Do you love color? Then check out these tutorials featuring batik, a traditional Eastern fabric technique which uses wax-resist dyeing. Batik is now popular all over the world.

The above Batik Fiber necklace design is by Susan Jones for C&T Publishing. It makes use of batik ribbon yarn, eyelash yarn and beads and crochet. A large crochet hook is used which in turn means this project is quick to do!

She also has another design tutorial for a batik boudoir box to hold your jewelry or other treasures. It's so cheerfully colorful and sure to bring a smile whenever you see it.


Many countries use the wax-resist dyeing method. However, the best known batik making tradition is from Indonesia and Malaysia in South East Asia. Apparently, batik making there predates written records. The basic procedure involves making patterns with molten wax which can be applied with large metal stamping blocks or dribbled from a small tool called a tjanting or canting. This tool has a small spout at the bottom of the handled receptacle (see second picture below). The waxed areas resist dyes.


Block technique, Batik making in Malaysia


Using canting in batik making : Bali, Indonesia

Once the pattern is finished, the rest of the fabric is colored using dyes. Some of the dye seeps into cracks in the wax which gives the fabric its distinctive characteristic.  Finally, the wax itself is removed. One way is to iron the fabric which has been sandwiched between absorbent paper. The area protected by the wax remains the original color before the wax was applied. Sometimes, this waxing and dying process is repeated several times for complex designs.


Coloring in dyes : making batik in Malaysia

Today, batik designs have become more contemporary. However the photo below shows traditional batik worn by Indonesian dancers performing the Sacred Royal Dance of Bedhoyo Ketawang.


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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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