Batik Printing on Fabric

Have you ever tried painting white flowers on a colored cloth? That is what started me on a search for a medium that would permit me to color the greater part of the cloth and leave the flowers white, yet retain the original softness of the fabric.

This batik technique consists of applying a design to the surface of the cloth using melted wax. The cloth is then placed in a dye bath. The waxed areas are resistant to the dye and when the wax is melted out, the "resist" areas remain the original color of the cloth.

The designs used by the natives of the East Indies are based upon conventional objects, shells, fruit, leaves, birds, and flowers. Cotton cloth is most generally used, although some silk fabrics take well to the batik method. The equipment and method used are simple and inexpensive. Necessary equipment includes: frame, twill tape, pins, thumb tacks, batik wax (1/2 paraffin, 1/2 beeswax), brushes, all-purpose dye in your chosen color.

Carefully draw the design onto the fabric with pencil. Large, bold designs are typically the best if your aim is to achieve those "South Sea" characteristics.

The frame for waxing designs should be large enough to hold a good size working area of fabric, yet small enough to maintain tension. An 18-inch square frame is a good basic size for most projects. This frame can be made of common pine lumber (1 by 1 inch), mitered at the corners and fastened with corrugated fasteners (figure 1).

Use the thumb tacks to attach dressmakers cotton twill tape to the frame. Allow tape to lap over the inside edge of the frame (figure 2).

             

After drawing your designs, stretch the cloth on the frame, pinning securely to the edges of the tape (figure 3).

Now you're ready for the wax. Some art supply stores carry a prepared wax, but if that is not readily available, a mixture of 1/2 beeswax and 1/2 paraffin will work equally well. Batik process is a dye-resist method in which the wax forms a protective coating over the fibers of the cloth. Any area covered with wax will not take the dye. The wax is heated slowly over hot water to the melting point. With a small water color brush apply wax to the areas of the design that you wish to have remain the original color of the cloth. Since a small frame is used, it will be necessary to work on section of the cloth at a time, stretching and waxing each section until all design areas are coated. Turn cloth over and check to be sure that the design is waxed on both sides of the cloth (figure 4).

Ordinary all-purpose dye is prepared according to the directions on the package for the type of fabric used. The dye bath should be lukewarm so that the wax will not melt or crack. Remove fabric from the frame and submerge it in the dye bath. All it to remain until your desired color is attained. Remove the fabric from the bath and rinse thoroughly in clear lukewarm water. Hang up to dry away from heat.

When dry, remove wax by placing fabric between several thicknesses of newspaper, running a warm iron over it until the wax is absorbed by the newspapers.

Batik is not necessarily restricted to the use of single colors. Several related colors may be used. Starting with the lighter dye bath, when material is dry (do not remove the original wax), again stretch on the frame. Cover areas of design that you wish to remain this lighter shade with wax. Submerge in darker dye bath.

Keep your designs bold and simple for best results. Geometric designs, or stylized flowers, leaves and birds make delightful batik prints. Once you get the hang of batik printing, you can even use this method to create entire scenes, such as the one in this wall hanging.