Things You'll Need:
- paper
- sharpie
- white fabric
- wax
- fabric dye
- container for dye
- salt
- hot plate or wax melter
- old paint brushes
- tape
- old clothes, so as not to ruin your clothes with dye.
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Step 1
To start, you will need to create a design that you would like to use on your batik. Mandalas or circular designs are great to use for throw pillows. Floral designs are great for larger pieces of fabric. Draw your design on the white paper with your sharpie. Make sure that the lines are dark.
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Step 2
Next, lay your fabric over your design and tape down one side so that it does not move around. You should be able to see your design through your fabric. Note: If you want the lines of your designs to be a color other than white, you will need to dye your fabric that color before this step.
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Step 3
Now you can start waxing your batik. Melt your wax on a low heat in a hot plate or wax melter. Once it is liquid, use an old paintbrush to pick up the wax and paint it onto the lines of your design. You are creating a resist with the wax so that the dye cannot penetrate that area. Because of this, it is important to make sure that the wax is completely coating the area through the fabric. You will need to work in short quick strokes to prevent the wax from hardening.
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Step 4
Once all of your lines are coated with wax, you can begin the fun part of dying. If you would like the fabric to be all one color, you can dip the entire piece of fabric in one dye. However, it can be more fun to paint on different dyes. To prep your dye, mix according to the dye brand instructions. Use a paint brush to apply the dye where you would like it and let the piece rest.
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Step 5
Note: There is another method of batik in which you wax the parts you want to be white and then dye the entire fabric in yellow, for example. Then you would let it dry and wax all the parts you want to stay yellow and then dye it in blue, for example. That would turn the fabric green because of the yellow and blue combination. You could then wax any areas you wanted to stay green and then dye it red. That would turn the remaining fabric brown. This method is lengthier and requires more planning, but it can be beautiful if done well.
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Step 6
Once you have dyed your fabric and it has completely dried, you can start removing the wax. Note: the fabric may always be slightly waxy, but you shouldn't be able to scrape a fingernail down the fabric and pull up wax. To remove the wax, lay the piece on newspaper and blow dry on a low setting. Use paper towels to wipe off the wax as it melts. You can also use an iron on low setting if you place the piece between two pieces of paper. Using the hair dryer may be a safer bet though because you won't risk ruining your iron.
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Step 7
Once the wax is removed, you are done. You can add beads or buttons for embellishment and use the design to make a bag or a pillow. The possibilities are endless. Enjoy!
