source : http://museumbatikdanarhadi.blogspot.com

PT Batik Danar Hadi proudly presents Danar Hadi Batik Museum established to highlight the city of Surakarta Hadiningrat (Solo) which is renowned as a cultural and touristic city. Displayed in this museum are antique batiks that were created through the period of time before and during the Dutch and Japanese occupation, till a few decades after Indonesia proclaimed its independence.

Introducing this museum to other regions within Indonesia and other countries is expected to enhance the image of Solo and to increase its economic development.

Danar Hadi Batik Museum was inaugurated by Mrs. Megawati Soekarno Putri on October 20, 2000, with the name “Ancient Danar Hadi Batik Gallery” now changed its name to “Danar Hadi Batik Museum”.

Museum Location

Jalan Slamet Riyadi No.261, Surakarta

Tel. +62-271-714326 Fax. +62-271-714253

Transportation

• Mileage from the airport: + 10 Km
• Mileage from Harbor: + 128 Km
• Mileage from Bus: + 3 Km
• Mileage of the railway station: + 2.5 Km

Collection

Collection Danar Hadi Batik Museum of Ancient Batik collection is all private property, amounting to 10,000 pcs.

Facilities

• Land / Building Size: + 1100 m2 / + 750 m2
• Permanent Exhibition Hall
• Space Administration
• Toilet

If you are in Solo do not forget to visit the centers in Kampung Batik Laweyan. Once the message a few friends to his friend who had never come to Solo. It’s true that the actual recommendations are healthy with reiki often heard from a good friend in the blog forum, mailing lists or at meetings in the daily routine of work, where friends who had come to this Laweyan related his experience during a visit to Kampung Batik Laweyan. What will tell if it was not about batik.

Kampung Batik Laweyan actually been famous since the beginning of the independence of this republic. Even long before that villagers Laweyan already made history with the emergence of Islamic Trade Unions (SDI) which was formed by KH Samanhudi, one of the leading batik merchant. Through SDI is the breath of Islam became an important part in the trade in Indonesia. In this region also stands a building that supposedly Laweyan Mosque was built in 1546.

Geographically Laweyan Kampung Batik in the South and West Solo Solo City. This area had always been known as a batik industrial center. Existence has existed since the time of the Pajai kingdom in 1546. Because batik is famous for the production of this village soon became an icon of batik interior especially in Java on the production side of coastal batik Pekalongan, Lasem, Cirebon and Indramayu. Ward quickly became legendary icons and establish itself as the center of the triumph of the development of batik art in the city of Solo.

Location Laweyan Kampung Batik in the east by Kampong Jagalan Bumi Laweyan. Time is limited to the south and the west Jenes Village Kwanggan. There north street Dr. Rajiman which stretches from Market to Market Sapecada Jongke. In the main segment of the village there is a way Batik Laweyan flanked Sidoluhur legendary walled buildings owned batik merchants who had earned the nickname Mbok Mase and Ndoro Kakung Nganten.

Merchants had to make batik batik using canting as stamp or work equipment. In the manufacturing process uses wax painted on white cloth. Carved candles or night using a copper cap or canting. Because it is made with a stamp printed batik is called while the use is called batik canting strips or batik. This evening or a candle stick and a white dikain workmanship included in the process to beautify the complexion color motif.

During the period of manufacture to finished marketable involves the employment of people around Laweyan. Labor is called batik workers. Further promotion through the sticker affixed to the cloth a finished batik. Next batik batik shop marketed or sold in bulk in the Pasar Klewer. Promotional efforts are also made to lift the image of batik including through brochures and now the Internet media so that citizens of other countries will know the existence of batik as a valuable work of the Indonesian people, especially Javanese culture.

This was not in vain when UNESCO recognized batik as Indonesia’s cultural heritage. Through the existence of batik Unesco has got a place internationally. This recognition means that batik has a proven overseas market with many foreign or domestic tourists who visited the Kampung Batik Laweyan to shop and see batik production processes.

From this recognition businessmen should the government responded by immediately issuing laws that protect batik entrepreneurs. “For instance needs to be shown the actual definition of batik. If the process does not use candles not included batik, “said Widiarso, Management Forum Kampoeng Batik Laweyan as quoted Joglosemar some time ago.
If it is done will appear creative industries particularly in the manufacture of new batik.

In Kampung Klaseman with reiki healthy place to spend a little time until the high school population had mostly worked as laborers batik. There is worked as a cap batik, artisans tolet, nglorot, laundry workers and batik cloth batik writing usually done by mothers. They work in batik factory and there is also carrying material for the work of batik in their homes. These workers generally work from 8 am to 5 pm. Sometimes at night there are also working overtime.

In 1968 when production increases there is a batik batik merchant generous enough to allow the population of black and white television every week night at his home on the condition that the marquee was willing to help fold batik cloth that has not been so. Once a job finished batik cloth folded before the plane the size of black and white 20 inch started. Population busy-busy movie weekend that if it was broadcast TVRI Daktari, Flipper, Bonanza and broadcast commercial advertisements. In the village there was only 1 black and white television set and batik merchant’s the only weekend of entertainment for residents around the factory batik.

Well if want to know more batik-making process, you do not need help folding the cloth of batik, as illustrated above. You can just come while trying to make batik using canting. At this year’s Lebaran tourists visit both foreign and domestic tourists are expected to increase to Kampung Batik Laweyan. In the village of batik Laweyan all been available both batik or batik cap. Please select a batik shop and taste all of you.

Source image: www.kampoenglaweyan.com

Batik Tambal is an Indonesian term which translates to “Patches of Batik”. Tambal Miring (shown below) is a traditional Indonesian batik pattern. The literal meaning of “Tambal Miring” is slanted patches of batik, but much more is implied in the term. As late as the beginning of the twentieth century certain priests in Indonesia wore patchwork jackets which were believed to have magical qualities. Indeed the batik tambal garments of the Sultan of Jogyakarta were said to have been passed down from heaven. In our own time Tambal Miring is a traditional design mode which imitates the clothing of the priests. Some of the magic undoubtedly persists.

It is a great pleasure to present the work of some of Indonesia’s finest batik artists. The batik paintings make uniquely attractive wall hangings, and also lend themselves to use in wearable art, quilts, table runners, and other forms of patchwork art.

souce : http://www.batiktambal.com

This is just as in the How to Tie Dye page: study the How to Dye basic recipe first. Make sure you have all the chemicals and supplies you need for dyeing: Procion MX dyes, urea, sodium carbonate (soda ash), thin rubber or plastic gloves, measuring cups and spoons, squirt bottles to put the dye solution into for application, dust mask for measuring out dyes, and a bucket for pre-soaking the fabric in sodium carbonate solution. Be sure to pre-wash all clothing to remove invisible finishes that can prevent the dye from getting to the fabric. (In place of the Procion MX dye, you can substitute any type of fiber reactive dye that can use temperatures below the softening point of wax, such as Cibacron F/Sabracron F or Drimarene K dye; Dylon Cold Water Dye is an example of the latter, but avoid Dylon Multi Purpose dye, which is a hot water dye.)
Additional Supplies for Batik

You’ll need to buy both beeswax and paraffin to mix together; some cheap paintbrushes for covering large sections (don’t waste good ones on this); a tjanting, or several, with which to apply the wax; and some way to keep the wax at a constant temperature. I failed at batik until I acquired an electric skillet for the sole purpose of melting the wax. I’d been using wax that was melted, in a double boiler, but not hot enough to penetrate the fabric. Batik instantly changed from impossibly difficult to easily manageable the day I bought an electric skillet.

You can substitute synthetic “sticky wax” or “microcrystalline wax” for beeswax, if you prefer. It is best to use a mixture of beeswax (or its substitutes) and paraffin, because parafin alone crackles too much, while beeswax alone doesn’t crackle at all. (If you don’t like the crackle effect, use pure beeswax, or its substitutes, without paraffin.)

Each of your tools needs a ridge on it to prevent it from sliding down into the scalding hot melted wax. If they do not already have a ridge of some sort, you can make one by wrapping many layers of tape at just one place on the handle of the tool.

