Project1 - Lime Green Batik Skirt
  1. Pre-wash 100% cotton garment (or fabric to make up into a skirt), dry and iron. Weigh fabric to determine quantities of dye, fix and salt required.
  2. Pin fabric onto a batik frame, ensuring that fabric is taut.
  3. Apply hot wax either with a brush or a tjanting tool (note that wax needs to be sufficiently hot to be absorbed into the fabric.  If it is applied at the correct temperature the waxed areas will have a translucent appearance).
  4. Allow to cool, remove fabric from frame and crush unto a tight ball to crack the wax.  This will allow the dye to seep into the cracks to give the traditional batik crackle effect. To achieve an intense crackle, open out the fabric and repeat the process three or four times.
  5. Wet the fabric in cold water before immersing in the dye bath to help the dye penetrate.
  6. Mix dye, fix and salt according to the instructions for the Basic Hand Dyeing Method, using cold water. 
  1. Immerse the fabric in the dye bath, agitating continuously for 10 minutes, then occasionally for remaining 50 minutes.
  2. Rinse thoroughly in cold water. Allow to dry naturally (away from direct heat). Remove wax by placing between several sheets of absorbent paper and ironing on a hot setting, changing the paper frequently to absorb melted wax; continue until the paper remains clean. Any residual wax can be removed by dry cleaning. Alternatively immerse the fabric in simmering water for a few minutes. Carefully remove fabric and strain solidified wax from water once cold.
  3. The lime green colour shown was achieved using: 3 level small spoons Yellow dye (3.75g); 1 heaped big spoon Turquoise dye (5g); 2 heaped big spoons Fix (15g); 4 tablespoons salt (125g) per 250g dry weight fabric (weigh before applying wax).