How to Make a Simple "Batik"

Things to Get Ready

• A piece of white cloth (a size depend on the purpose of the batik piece; the cloth could be of rayon, crepe, silk or cotton)
• A wooden frame
• Some wax
• Batik dye
• A small fine brush
• A small instrument called “canting” (it is used to outline the design). “canting” is a small little pot with a very fine nozzle and handle

Methods:

1. Choose a theme you wish to design (for example, flowers, animals, sea, waterfall etc.).
2. Draw your selected, favored or desired design on a piece of white cloth
3. Draw your design with a pencil or pen
4. Stretch the white cloth over a wooden frame so that you can apply the wax easily
5. Pour the hot melted wax into a “canting”. The melted wax pouring out through the thin nozzle is used to outline the design drawn earlier
6. Use a small fine brush to color the design with batik dye (this dye comes in a magnitude of variety colors and shades. Batik dye is usually bright and striking)
7. When the whole design has been outlined, put the cloth to dry outside
8. After it is completely dried, remove the cloth from the frame. Allow it to soak in a solution of silicate for about 6 hours (this will help the color to set in)
9. Wash the cloth to remove the silicate
10. Soak the cloth into the boiling water to remove the wax
11. Dry out the cloth and iron it out