If you admired the beautiful pieces made by Terri Haugen and would like to try the technique she demonstrated, you can experiment in your own kitchen without the mess of traditional batik. You and your family should enjoy this variation on an ancient art form.
Materials:
100-percent cotton fabric
old picture frame or embroidery hoop
pins or tacks for attaching fabric to a frame
tjanting tool and/or cookie cutters
old newspapers or paper towels
electric frying pan or double boiler
paraffin / beeswax / melted candles
paint brushes of various sizes for applying the dye (Remember to use a different brush for each color of dye you use or clean brushes thoroughly after each use.)
small glass dishes for dye
old iron (that won't mind a wax covering!)
pencil
picture for tracing
old cloth
Dye mix ingredients:
Procion MX dye in several colors (enough to create desired color)
10 tbsp. urea
4 cups warm water
1 tsp. Calgon or other water softener
1/4 tsp. baking soda
*Add the above ingredients into a plastic container with a top.
tjanting tool: A Japanese tool for applying hot wax in batik work, usually consisting of a narrow tube with an opening for the wax, and a small, metal spout at the opposite end.
Steps:
- With a pencil, draw or trace a picture on the fabric (figure A) .
- Stretch the fabric tautly over a picture frame, tacking the corners first, then along all sides. You can also use an embroidery hoop (figure B) if it is the type that can be tightened.
- Heat the wax in an electric frying pan, tin can in water, or a double boiler. (Consult Batiking Tips for information on temperatures, wax types, etc.)
- Dip tjanting tool into hot wax, wipe end with towel, then touch to fabric and outline your design (figure C). Periodically check the reverse side of the fabric to be sure that the wax is penetrating the fabric. All the connecting lines must touch so that the dyes remain compartmentalized and do not bleed from one space into the next.
- When all the lines are waxed, you may begin to paint the dyes on the fabric. Adjust your brush sizes according to the size of the areas. (Sponge brushes are good for very large areas.)
- When the entire piece is colored in with dye, put it aside to dry thoroughly (overnight is best).
- When the dye is completely dry, use a paint brush to coat the entire piece with melted wax (figure D). The wax must penetrate the fabric in all the colored areas.
- Remove fabric from frame.
- Crackle the wax by bending the fabric or by crunching it up in your hands (figure E). If the weather is hot, the wax will not sufficiently harden and should be refrigerated for a short time.
- With a brush, coat the entire surface with black dye. Gently rub the dye all over the fabric with a soft rag, pushing the black into the cracks.
- Wipe off the rest of the dye with the rag, and place the piece right side up on paper towels or newspapers. The newspaper must be at least 10 days old or the ink might transfer onto your work. Press the entire piece with a hot (no steam) iron directly onto the waxed surface. Keep pressing and changing the paper until it seems that all of the wax has been removed. If the ironing does not suffice, the piece can be dry cleaned.
- Your batik work is now complete and ready to be displayed (figure F).
Resources batik information and supplies - Dharma
Dharma Trading Co.
Website:
www.dharmatrading.com
Introduction to Batik
by Margaret Hone, Heather Griffin (ISBN: 0855326190)
Click
here to order this title.
Dharma Trading Co.
Website:
www.dharmatrading.com
Procion MX dyes by Jacquard, tjanting tools, brushes
Rupert, Gibbon & Spider Inc. / Jacquard Products
Website:
www.jacquardproducts.com
Guests Terri Haugen
Artist
Les Sirenes Galerie D'Art
Frankfort, MI
Phone: 231-352-7640
Email:
terrih@terrihaugen.com
Website:
www.lessirenes.com
Also in this Episode
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