Batik Inspired Fabric Using Wax, Ink and Dyes

 

Batik Inspired Fabric

I have been experimenting with a simple batik-inspired wax-resist technique to create patterned fabric for my mixed-media and textile projects.

What you will need:

• Tealight and candle wax or bees wax
• Recycled fabric - tea towel, old bedsheet
• Inks and dyes, shimmer misters
• paint brush (keep one just for this activity)

I began with pieces of cotton fabric and applied melted candle wax and beeswax in loose, random patterns across the fabric. 

I then added a mixture of shimmer sprays, leftover inks and orange fabric dye. Some of the bottles were almost empty, so this was also a great opportunity to use older supplies rather than allowing them to sit forgotten in the studio.

After adding the color, I placed the fabric inside a plastic bag and gently scrunched it together. This helped the colors blend and move into some of the uncolored spaces.

As the fabric dried, the colors softened and the wax-resist patterns became more visible. I especially loved the areas where the wax had cracked and allowed fine lines of color to bleed through.

Those unexpected marks inspire the next stage of the project and I see where intuitively I want to go. This is one of the things I enjoy most about experimenting with fabric. The first technique does not have to produce a finished piece. It can become the starting point for collage, stitching, art journaling, a wall hanging or another mixed-media project.

In the full Patreon post, I share more about the process, the materials I used and three creative activities you can try with your own wax-resist fabric, including creating a sampler, using up leftover color supplies and responding to the patterns with hand stitching.

Visit my Patreon page to read the complete post - HERE, see the finished fabric and explore the creative takeaways.

You may also spot a special appearance from Cole, my helpful studio assistant! 

Before You Go

As artists, most of us have been collecting supplies for many years, this is a great time to look at what you currently have before you consider going out to purchase something new.  I had some printer ink left over that I had brought at lease 20 years ago and it just sat there gathering dust as I didn't have the printer anymore.  I experimented and found it stains fabric, and you can get some interesting effects.  So take a look and you might surprise yourself.

You can find additional videos I created showing different wax resist experiments below and access my Full Material Musings playlist HERE

Behind the Scenes

If you want to check out behind the scenes and early release content then join us on my Patreon.  You will find over 1000 videos and digital art resources for you to use in your creative projects.  You can access my Patreon HERE

Download this months Sampler Edition Digital Art Papers for Free - You currently have 11 days left to access these papers for free!

If you want to take your learning further you can start in the Artist Resource Hub on my Course platform, this is also Free and there are many other courses that you can take a look at when you are ready.  

For now, stay blessed and be a blessing!!

Slow Stitching and Crochet Threads

 

I have been trying out some new crochet yarn that I came across and I enjoy using it in my slow stitched projects.  In the video I talk more about some of the threads I have been using.

They come in a wide range of colors and this is just a small sample I purchased to use in some of my slow stitched projects.  Obviously, there are quite a few brands as well.  These are the ones that I have tried out so far.  

I also use a range of embroidery threads as well in my projects.

You can check out the Supplies Here I created an amazon list for the ones I have brought which you can check out.

This is my project so far.  I have been sharing the progress on my YT Channel during April and you can see the progress videos and a couple of projects on creating your own wax resist projects. 

Fabric Art Journals - Material Musings

 

Here is Material Musings for this week. I have been slightly snowed under, but I wanted to get a start on the topic this month.

For May we will be looking at additional ways that you can work on the fabric in your journals if you make them and use some of the supplies that you may already have.

I will be sharing over the coming weeks the following, and anything else that I may have that can make marks on the fabric and create some unique and individual pieces for stitched projects:

• The use of Glitter on Fabric - Most of us have used glitter in the past, I am sure you have some lurking in one of those draws

• Derwent Inktense Pencils and Inktense Bars - these are two of my favorite supplies, they are highly pigmented and permanent once dry

• Neo Colors

• Gesso

If you would like to know more about the supplies, I have linked them so you can check them out. Essentially, I want you to try some of the supplies that you may not have thought of using and that you already have - experimenting and playing.

Did you miss last weeks Material Musings - check it out below:

Before You Go - Check out the Art Resource Hub and the FREE online classes we have available. Learn more HERE

Wax Resist - Material Musings - Project 2

 

Join us for the next part in the Wax Resist Series on my Channel, sharing how I work on one of my projects and the techniques used to create a wax resist/batik piece.

You can catch the first episode below

You can catch us live in the chat, stitch along with me and have fun creating.  I will also be sharing the main project that I am working on.

Looking forward to seeing you in the studio. 🤩

Wax Resist Projects - Join us for Material Musings

 

Working on a wax resist project, come and join us now in the live chat, where I will be answering any questions you may have on the project.

Come and join us!

Material Musings - Wax Resist Reveals

In Material Musings I share several projects that use combination of wax resist dyeing, clay baths, and tea solutions! The results were gorgeous and I show some of the designs that are my favorite.  There are endless possibilities when you take the time to experiment with your supplies.

Here are some suggestions for using your wax resist creations:

• Wall Hangings - I hope to use some of the larger fabric pieces as wall hangings, adding to their backing and maybe adding some beading or other embellishments.
• Quilting - You could incorporate the wax resist dyed fabric as part of the fabric for your quilt 
• Make one-of-a-kind clothes using your dyed fabric. 
• Collage - Layering, using different dyed pieces to create a fabric collage.  You could add additional elements such as paints, paper, or found objects. 
• Slow Stitching - This is such a peaceful activity.  You could use your wax resist dyed fabric as a base or cut out shapes and stitch them onto the chosen fabric

I worked on the woven piece and will take a break from it while I think about the next steps, and maybe add beading and other embellishments. 

Fabric Fragments - I am putting together a series of fabric bags that showcase a mix of wax resist, avocado-dyed, and hand-painted fabrics. In another accompanying bag, I have placed a selection of printed fabrics The bag holds a special stitched art piece, making it a collector's item.  

Keep an eye out! These fragment bags will soon be available for purchase on my course platform HERE. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of this artistic adventure!

Before You Go

Wax Resist - Material Musings Short

 

Here is a snippet showing how I create my wax resist pieces and add clay to dye the fabric, the wax stops any color from adhering to the fabric.  You can see the full video HERE

I would then use some of the dyed fabric in some of my stitched projects.  This one has a clay dyed piece of fabric and a conventional dyed piece (the blue element) which has been stitched onto the fabric.

This meditative prayer wall hanging was initially wax resist dyed and then I added the stitches over time.  Come and join me for Material Musings to see some of the rest of the projects, on my YouTube channel.

Before You Go

Join us in the Art Resource Hub

Fabric Wax Resist - A Technique - Material Mondays

 

Have you tried a wax resist technique on fabric?  In week 20 of Material Mondays I share one of the techniques that I use to create the designs on my fabric.

Dyeing your own fabric is a great way to create your own designs, and the fabric can either be used as a whole or cut up and used in smaller projects.

I start out with an image loosely sketched on the fabric, I usually do a combination of faces and patterns

The next step is to add the wax either on the lines you have drawn or in-between the lines which will create varying patterns.

I combine a selection of dyes together to get the color that I want, you can do swatches so that you are able to recreate the colors when needed.

Once dried the wax is removed.  I use an iron and place paper over the fabric.  It is a great way to apply color and pattern to some of the fabrics that you may have, and you can experiment and see what effects that you are able to create.

If you are interested in checking out some of the supplies, you can check out my Wax Resist Supplies List on Amazon