Designs for lino fabric prints can be chosen from existing or original graphics. Transferring the image to the lino block can be done freehand directly onto the block. However, for more intricate designs, tracing paper may be better suited for clear lines. When placing the design on the block, the graphic should be a mirror image of the desired design.
After the design is drawn on the lino, use a carving tool such as those used for woodcutting to carve out the lines. An ice pick, craft knife, or linoleum cutting tools can also be used in carving the design. While lino block printing is performed for paper and fabric printing, the depth of the carved area can vary depending on the surface to be printed. For example; to make lino fabric prints, it may be necessary to make deeper cuts than for lino paper printing. To minimize tool slippage or damage to the lino block, the lino should be kept warm during the carving process. Tips to keep the lino warm include working with two blocks at a time and sitting on the one not being carved while working on the other.
Those sections of the block which remain uncarved are the areas which function as the main body of the printed design. Using a roller with the desired color of ink, color is first applied to the lino block, then placed on the blank piece of fabric where it leaves behind the design. The lino block is applied carefully along the length of the fabric to provide a continuous design. While this process can be done by hand, printing presses are also used for larger scale production.
Lino print fabric can come in single or multi-hued varieties. For single-colored fabric samples, the process is simple and is complete after the first application of the ink-soaked lino block. Multi-colored lino fabric prints require a more complex process. After the first color ink is applied, the lino block is cleaned and allowed to dry. After the block dries, new lines are carved into the block and the second colored ink applied to the block, which is placed on the fabric. For each color used, the process is repeated until the multi-colored design is complete.