes. Heat setting helps bond the paint to the fabric so it remains durable after washing.
Can I wash my printed tote bag?
Once the paint has been fully heat set according to the manufacturer's instructions, your printed fabric can be gently washed.
Max Black
Printmaker and educator Max Black is passionate about making printmaking accessible to artists of all experience levels. Through workshops, demonstrations and educational resources, she encourages beginners to experiment with relief printing using approachable techniques and professional materials.
As a Creative Ambassador for Pébéo, Max shares her expertise across Canada, inspiring artists to explore lino printing, fabric printing and mixed-media processes with confidence.
Printing on fabric with lino is a simple way to turn your carvings into personalised tote bags, tea towels, patches and other handmade textiles. By using a soft carving block, fabric paint and a sponge instead of traditional printmaking ink and a brayer, you'll achieve crisp, durable prints that are easy to recreate again and again. Once you've mastered the basics, experiment with different colours, repeat patterns and layered designs to create your own unique fabric projects.
Where to Go From Here
Now that you've learned how to print on both paper and fabric, you're ready to start building a collection of reusable lino blocks.
If you're new to printmaking, head back to our How to Make a Lino Print: Seashell Tutorial for Beginners to learn the carving process from start to finish.
Once you've mastered these techniques, experiment with your own illustrations, repeat patterns and layered colour combinations to create handmade gifts, homewares and wearable art.
