girl wearing green sweater
The Sunbroidery Summer Stitch-Along from Betz White combines cyanotype sun prints with embroidery for a laid back summer-camp vibe.

Cyanotypes, a print made by placing objects like leaves and flowers on sensitive paper or fabric, have been around for a long time (around 150 years, in fact). What’s new is the interesting ways artists and crafts people are using this medium. We explore applications of cyanotype in textiles, embroidery and mixed media print making in this What’s New in Craft.

crochet market bags

Sunbroidery Summer Stitch-Along

Betz White

This video class walks you through creating a one-of-a-kind sun print on fabric. After you’ve made your Cyanotype, you’ll learn embroidery stitches to embroider on top of your prints to make colorful embelishments. The class meets virtually two times to discuss your projects and answer any questions you might have. Join with your own materials (list provided), or purchase a kit in advance.

farmers market felted bag

Cyanotype Pretreated Fabric Sheets

Artistic Artifacts

This package of 8½ in. x 11 in. high-quality cotton sateen fabric sheets have been pre-sensitized by Jacquard for the Cyanotype process. These ready to use sheets make the sun printing easier than ever before. After laying out your designs you’ll expose the fabric to sunlight for 3-15 minutes, followed by cool water to expose your blue print. Use anything that casts a shadow to produce an image or to make prints of photographs, just print the photo onto a transparency and place that on top of the fabric instead of an object.

knit market tote bag kit

Cyanotype Textiles

Julia Whitney Barnes

Julia Whitney Barnes in an artist living in the Hudson Valley who works in a variety of media from cyanotypes, watercolor, oil paintings, ceramic sculptures, murals, and site-specific installations. Her cyanotype textiles include one of a kind dresses, shirts, silk scarves and an assortment of household items like pillow cases. Make sure to join her mailing list to find out when items are released since quantities are very limited!

The Naked Teapot Co

Plastic-Free Cyanotype Kits

The Cyanotype Kit

As an environmental engineer and graduate of photographic technical college, Luke decided to combine his skills to create cyanotype kits that contain zero plastics. Kits come in mini, base, pro and extreme sizes, depending on how many prints you’d like to produce. The base kit, shown here, includes your needed substances in powder form so that you can mix as much as you need and avoid the potential of molding. In addition, you receive bottles, a ceramic bowl, Traditional Japanese Hake brush, artwork press, papers and step by step instructions to get printing.

peter pan collar

Botanical Cyanotype Crop Top

CovenDesignFL

This Cyanotype printed crop top was hand mixed and painted on the fabric by hand. Each flower and plant is carefully selected and arranged, making every item truly unique. Printed on a cotton/poly/spandex blend, this cami is perfect paired with high waisted jeans.

peter pan collar

Silk Cyanotype Scrunchie

Lil and BlueJai.Art

This silk charmeuse scrunchie is dyed with cyanotype plant prints for a beautiful, unique work of art to wear on your wrist or in your hair. Small batch plant dyer @lilbellamosa and oil painter/cyanotype artist @bluejai.art collaborated to create the scrunchie, available in two size options.

peter pan collar

Modern Botanical Prints

Leslie Riley

Lesley Riley creates gorgeous botanical prints based on original cyanotypes to celebrate nature. Her work explores the potential of leaves to demand a closer look, to go beyond the obvious, to draw you in and tell a story. The digital print creation process combines Cyanotype with a little water (wet cyanotype) and modern digital technology to enhance, amplify and enrich the inherent beauty of the collected leaves.

Do you know of any other resources for cyanotypes? Please share below so we can check them out.