Batik Banner

Create a beautiful batik banner using traditional wax-resist techniques and vibrant Procion dyes. This project combines the ancient art of batik with modern materials to make a stunning decorative banner perfect for celebrations or home decor.

Shopping list:

• Cotton Short Good Luck Banner
• Procion Fiber Reactive dye - Fuchsia Red and Lemon Yellow
• Melting Pot
• Beeswax
• Vanishing Fabric Markers
• Brushes
• Dharma Dyers Detergent
• Gold Glitter Paint
• Rocks, or heavy item that can take high heat and sink in water

Let's get started!

Step 1: Prepare Your Banner

Pre-wash Banner in Dharma Dyers Detergent, line dry, iron to prepare for waxing.

Step 2: Choose Your Design

Choose design. We chose a simple flower from the Matsuya Japanese Crest Designs CD-ROM and Book. Put the CD in your computer and choose the number of your design. On your computer you can enlarge the design or shrink it in order to have flowers of different sizes on your banner. Print the designs.

Step 3: Prepare the Wax

Plug in the Melting Pot, put in about 3 Tablespoons of Beeswax and set Temperature to recommended setting for beeswax - never leave unattended.

Step 4: Trace Your Design

Place the printed flowers underneath the banner and trace onto the fabric with the Vanishing Fabric Marker. Free-hand draw the vine serpentine up the banner around the flowers, draw in the leaves freehand.

Step 5: Apply Wax to Flower Petals

Take a Sumi Brush and paint in the flower petals with the melted wax making sure that the wax penetrates the surface of the fabric. The wax should make the fabric look soaked if it is applied correctly. You can test the temperature of the wax on a scrap of fabric first to see if it's ready to work with. Also have a piece of paper towel handy to keep the brush from dripping the wax where you don't want it.

Step 6: Wax the Vines and Leaves

With a smaller brush paint with wax over the vine outline and fill in the leaves.

Step 7: First Dye Bath - Fuchsia Red

Prepare your dye bath with the Fuchsia Red #13 Procion dye using the tub dyeing method. Place the banner in the dye bath and stir occasionally. Follow the tub dyeing directions. Rinse out excess dye, hand wash in Dharma Dyers Detergent with very warm water.

Step 8: Remove the Wax

Place the banner in boiling water loosely. Place rocks to hold fabric below surface and keep temperature on low for 30 mins. Turn off heat and let cool overnight. You should see a layer of wax on the surface of the water by the next day. Remove the wax and lift material out of the container and rinse. If there is any wax left on the fabric you can do the boil method again or try removing the wax by ironing the fabric between two sheets of absorbent paper or scrap fabric.

Step 9: Second Dye Bath - Lemon Yellow

Prepare the dye bath with Procion Dye #1 Lemon Yellow using the tub dyeing method. Place the banner in the dye bath and follow the instructions. Rinse out excess dye and wash in the washing machine with hot water and Dharma Dyers Detergent.

Step 10: Add Sparkle and Display

After your banner is dried you may want to add some sparkle. We took the Jones Tones Glitter Glue and Jones Tones Glitter Paint, outlined the star of the banner's tail and sprinkled the glitter on it. Put it up in your front yard to let them know where the party is!