Learn Hand Block Printing Techniques & Print Your Own Fabric

In Jaipur, this two-hour workshop takes you inside a working family-run textile business, then puts a carved wooden block in your hand. You’ll see how printing and quality checks work before making your own scarf, apron, tote bag, napkins or placemats.

I like the mix of a real workshop visit and time to make something yourself. I also like that local artists guide the printing, so you can try patterns at your own pace rather than just watch a demonstration.

One practical catch: the workshop is in an industrial area, not Jaipur’s central sights, and transport is not included in the $35 price. The location can take some planning, especially if you’re staying in the newer part of the city.

• Print with carved wooden blocks: Use the workshop’s blocks and dyes to make a fabric item of your choice.
• Learn how the craft works: See block making, printing, washing and quality checks, with an explanation of the Chippa community’s role.
• Get help from local artists: Monty and his team guide you through the process and encourage you to try your own patterns.
• Leave with a made-by-you souvenir: The workshop supplies the fabric, so you can take your printed piece home.
• Plan your ride: The meeting point is at S.P. ASSOCIATES in Kartarpura Industrial Area. Private round-trip transfers can be requested for an added cost.

From carved blocks to your own cloth

The class starts at S.P. ASSOCIATES, a family-run workshop at F-86, A Kartarpura Industrial Area, Road No. 5, in Jaipur’s 22 Godam area. The address is specific, but this is not a stop in a central market or beside a major monument. Arrange how you’ll get there before setting off. Private round-trip transport is available on request, but it is not part of the $35 base price.

The experience lasts about two hours, a sensible length for a first look at the craft and a hands-on session. Monty is named as a host in several accounts of the class, and he leads visitors through the history and techniques of block printing. His team helps with the practical work, including choosing blocks and applying them to the fabric.

The group is described as small, usually capped at six for personal attention. The formal maximum is listed as eight, so the actual group size can vary. If a small class matters to you, ask about the expected number of participants before booking.

First, see how the workshop works

Before you print, your textile guide explains how the wooden blocks are made and how the workshop uses different dyes. That context helps the process make sense: the block is not just a stamp, but a carved tool that carries a pattern onto cloth when it is placed and pressed with care.

You’ll also hear about the history of the art and the work of the Chippa community, which is associated with printing. The class connects the finished pattern to the people and steps behind it, rather than treating block printing as a quick craft project with no local context.

The workshop visit includes a look at people printing fabric and at the washing process. You can take photos and videos, according to the activity details. As in any working space, be considerate of the people doing their jobs and follow your host’s guidance about where to stand.

Quality checks are part of the story

One useful stop is the quality-check area, where women inspect finished products. This is a reminder that a printed textile involves more than a neat pattern. The finished cloth also needs to be checked, and the workshop’s process includes people doing that careful work.

I like that this stop broadens the visit beyond the moment you get to make something. You see several stages of production, then get to try one yourself. The tour does not promise a full technical course in textile production, but it gives you a clear introduction to the materials and work involved.

Choose a piece, then start printing

For the hands-on part, you can choose from a short or long scarf, an apron, a tote bag, napkins or placemats. Fabric and printing blocks are provided, and you work with the artists’ help. The dyes are available in three colours, giving you room to create a simple pattern or combine blocks in your own way.

The team’s approach sounds supportive rather than strict. Monty and the artists can help you use the blocks, but you are encouraged to choose the patterns you want. That makes this a good fit for families and for people who like making things, even if they have no printing experience.

Keep your expectations practical. This is a short workshop, not a long course in textile design, and the class works within the time available. One visitor noted that the fabric stayed white rather than getting a coloured background. That makes sense in a two-hour session, but it is worth knowing if you picture a fully dyed piece. The activity describes printing in three colours, not dyeing the entire fabric yourself.

Washing and taking your souvenir home

After printing, you can watch the fabric being washed. Then you take your printed piece with you as a personal souvenir. That’s a useful difference from a demonstration-only visit: you leave with something you made, not just a photo of someone else’s work.

There may be time to browse the workshop’s storeroom after the class. Tailor-made clothing can also be requested from the workshop’s tailors, and shopping is available. Treat both as optional extras, not part of the class fee. The listed price covers the activity and its provided materials, not custom clothing.

What $35 buys you

At $35 per person, the price includes the workshop experience, fabric and blocks for printing, bottled water, and fees and taxes. For two hours of instruction, a tour of the working space and a fabric piece to take home, that is a useful mix of learning and making. The souvenir has more personal meaning than a ready-made item, and the price includes the materials needed to create it.

Transport is the main extra to budget for. The meeting point is in Kartarpura Industrial Area, so the base fare does not cover the ride there or back. You can request private round-trip transfers, but the cost is not specified in the information provided. Ask for the transfer price when arranging the visit if you want a simple door-to-door plan.

Bottled water is included, but Jaipur can be hot. Wear light, comfortable summer clothing, especially if you’re visiting in warm weather. That practical advice matters here: the class involves time in a workshop, and you’ll be more comfortable if you dress for the heat rather than for a cooler indoor activity.

Who will enjoy this class most

This is a strong choice if you want a hands-on cultural activity and have a couple of hours to spare in Jaipur. You don’t need prior experience, and the team’s guidance makes it suitable for first-timers. Families with older children and adults can all take part, with a choice of useful items to print.

It also suits anyone who wants to understand how a familiar textile pattern is made. You see the blocks, dyes, printing, washing and quality checks in one visit, then get to try the method yourself. The lesson is brief, but the mix of explanation and practice gives you more than a quick stop at a shop.

It may be less appealing if you’re short on time, don’t enjoy making things, or want a class in central Jaipur. The industrial-area location needs planning, and the two-hour format limits how much you can learn or how elaborate your design can be. If you want a full-colour background or a long, detailed course, this may not match the picture in your head.

The activity has a 4.9 rating from 95 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it. The recurring strengths are clear: Monty’s friendly, informative hosting, patient help from the team, and the chance to take home a handmade piece. The main caveats are just as practical: plan transport, prepare for heat, and remember that the fabric background may remain white.

Should you book it?

Book this workshop if you want a welcoming introduction to Jaipur’s block-printing craft and like the idea of making your own souvenir. The best part is the balance: you see a real working process, learn about its materials and people, and then have time to try it yourself with local artists nearby to help.

Before you confirm, check the group size if that matters to you, and arrange transport to S.P. ASSOCIATES. If you’re happy with a printed design on fabric rather than a fully dyed background, this is a worthwhile two-hour activity at a fair price. If you would rather spend your time at Jaipur’s major sights or want a more advanced textile course, save the workshop for another visit.

FAQ

How long does the workshop last?

It lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $35 per person.

Where does the workshop start?

It starts at S.P. ASSOCIATES, F-86, A Kartarpura Industrial Area, Road No. 5, 22 Godam, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302006. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included, though round-trip private transfers can be requested for an additional cost.

What can I print?

You can choose a short or long scarf, an apron, a tote bag, napkins or placemats.

Are fabric and printing blocks provided?

Yes. Fabric and wooden blocks are provided for you to use during the activity.

How many colours can I use?

The activity describes printing with dyes in three different colours.

How large is the group?

The experience is described as capped at six for personal attention, while the formal maximum is listed as eight participants. The group size may vary.

Can I buy clothing or request custom tailoring?

Yes. You can request custom-made clothes from the workshop’s tailors, and shopping is available. These are not listed as included in the class price.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund or change.