Tjantings for drawing with melted wax are available from Dick Blick, PRO Chemical & Dye, Dharma Trading, and other dye suppliers. (See the Sources for Dyeing Supplies page for contact information.)

Instructions
Draw with melted wax wherever you want the fabric to remain a lighter color. If the wax does not seem to penetrate the fabric, it is probably not hot enough; check the temperature. Use an electric skillet to maintain the wax at the correct temperature. (Beware of dangerous overheating; wax can burn, causing a dangerous house fire, or just smoke that can cause lung damage.) It’s best if your design can tolerate a few random light spots from accidental drips of wax. Hold a rag in your other hand, ready to catch unwanted drips before they fall.

I usually stretch the garment over a cookie sheet or other baking implement, depending on the size of the garment; this prevents the wax from getting through to the other side of the garment, and makes it easier to control the fabric, as well. I have used a wooden stretcher bar frame, such as is used for mounting canvases for paintings, attaching a silk garment by means of wire clips strung on rubber bands that wrapped around the frame–it’s certainly a lot more trouble that way, but the tension is sometimes useful for painting woven silks. I like to use a pencil to mark out my design on the cloth beforehand.

Apply dye when the wax is cool. (If you’re in a hurry, refrigerate.) You can wait for days or even weeks after waxing to proceed to dyeing, if you prefer. Crumple the fabric if you want a lot of veining, then pre-soak in sodium carbonate and apply dye as described in How to Dye. Use only cool water dye such as the Procion MX dye I recommend, not any sort of hot water dye, and be sure that your soda ash and your dye mixtures are at room temperature, not hot, since even a little melting may ruin your design. Wash the excess dye out, after the full “batching” time of 2 to 24 hours has passed, using cold water only. You don’t need melted wax in your washer. Obviously, you must not let anything waxy get into your hot air dryer.

Repeat? For traditonal, multiple-step batik, air-dry, and repeat the waxing and dyeing steps as desired, starting with the lightest colors and progressing toward the darker ones, first spending some time to plot the appropriate order for the colors and how each color will mix with the previous ones. For modern “faux” batik, a single round, involving direct application of different fiber reactive dye colors where they are wanted, is sufficient.

Removing the wax can be the hardest part.

Simmering in hot water, with soap, is the best method I’ve found. This requires a large (preferably several gallon) cookpot. Add liquid soap, rather than detergent, to the water. I’ve had excellent results with Dr. Bronner’s brand liquid castile soap, which is commonly available in whole foods stores. Using this soap, I did not have to get the water anywhere near a boil before all of the wax had floated to the top of the pot. The procedure is much more difficult without soap, though you can re-use the wax if you don’t use soap or detergent to aid in its removal.

If you allow the pot to cool afterwards, with the fabric safely below the surface, the wax will harden so that you can lift it off, instead of leaving a residue in the fabric. Don’t worry about toxicity from the wax in your food pots, as both beeswax and paraffin are considered safe for consumption, though indigestible in quantity; there is the practical matter of removing any wax that gets on the sides of the pot, after scraping as much as is easy to get out, but heating the pot and wiping with paper towels works.

Alternatives to boiling:

• Ironing the wax out between sheets of newspaper (using unprinted paper next to the cloth to prevent ink transfer) is a lot of trouble, often leaves some wax in the fabric, and, some warn, can create lung-damaging paraffin fumes.
• Dry cleaning won’t work at all, unless your dry cleaner still uses the older solvents that do dissolve wax (ask if they can remove wax, first). Some batikers have found dry cleaners that do remove wax, but I’ve never been able to find one in my area.
• Steam cleaning by a dry cleaner is expensive (often $5 a piece).
• Dharma Trading also suggests using *hot* water from a hose to rinse the wax out, but that requires that you increase the setting on your water heater enough to risk scalding in the house.
• White gasoline (used for camping stoves) and other organic solvents can be used to remove wax, but the process is cumbersome, and the solvents can cause brain damage if you breathe them for too long. Never use organic solvents indoors.

