How to Make a Batik Design

Clothing made using batik cloth

Batik is a wax-resist dyeing technique used to create designs on fabric. When planning your batik pattern, keep in mind that the part painted in wax will not take the dye and will remain the original color. The process can be repeated multiple times to incorporate different colors and produce intricate designs. Choose a natural fiber fabric such as cotton or silk, as they take to dyeing better than synthetics.

Things You'll Need

• Natural fiber fabric
• Iron
• Chalk or pencil
• Paraffin wax
• Double boiler
• Paintbrush
• Fabric dye
• Salt
• Tubs or buckets
• Rubber gloves
• Newspaper or paper towels

Instructions

Applying the Batik Design

1. Prepare the fabric by washing, drying and ironing it. Smooth the fabric out over a flat surface.

2. Draw the design onto the fabric with chalk or a pencil.

3. Melt the wax in the double boiler and adjust the heat to keep the wax melted throughout the wax-painting process.

4. Paint the design onto the cloth with a small paintbrush dipped in the hot wax. The wax should soak through to the other side of the cloth. Allow the finished design to cool and harden completely before dyeing.

Dyeing the Fabric

1. Prepare the fabric dye according to the package instructions. Add 1 tsp. of salt for every 1 qt. of liquid. The salt will help the dye set in to the fabric. If the dye requires hot water, make sure to cool the mixed dye before dipping the fabric or the wax design will melt off.

2. Wear gloves to protect your hands from staining. Submerge the fabric in the bucket of dye. Cracking the wax is a natural part of the process and adds dimension to the design. Allow the fabric to soak for up to 30 minutes before rinsing in clean water.

3. Repeat as needed to get the desired depth of color. Dry the fabric after the final rinse.

4. Apply more wax if you are using multiple colors. The newly painted portions will remain untouched by the next color. Repeat the painting and dyeing process for each color, using the lighter shades first.

Removing the Wax

1. Place layers of newspaper or paper towels underneath and on top the fabric.

2. Iron the cloth over the top layer of newspaper and the melting wax will transfer to the paper.

3. Repeat with fresh newspaper or paper towels until no more wax comes off.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover the work area with a dropcloth or newspaper to avoid staining surfaces with dye.

• When mixing colors, take a scrap piece of fabric and test the color combinations before dyeing the batiked cloth.

• Never leave hot wax unattended. If the wax ignites, use sand or cover the pot to stifle the flames. Do not use water.

References

• Dharma Trading: Batik - Introduction
• How To Arts and Crafts: How to Make Batik
• Home Made Simple; Beautiful Backyard Batik; May 2008