How to Use Glue Batik on a T-Shirt
Batik is an ancient Indonesian tradition which utilizes hot wax to create designs on fabric. Once the wax is dry, the fabric is dyed and the wax removed to reveal the beautiful patterns. While traditionally batik is a messy process that requires practice, patience and a number of specialized tools, children and adults alike can create the same look on t-shirts with simple white glue.
Things You'll Need
- Batik design
- Cardboard
- Washable markers (optional)
- White glue
- Paintbrush
- Dye
Instructions
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1
Develop your batik design before beginning. You can glue batik onto your t-shirt in multiple layers, so make sure you have thought through your design in layers, if necessary. For example, you may apply your first layer of batik and dip your t-shirt in yellow dye. You can then remove the glue, reapply a new pattern and dip again in blue dye to reveal a green color while retaining the yellow under your second layer of glue.
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2
Cut a piece of cardboard to fit tightly inside of your t-shirt. If batiking the sleeves, you should also cut cardboard to fit tightly inside of the sleeves.
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3
Draw your design onto your t-shirt with washable markers, if you like, or simply apply white glue freehand. You can apply glue in thin lines directly from the bottle, or use a paintbrush for thicker lines. Allow your design to dry completely and then carefully pull the cardboard out from inside of your t-shirt.
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4
Dip your t-shirt in your chosen color of dye. You can use any type of dye you choose. However, make sure you follow the manufacturer's directions.
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Apply the second layer of batik, if you like. You have two options. You can either allow the first layer of dye to set and wash your t-shirt to remove all of the glue, or leave your first layer of glue and batik on top of the dyed cloth only.
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6
Allow the dye to set and then wash your batik t-shirt with cold water to remove the glue.
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Comments
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Linds Weava
Feb 27, 2011
We have done this with WONDERFUL results. We used Elmer's Blue School Glue Gel (I read on a different site that the blue school gel is the best for batik). It does wash out easily but it needs a little rubbing to get it to start to come off of the fabric. We experimented with several different lengths of time in the dye because we wanted to figure out how long it could stay in before the glue came off. As long as there was no rubbing or agitating, we did not have a single design fail - even after an hour of soaking in dye. We also used Rit "cold water" dye so that the dye water didn't need to be hot. So, just draw the design with the glue, let it dry completely, soak in dye, and then rinse in warm water with just a little rubbing and the the glue comes right off. We also used foam brushes to apply the dye in different areas and that worked well - it was not quite as bright but nice... -
laurenbayles
Nov 13, 2008
But won't the glue dissolve when you put it in the dye? From my experience (it's been a while, so maybe things have changed), the dye instructions usually say to dissolve the dye in hot water, then add fabric. If washing the finished product in a cold wash will remove the glue, won't the prior step -- dipping the glued fabric in hot dye -- do the same? And then you end up with just an all-blue (or whatever color dye you're using) T-shirt?
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laurenbayles
Nov 13, 2008
But won't the glue dissolve when you put it in the dye? From my experience (it's been a while, so maybe things have changed), the dye instructions usually say to dissolve the dye in hot water, then add fabric. If washing the finished product in a cold wash will remove the glue, won't the prior step -- dipping the glued fabric in hot dye -- do the same? And then you end up with just an all-blue (or whatever color dye you're using) T-shirt?
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laurenbayles
Nov 13, 2008
But won't the glue dissolve when you put it in the dye? From my experience (it's been a while, so maybe things have changed), the dye instructions usually say to dissolve the dye in hot water, then add fabric. If washing the finished product in a cold wash will remove the glue, won't the prior step -- dipping the glued fabric in hot dye -- do the same? And then you end up with just an all-blue (or whatever color dye you're using) T-shirt?
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laurenbayles
Nov 13, 2008
But won't the glue dissolve when you put it in the dye? From my experience (it's been a while, so maybe things have changed), the dye instructions usually say to dissolve the dye in hot water, then add fabric. If washing the finished product in a cold wash will remove the glue, won't the prior step -- dipping the glued fabric in hot dye -- do the same? And then you end up with just an all-blue (or whatever color dye you're using) T-shirt?