Batiking without wax
You may occasionally read of batiking with alternative resists. Beware of water-soluble resists; I found the hard way that Deka’s Silk Resist, for example, washes right out during the sodium carbonate pre-soak step of dyeing. If you use a washable resist, not only will you lack the interesting cracks and veins, but you will also need to find an alternative to the use of the washing soda pre-soak, such as applying sodium carbonate solution or Dharma’s After-Fix afterwards, or drying the fabric after pre-soaking in soda ash, before applying the resist. This also requires a much more frugal hand with the dye solutions than I am accustomed to applying, as large excesses of dye solution will also wash away any water-soluble resist. Alternative resists can be extremely valuable, resulting in wonderful results – but these results will never be very close approximations of true wax batik.
Soy wax for batik
Soy wax is processed hydrogenated vegetable oil which is hard at room temperature. It can be used for immersion dyed batiks, with the advantage that it will wash out in hotwater in your washing machine. Some batik artists have gotten excellent results withthis resist. However, others have been disappointed by its not blocking the dye as completely, or by its wearing away in the dye bath. It is worth experimenting with. Use the hardest type of soy wax, from a dye supplier or labeled as being suitable for making pillar-type candles; do not use the softer type intended for use in containers.

Elmer’s Washable Blue Glue Gel
You can also use Elmer’s washable blue gel glue as a resist. It will last through a brief immersion period. To wash it out, first soak it in cold water. There will be none of the cracks associated with traditional wax batik, but the safety of using cold glue gel instead of hot wax makes it preferable for projects that children will work on.

source :  http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/howtobatik.shtml

Mayor of the Yogyakarta City, which Zudianto Herry at the opportunity to open direct Gelar Expo Produk UMKM Kota Yogyakarta 2009 said Yogyakarta city, this activity is one realization of the educational batik industry.

“With the implementation of a variety of exhibitions of batik, batik making uniforms, the curriculum includes batik as ektrakulikuler, upgrading to the dissemination of information on batik designs copyright is the actualization of our society in the making of batik as an integral part of their lives,” Herry said on the sidelines of the event, Friday ( 4 / 12).

Furthermore Zudianto Herry said the future of batik is not only produced by Indonesia alone, other countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Thailand and China are also able to sell it in Indonesia. Seeing this competition, the Indonesian batik will be more to love this single soul culture.

“We also have to make people love the batik, the government until the tourism industry using the batik in a variety of activities is a good effort love batik,” he concluded.

The exhibition is intentionally different from the exhibition is packed usually focused on aspects of education for the people that visit the exhibition. Visitors can see the complete batik industry types ranging from raw materials, batik dyes, different ways of production processes and various kinds of batik and downstream industries that use raw material of batik cloth.

At this event also launched the UMKM website, Disperindagkoptan signing of the MoU with the City of Yogyakarta Yogyakarta Provincial Intellectual Property Clinic to register 5 brand Yogyakarta batik entrepreneurs. This exhibition involves 26 companies in Yogyakarta batik industry. (Fir)

image source : http://www.krjogja.com/krjogja/photos/6bf95ee88a4b9f03a915bbd513080be8.JPG

• Local and International Batik Producers
• Small and Medium enterprises and Cooperative
• State Enterprises and Government Institutions
• Banking and Finance Institution
• Private Companies
• Batik Collectors & Designer
• Company Association
• Batik Organizations & Batik Lovers

Culinary Street Party

It is actuallu a folk party to enjoy varieties of tempting Indonesian foods and snacks from hundreds of food hawkers around Pekalongan city, Central Java and other areas in Indonesia

Business Forum / Batik Seminars & Dialogs

The important agenda is to find solutions to the problems concerning batik industry in Indonesia and the world’s market and also to try to supply production factors with the right strategy in this global economic crisis. We are inviting local as well as international experienced speakers.

Art and Cultural Party

This activity is mean to entertain visitors and tourist with unique central java tradition music performances, campur sari, java langgam and puppet shadow play (wayang kulit). It will create a relaxing atmosphere that will become a magnificent tourism attraction in Pekalongan city.

