How to Make Batik Fabric
Batik design for fabric is a beautiful and ancient artistic tradition, and learning to make batik fabric is a rewarding project for beginning crafters and experienced artists. The unique look of batik is produced by using wax to paint a design into the fabric and then dyeing fabric, which leaves the wax design in the original color. While there are a number of materials to use and steps to follow for any project that involves painting with wax and dyeing fabric, get creative and experiment with your batik design to find your own style.
Things You'll Need
- Silk, cotton or rayon fabric
- Old picture frame
- Tacks
- Pencil
- Old paintbrushes (large and small)
- Tjanting tool (optional)
- Rubber gloves
- Fiber reactive cold-water dye
- Soda ash
- Paraffin wax
- Electric skillet
- Double boiler
- Rag
- Iron
- Newsprint paper
Instructions
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1
Prepare your chosen fabric by prewashing and drying, then stretching across an open picture frame or canvas frame. Tack the edges of the fabric over the frame.
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2
Draw your batik design onto the fabric using a light drawing pencil, dark enough to see, but not so dark that it will show through the dye you have chosen.
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3
Prepare your dye solution as directed in the instructions included in your fiber reactive dye. Wear rubber gloves while working with dye and pour the dye either into a small bucket or tub or in a spray bottle for soaking your fabric.
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4
Melt the paraffin wax using a double boiler, and keep the wax warm and workable using an electric skillet near your work area.
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5
Paint over your pencil marks with the melted wax to draw your batik design, either dipping the paintbrushes in the melted wax or using a tjanting to dispense wax. Mop up any drips or spills with your rag.
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6
Wait for the wax to cool before dyeing fabric.
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7
Remove the fabric from the frame and crumple once the wax has cooled to make batik fabric that has the unique veined look of batik.
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8
Presoak the fabric for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 cup soda ash dissolved in 1 gallon of water.
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9
Dye the fabric by immersing in the prepared dye or spraying dye on with a spray bottle. Allow the dye to set for several hours, or as directed by the instructions for your selected fabric dye.
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10
Wash your fabric in the washing machine to remove excess dye, using cold water only to prevent melted wax from getting into the washing machine.
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11
Iron the wax out of the batik design by placing the fabric flat between sheets of newsprint paper to absorb the melted wax.
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12
Repeat the process with a second color of dye if desired, remembering that the dye will change the color of the fabric everywhere that is not covered in wax.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use cold-water fabric dye to make batik fabric, since the wax will melt out of your design during the dyeing process if the dye requires warm or hot water.
