Practiced in India for centuries, hand block printing is an art which calls for steady movement and meticulous hand and eye coordination. The process starts with a master craftsman tracing a motif onto a wooden block which is then carved with the help of hammers, chisels and drills. These wooden blocks are dipped into oil for a week which helps prevent them from cracking when exposed to dry conditions. The fabrics used are pre-washed by the artisans, dyed with a base color and finally laid flat for printing. The wooden block is firmly pressed into the dye and stamped onto the fabric to create a stunning print. Once the dye dries off, the block print fabric is washed and dried in the sun. The fabric used is generally cotton .