The stenciling process has been described so many times that directions for the work are not needed. An elementary lesson in all-over dyeing can very appropriately be given in connection with advanced block printing or stenciling. This might well be [!-- original location of illustration --] the waxing over of the printed or stenciled pattern, followed by a dipping for the ground color.
STENCIL DESIGNS. APPLIED STENCIL PATTERN
The example of stenciling illustrated is a table cover. The material is natural colored linen. The colors were liquid dyes blown on with an atomizer. The bodies, heads and legs of the cranes are orange; the wings and tails blue. The flowers and spots are purple, the leaves and stems blue.
Spraying liquid dye with an atomizer permits not only of the usual direct coloring of the design areas, but also of resist stenciling, in which a light design is produced on a dark background. A small dark design on a large light background is stringy and thin. The light seems to eat into the edge of the design and minimize its importance. On the other hand, a small light design on a large dark background is magnified in importance. While for proper control in either case we must adjust the space relations of the design and background areas, yet it is equally important that one be able to adjust the color relations of the design and background areas.
The process for “resist” stenciling is as follows: The stencil is laid upon the surface to be decorated, and the open pattern is carefully covered with a thin layer of library paste or paste made from flour and salt water. Flour added to a solution of salt in water is the best preparation we have found. A palette knife, or a case knife may be used to spread this paste. The stencil is at once lifted and the color desired for the background is sprayed in a flat tone over the entire surface. The paste acts as a resist, preventing the penetration of the color. The entire surface is immediately wet with cold water and the [!-- original location of illustration --] resist washed off. The stencil is carefully and thoroughly cleaned in the same way and then pressed and dried.
STENCIL DESIGNS