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Showing posts from April, 2011

BATIKING WITH SILK MATERIAL

I'm doing batik on silk scarves. Very challenging. I've not done this before. The material keeps running out of my hands, very uncontrollable. I've dip-dyed them for a start and this has a small problem - I've to re wax all areas again as the already waxed layers had become thinner/weaker. Silk is a good material that dries fast and retains its shiny look after application of dyes and hot wax. Breakthrough I've been worried about how I was going to remove the wax. Ironing is out of my list of options. The only viable option is boiling (this is a scary option because you tend to think that colors will run out). The good news is that colors have not run out, even when I rinse with cold water the fabric just becomes softer and better. This is unprecedented in my experience as a batik artist. I think it opens a door to my dream of making batik designs on fabric that can be worn. