Printing on the Mern Resist

After processing the red colour emerges. The fabric is then prepared for the indigo dye bath by the application of the Mern resist.

The special wood and metal-spoke block is used here to apply the resist. The block serves a dual purpose. First, it guarantees that all the red printed areas blocked with the Mern resist paste will retain their shape and colour in spite of the many dips in the indigo bath. Its second purpose is to create a third colour by retaining the white of the base fabric. It does so by the application of Mern resist block, the metal spokes that surround the carved motif blocking white dots of the base colour.

The final effect achieved is of a fabric printed with a deep blood-red motif, partially surrounded by white dots on a field of blue-black indigo.
Mern resist printing is a tedious process, when complete ash is dusted on ensuring that drying proceeds without blotching.

The printing takes place in an open shed outside the house as it is a smelly process with the earthen pot containing the resist Mern paste kept on boil through the duration of printing.