Kalamkari Block Print, Red & Mustard Floral Pattern with Grey base - Yardage

Fabric specifications and care

Material and colouring

Cotton with kalamkari done with natural dyes

Weight (GSM)

160 g/m²

Width

44"

Length

1 yard

Hand feel

This is a midweight hand‑loomed cotton with a softly slubby surface and a comfortable, breathable hand; it feels substantial but not stiff in the hand (approximately 140–170 GSM). The fabric has medium drape — enough body to hold simple gathers and a tailored shoulder but soft enough to float in a shirt‑dress or skirt, as shown in the images.

Drape rating

3/5

Transparency

Semi-Sheer

Suggested uses

✦ Ideal for 1) Casual button‑up shirts and relaxed blouses — the medium weight and print scale suit shirts that will be worn open or tucked. 2) Shirt‑dresses and easy summer dresses — holds shape for A‑line and shirtwaist styles without being heavy. 3) Gathered or tiered skirts and wrap skirts — prints read beautifully on panels and gathers. 4) Cushion covers and decorative throw pillows — the pattern and natural dyes add handmade character to living rooms. 5) Lightweight café or tiered curtains — provides privacy while allowing warm light through. These uses match the fabric’s midweight body, breathable cotton hand and clear block‑printed motif. ✦ Also suitable for Children’s summer frocks and tops (recommended with a simple lining), lightweight lined skirts and summer jackets (use a cotton voile or lawn lining), unstructured tote bags or market bags with a small interfacing, and apron or kitchen textiles when prewashed to reduce shrinkage. ✦ Not recommended for Heavy upholstery (sofas or high‑wear chairs), structured tailoring or formal suiting, swimwear or activewear, and heavy-duty workwear or heavily stressed tote bottoms — the fabric is not durable enough for long-term abrasion or load-bearing use.

Care instructions

Wash cold (30°C max) on a gentle cycle or by hand with a mild, non‑bio detergent; do not bleach. Line dry in the shade to preserve dyes; tumble dry not recommended. Iron warm on the reverse (cotton setting); steam or iron slightly damp for best results. Store folded away from direct sunlight to prevent gradual fading.

Washing and shrinkage

Cold gentle wash by hand or machine on a delicate cycle; expect approximately 3–5% shrinkage on the first wash. Natural dyes may release pigment on the first wash so launder separately or with like colours.

Craft story

Kalamkari block-printing is an age-old South Indian craft and this yardage was hand-blocked by a small co‑operative of artisans who still work with vegetable dyes and carved wooden blocks. Each repeat carries the slight irregularities and crisp outlines that come from wooden blocks tapped by hand — a signature of true Kalamkari. What makes this piece special is the layered natural-dye palette (warm red ground, muted mustard highlights and a soft grey base) and the botanical motif that reads equally at small and large scale.

Colour notes

The ground is a warm, slightly muted red with mustard and soft grey accents — typical of vegetable dyes where saturation is rich but never fluorescent. Colours deepen in warm daylight and read a touch cooler under LED or fluorescent light; expect natural batch‑to‑batch variation and subtle block‑edge outlines where the hand stamping overlapped.

Additional notes

Please note: natural dye colours and hand‑block placement may vary slightly between lengths — these small differences are part of the handmade character. Prewash before cutting; slight first‑wash colour loss and modest shrinkage are normal with vegetable‑dyed cotton.