How to Make a Batik Wrap
Traditional batik from Malaysia, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries is an art form as well as a cloth with which to make clothes and furnishings. Batik is made by drawing patterns and designs in wax onto white cloth, which is then dyed. Batik is used to make Indonesian, Malaysian, other Southeast Asian and Western wrap-style clothes. Wrap-style clothes, such as a wrap skirt or a wrap dress, do not depend on closures such as, buttons or elastic waistbands. Instead, they are primarily made of one piece of fabric that is wrapped in place around the body and tied closed around the waist.
Things You'll Need
- Wrap clothing pattern
- Batik or batik print fabric
- Scissors
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
Instructions
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Cut out the pattern pieces from the pattern sheet along the seam allowance lines with the scissors.
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2
Lay the batik cloth on a clean and flat surface like a table or a section of floor. Place the pattern pieces on the batik cloth, secure them in place with pins and cut out the pieces. Take out the pins.
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3
Join the skirt or dress pieces with right sides together. Secure them in place with pins and sew them on the seam allowances with the sewing machine.
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4
Join the waist tie pieces together according to the pattern instructions. Secure them in place with pins and sew them down.
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5
Join the tie to the skirt or dress as directed in the pattern instructions. Secure it in place with pins and sew it down.
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6
Turn the raw edges of the garment under on the seam allowances. Secure them in place with pins and sew them down.
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Tips & Warnings
You can choose to buy traditional batik cloth from which to make your wrap clothes, or you can buy batik print fabrics, which are less expensive, mass-produced fabrics that feature traditional batik patterns and motifs. Traditional batik cloth is available from specialty shops that cater to Southeast Asian, Indonesian and Malaysian clientele, as well as in specialty online shops that serve customers worldwide.
Wrap clothing in Southeast Asia is used as both formal and informal wear.
Some types of wrap clothes are not sewn at all, but simply draped around the body and secured in place.
Unlike highly tailored clothes, wrap clothing is very forgiving; you don't have to worry about being unable to fit in a garment if you gain or lose a few pounds.
Traditional batik cloth is an expensive artisanal product and is thus better suited for wrap clothing used as Southeast Asian formal wear. Use cheaper batik print fabrics for casual and everyday garments.
References
- Photo Credit Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images
