The Not So Gentle Art of Flower Pounding, or as some (a dear friend of mine and I) like to call it, a rage release. A much needed release for these shifting times.
Flower pounding is one of my favorite summer and springtime activities. The gentle whisper of summer beckons us as the plants around us begin to wake and bloom. There’s something grounding about placing a petal on fabric and letting the hammer fall on top, the sound slightly jarring for my sensitive humans but nevertheless a mix of ritual, art, and a little chaos.
Like many of my art objects, I have kept one flower pounded blanket for a few years now. Each spring or summer, I return to it, adding new blooms, witnessing how time, fiber, and flowers dance together. The shapes shift, the colors bleed or fade, and as I get to keep adding to it, somehow it becomes even more beautiful.
The first step is where you get decide what flowers or plants you want to work with. I usually ask for permission from the plant and from whoever is tending to the garden or flowers before harvesting, especially if they are not growing in my garden. I also like to give a gift to the plant, whether it is an offering, a few kind words and also keeping in mind to take only what I need and what I will use.
I have been on a journey with the plants for so long it feels like a gift to work with them in this way. To know that much like life and our own bodies, their color and form will continue to shift, surprise, and soften.
What You will Need
The beauty of flower pounding is its simplicity, you do not need much to begin.
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Natural fibers: like cotton, linen, or silk (synthetics will not hold color well).
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Flowers with vibrant pigments: think swamp mallows (with their fleshy but not so juicy bright petals), bright red roses, cosmos, pansies, geraniums,
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A hammer or mallet.
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A protective layer (parchment paper, scrap fabric, or cardboard).
- A mask. Even if the plants are not toxic (in small quantities) I always err on the side of caution.
And a gentle reminder on safety: Not all flowers are safe. Avoid poisonous blooms like delphiniums, lilies, or foxglove especially if you have children, pets, or immunocompromised loved ones nearby. If you’re unsure, ask a trusted plant friend (someone who works with and knows the plants) and also consult a plant ID app in addition (just to double check).
A Simple Step By Step
I decided to give my flower pounded denim jacket from last year a refresh :).... Here is a basic way to begin your pounding journey:
Step 1: Prepare your fabric. (In the dye world we call this mordanting). Pre-mordant your fabric with soy milk or boil it with alum (aluminum potassium sulfate). This step helps colors last longer (scroll to the bottom for more on mordanting and what it is)
Step 2: Place your flowers. Face down directly on the fabric. The most clear print will come from the inside of the flower (not the back with the green part).
Step 3: Cover and protect them. Lay a sheet of scrap fabric over your design. I like to use another cloth I am designing so I don’t “waste” the flower print. Think of it as a two for one design! I also like to think it as I am tucking the flowers into bed with this step :)
Step 4: Hammer. This is the fun part! Hold down the middle or a part of your plant so it is not shifting while you hammer. If the flower is small just make sure to lay it as you want it and try not to move or shift the fabric while you’re hammering. Tap firmly until all of the pigment releases into the fiber. Make sure not to lift until you are completely done pounding, unless you’re going for an abstract print.
Step 5: Reveal. Gently lift and admire your flower pounded print.
Step 6: Remove the plant material and discard (you can put it in your compost) and hang your piece up to dry.
I am so happy with how my flower pounded denim jacket turned out. On the back I have my swamp mallow and on the front I have a mix of tickweed coreopsis and marigolds, some from last year and a few to freshen it up a bit this year :)
Want to Go Deeper?
This is just the beginning. If you’d like a printable Flower Pounding Project Guidebook with:
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A supply checklist
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My favorite flowers (and ones to avoid)
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3 beginner projects (cards, tea towels, bookmarks)
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Care tips to make your prints last
Check back here soon ! - I will have a free printable/downloadable PDF in future
Want to share your creations? Tag me on Instagram @abenaart, I would love to see your flower pounding projects.
PS: what is Mordanting?
If you’ve never heard the word “mordanting” before, don’t worry, it sounds more mysterious than it is. Mordanting is simply a way of preparing your fabric so that plant colors stay longer instead of fading right away. Think of it like priming a canvas before painting.
There are a few easy methods and mordants I return to again and again:
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Soy milk is a great gentle, natural mordant and it helps the fibers hold pigment.
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Alum bath (aluminum potassium sulfate) is a mineral salt that sets color firmly into cloth.
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Tannins (like tea or oak galls) are sometimes used first to help colors bind even better.
Botanical Colors and Maiwa have really great information about mordanting with soy milk and other mordants. You don’t have to mordant to enjoy flower pounding, you will still see the beauty of each petal but if you want your creations to last longer, it’s worth trying out.
Happy Pounding !