Batik Decorated Vehicle Parade & Fashion on the Road

This new agenda will become a unique tradition of Pekalongan city. Hundreds of batik decorated vehicles like cars, horse drawn carriage (andong), three- wheeled pedicab (becak), motorcycles, bicycles-along with marching band, traditional dancers, followed by fashion batik show by local and national models and designers will surely enliven this parade. There will be also the breaking of MURI record for batik clothes worn and batik decorated houses all over Pekalongan city.

Batik Design, Painting AND Decorating Competition

In order to provide a media for painting and designing batik fans, there will be a batik painting and designing competitions for the folks of Pekalongan city for elementary, junior high and senior high school students, as well as entrepreneurs and key officials.

Batik Demo and Making Batik Canting ‘Tulis & Cap’

To familiarize the people to making of batik of high art quality and to help them understand the beauty of batik, there will be a discussion and demo of the making of exclusive expensive batik using canting and cap. This activity will involve the batik makers and canting entrepreneurs. They will also show how to make canting.

A prominent characteristic of Indramayu Batik is ranggam expressed flora and fauna are even, with handcuffs and a lot of curved lines that taper (riritan), white background and dark color and a lot of dots that are made with techniques cocolan needle, and the form of isen-isen (sawut ) a short and rigid. Etong motif, for example, describes the various marine animals which is brought home by the sea after fishing such as fish, shrimp, squid, jellyfish and crabs. Ship aground motives imply that fishing vessels are on the rocks so that the threatened ground. Ganggeng motives, according to the name describes the variety of seaweed found in the North Coast of Java.

While the motive is Kembang Gunda plants that live in coastal and beach can be a side dish pecel. In addition to describing the activities in the coastal, batik motif typical Indramayu also illustrates that there are daily activities such as the Swastika Motif, Motif Ngibing Merak, Kereta Kencana motives, and motives Rombeng Jati. Swastika motifs inspired by Japanese colonial period, according to the Swastika batik craftsman in Indramayu depicts symbols of violence that occurred during the residence of Japan. Merak Ngibing motif inspired by the beautiful peacock bird. While the motives Train Kencana is a depiction of King Wilarodra that are in my kingdom horse corral.

Saw Bill Gates’s action some time before. When visiting to Indonesia, the Microsoft boss from the Country Paman Sam this put on batik until making President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that put on the complete coat berdasi changed him with batik clothes. This was success proof of the designers that already the focus in the batik route for years and that just plunged himself through to made booming this inheritance of the nation ancestors.

Owing to the idea and the touch of their art, batik was born to the ethnic work modern with tampilan that was more exclusive, sweet, elegant, and not old. The model and the colour then not exclusively chocolate and unclear colours, the game of the colour, the motive hit, the modern model, and mixed then dared to be carried to create a beautiful work and be not left behind the time. But still loved the Motherland product. Result, batik at this time only was not put on in several official agendas, also batik that was created with the model was more relaxed (ready to wear) that then could be put on in some sort agendas, like when going to the office, went out, or only an in the house. The role of the designer promoted batik was very extraordinary.

Owing to creative art and his innovation against the traditional Indonesian cloth, the garment businessman imitated him. Because of that batik could be consumed not only the circle forbade upper, also middle and low. Mentioned the name of the useful designer introduced batik to the national and international depths, like Edward Hutabarat, Poppy Darsono,Adjie Notonegoro, or even Ina Idayanti co-operated with his friend, Vera, that was new three months sold the batik fashion. The designer Edward Hutabarat or Edo was the designer who was involved in batik for almost 10 years. His reason lifted batik in each one of his plans because the motive of the batik has been beautiful and pretty so as to deserve to appear the way it is. That just recently, he said, through batik, Indonesia could speak in the world depths. Through batik also Indonesia had the identity, that must be owned to face the globalisation era. “And necessarily, tren this batik was also accompanied by conservation efforts” of “Indonesian cloth that was it was admitted superior in the production technique and the style decorated,” he said. In September 2006, Edo the first time introduced the series of the lifestyle product that was encompassed in the Part One label. Part One was the fashion label was ready with the Edo work as his dedication against this root of the country culture. He packed batik with the new innovation. In fashion show him late last May, Edo again put forward the batik collection by carrying the theme of “The Upper Ground Batik”. The plan that was put forward by him used coloured batik cloth clear, hit the motive, and hit the colour. Beginning with minidress, babydoll, balloon trousers, jumpsuit, and the gown dominated works of the designer who received the appreciation as the icon mode to JFFF 2008 because of being successful memopulerkan this cotton batik. Material material that was used then luxurious was in the form of silk that was made with the implement wove not the machine, satin silk, and organdy silk. “I wanted to show batik was indeed superior in now and that”edo say…

