How to Do Batik on Shirts
Batik is an ancient craft that has made an easy transition to modern times. Butterflies, birds, foliage and other designs look just as trendy on a beach sarong today as they did centuries ago when batik was first created by the Indonesians. However, the process of making batik has changed with the times. Instead of using a hot wax resist, which can be dangerous, and spending hours on a cumbersome wax removal procedure, you can get the batik effect on a T-shirt with an effective resist created with washable glue gel.
Things You'll Need
- 1 sheet white cardboard or stiff paper
- Clean white T-shirt, 100 percent cotton
- Washable glue gel, such as Elmer's Blue School Gel
- Cold-water dyes
- Wire hanger
- Spray bottles
Instructions
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1
Trace or draw your T-shirt design on a sheet of white cardboard or stiff paper. You can download an image from the Internet or copy one from a book.
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2
Slip the cardboard inside the white T-shirt. The design should be facing the front so it can be seen through the fabric.
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3
Follow the lines of your design with tip of the washable glue-gel bottle on the T-shirt, squeezing lightly as you draw. Use a paintbrush for thicker lines.Cover with glue any areas that you want to remain white. These are the sections where the glue will resist the dye. Drag glue lines across the pattern to create the cracked look of waxed batik. Allow to dry completely and repeat for the back of the T-shirt. The design cardboard will stick to the fabric.
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4
Prepare cold-water dye of your choice according to manufacturer's instructions. Pour dye colors into separate empty spray bottles, which can be purchased from a beauty supply shop. Use complementary primary colors for a tie-dye effect, for example, blue and yellow dyes will create green in areas where they meet.
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Drape the T-shirt on a hanger outdoors or inside over a floor protected by newspaper or plastic. Spray the dye directly on the shirt in wide horizontal bands, allowing an overlap to create the third color. Saturate both front and back with dye; the glued-on design cardboard will prevent bleed-through. Allow to dry.
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6
Tear off as much of the cardboard as possible and dip shirt into cold water. Rinse until all the glue is removed. This process will also remove the remaining glued-on cardboard. Allow your batik shirt to dry.
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Tips & Warnings
This batik process is a great project for young children.
Wash dyed T-shirt separately to avoid color transfer.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images
