Today I dive into the magical world of cyanotype printing on fabric, using treasures from the sea like seaweed, seashells, and coral to create one-of-a-kind ocean-inspired prints. This was such a fun learning experience—I'll walk you through what worked, what didn’t, and everything I learned along the way. Whether you're curious about cyanotype, ocean-inspired art, or just love DIY projects, I hope you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed making these prints.
I experimented with both pre-treated fabric and DIY chemical mixing, creating custom-sized fabric sheets to print on. After exposing my cyanotype prints in the sun, I brought them inside to our guest bathroom, where I washed them in a bathtub using water and hydrogen peroxide to develop the final deep blue tones.
Once everything dried completely, I pressed each piece with an iron and cleaned up the edges using electric fabric shears and Fray Check to prevent fraying. I also sewed pockets at the top and bottom of each piece to keep the fabric taut for display, then hung them from ocean-collected driftwood that I cleaned and soaked in bleach water before drying it thoroughly.
I also made a small batch of 100% cotton bandannas, fully sewn on the edges and printed with cyanotypes of coral, seashells, and seaweed. A limited run of these bandannas will be available on my website if you want to snag one!
Supplies used:– Cyanotype chemicals (pre-mixed + DIY kit)– 100% cotton fabric– Hydrogen peroxide– Driftwood– Fray Check– Electric fabric shears
Stay Connected
📸 Instagram: @Wood_Brain
💛 Support on Patreon: Support Here
📧 Business Inquiries: WoodBrainLZ@gmail.com
🎥 Filmed with: Canon Rebel SL3
🎥 Filmed with: Canon GX7 Mark II
🎬 Edited in Adobe Premiere Pro
🎵 Music by Epidemic Sound