In the different opportunity, Ina Idyanti or closer was greeted by Ina, the couple lived from the handsome actor Jeremy Thomas said, his wish chose batik in several of his plans because batik began booming. “Beforehand, we often used siphons.” However, because of many requests against (the fashion) batik, we then looked for the method, how that batik is not monotonous, he said. With took warnawarna clear and the combination of the unclear colour that dipadupadankan with lace, beads, the coin and payet to give the impression was more modern and sweet so that not bored becoming the mainstay in drafting the collection teranyar him. His article, the batik image that uptil now adhered on the young’s marrow was old, gave the old impression, and too formal. “So, in creating this batik fashion, we were ourselves.” We hoped, the person that earlier frightened batik, so could enjoy batik with the design that could be imposed by everyone, he said. In the meantime, as brand local with the international quality, Allure some time before also dismissed the supreme collection spring/Summer 2008, materially that was used like cotton emboss, dobby, viskos, and silk wove ATBM. Koleksi that was produced was allocated not only for the women, also for Adam’s group and children. Material viskos sekilas resembled silk or was often acknowledged as artificial silk with quite heavy fibre. However his material was softer and his colour was clear. Viskos personally was first artificial fibre that was made from the tree trunk that was processed to the thread and was given by the chemical material mixture. The first time being produced during 1884 by the French scientist of Hilaire de Chardonnet and just four years afterwards was made in a mass fashion. The batik reason viskos was used by Allure in several of his plans was to give the different choice in the middle tren batik at this time that more often used purposeful cotton textile classic. By mushrooming him batik clothes, the designer of the upper Adjie Notonegoro plank hoped, tren batik did not only take place for a moment, but forever. He was at this time developing Lasem motive batik with the motive like antique batik. Moreover, he also was active stimulated the use of cotton cloth for the batik fashion at this time. His article, with the tropical Indonesian environment, cotton more was easy his maintenance and could be used in various opportunities. It is hoped, with booming him batik at this time, batik did not become tren for a moment, but to the cultural wealth that was loved by all the circles. As in the case of Indians’s pride with main point cloth, the Thai people with his Thai silk, and the China people with silk.

The word batik (pronounced Bateek) means “wax written” and this is basically what batik is. It is a way of decorating cloth by covering part of it with a coat of wax and then dyeing the cloth. The waxed area keeps its original color and when the wax is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed area makes the pattern.

Here we will deal with the basic methods of the batik process, so that the beginner will be able to experiment later.

The exact origins of batik are unknown, but they are almost certainly in the Orient where the technique was used, long before printing, to enhance the appearance of fine garments. Batik became most deeply rooted in Indonesia, particularly the island of Java, where it was a highly developed art by the 13th century.

Batik was considered a fitting occupation for aristocratic ladies whose delicately painted designs, based on bird and flower motifs, were a sign of cultivation and refinement, just as fine needlework was for European ladies of a similar position.

Java is still famous for batik and the traditional patterns, developed over centuries, are still part of Javanese dress, although very few are made by the traditional method of wax painting. This, instead, has been rediscovered and put to use by craftsman all over the world who find the freedom of working with liquid was, and the control of color possible through dyeing, makes batik an exciting and uniquely expressive medium to work in. Increasingly, the all-over patterns of Oriental batiks are being replaced by imaginative pictures and designs of all sorts, which are sued to make wall hangings and soft sculpture as well as decorations for clothing and household items.

