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Eco printing is an ancient surface-design technique where the pigments of leaves, flowers, and bark transfer directly onto cloth or paper through heat and pressure. Nothing is wasted, nothing is forced — the plant decides what shows.
What you'll need
- A natural-fibre cloth — Silk, Cotton, Linen and Wool pre-soaked in a mild mordant
- Freshly gathered leaves and flowers (eucalyptus, rose, oak, maple work beautifully, Marigold, Cosmos, etc...)
- A length of jute or cotton string or heat resistant rubber bands
- A wooden dowel or smooth rod, and a large lidded pot for steaming
The process
Lay the damp cloth flat. Arrange your leaves face-down in the pattern you'd like to see — remember that the prints will be soft, painterly, and never perfectly mirrored. Roll the cloth tightly around the dowel, then bind it with string. The tighter the bundle, the crisper the print.
Steam the bundle for 60–90 minutes. Let it cool overnight before unrolling. The reveal is the most exquisite moment — every print is a one-of-a-kind dialogue between the plant and the cloth.
A note on patience
Eco printing rewards the slow practitioner. Some bundles will print boldly; others will whisper. There are no failures here — only conversations with the season.