Part of the attraction of batik is its simplicity and the fact that you don’t have to be artistic in the conventional sense to produce beautiful results. Some of the best effects in batik are in fact the work of chance. This is particularly true of the way in which the wax cracks to let small quantities of dye through, adding an unexpected and interesting effect to any design. This hairline detail, or “crackling”, is a special characteristic of most batik work.

Because batik wax is applied hot it is necessary to work fairly rapidly and this can produce a freedom (or loss of self-consciousness) that makes many people who think they cannot draw find, to their amazement, that they can. Of course, designs can be worked out beforehand and for many things, such as borders and trimmings, this is necessary; but designs drawn spontaneously in wax, or according to the briefest sketch, can bring surprising rewards.

Combined with the pleasure of drawing freehand is the fascination of working creatively with dyes-blending and mixing different colors-to get as vivid or as subtle as you want.

FABRICS

Natural or vegetable fiber fabrics, such as cotton, linen and silk, are the ones to use for batik.

Viscose rayon can also be used, but avoid all synthetic fibers, no matter how closely they simulate natural fibers. Their true nature is revealed in the dyebath, by which time it is too late. They will not dye properly with cold dyes, which must necessarily be used for batik; otherwise the wax would melt in the dyebath.

To Test Fibers of which you are uncertain, try this quick test. Watch carefully as you hold a single fiber over a lighted match. The synthetic thread melts quickly into a hard residue. Organic fibers burn more slowly, and a soft ash is formed.

Silk is one of the best fabrics for batik – the finer the woven the better – and a finer waxed line can be drawn on silk than on any other fabric. To start with, however, silk is far from necessary, and the expense may inhibit your inventiveness since you will be less willing to “chance” a design.

Cotton is excellent, and some prefer it to silk on the grounds that the sheen of silk obscures the pattern.

In general, with coarser spun fabrics, more wax is absorbed and a fine sweeping line is harder to obtain, as the wax sinks rapidly into the cloth as it is applied. So, although you can batik canvas, calico and flannelette, these are only suitable for large, clear designs.

For intricate work and, in particular, pictures or wall hangings, fine linen or fine cotton is recommended. Especially delicate designs can be produced on batiste or cotton lawn – any thin cotton in fact which is not so transparent that your picture will look like an apparition.

Dye Batik dye must be a cold dye since hot water would cause the hardened wax to melt in the dyebath. Ordinary cold water dyes are best for beginners and all contain instructions for their use; but after some experience you may prefer to use special, fast-acting cold dyes or vat dyes, which involve the use of additional chemicals but which “take” a lot more quickly and, in the case of vat dyes, give exceptionally colorfast results.

Once you are used to working with wax you can begin to experiment more with mixing dyes, buying large amounts (less expensive) of the basic colors and making any others you need.

Wax The ideal mixture for batik work is 30% beeswax to 70% paraffin wax, and to try it for the first time you can easily melt down candles. If, however, you decide to do more batik, it makes sense to get the wax from a craft supply store in bulk.

Beeswax adheres well to fabric, whereas paraffin wax is brittle, cracking easily. So how you mix the two determines how much crackling you will get.

Crackling produces the fine lines that characterize most batik work. With pure paraffin wax there is the danger of it peeling off in the dyebath. A mixture of beeswax and paraffin wax therefore assures adherence, plus decorative crackling effects.

BEGINNER’S EQUIPMENT

The equipment you need to begin batik is fairly simple, and most of it can be found around the house.

Some old white sheets. Old, torn white cotton sheets have the advantage of being already free from chemical finishes (which would otherwise prevent the dye from penetrating).

Note: all new fabrics must be boiled to remove the finishing.

Candles, at least one containing beeswax.

Double boiler for melting wax.

Good quality artist’s paintbrush.

Cold water dye and fixative.

Charcoal, or pencil, for making preliminary sketch.

Old picture frame. (Batik is normally worked on a special frame on which the cloth is tacked to keep it taut, but for beginners an old picture frame will serve just as well.)

You will also need a double boiler or a boiling ring or chafing dish (such as a fondue dish with candles beneath) to melt the wax, and you will need access to a sink or bowl for dyeing.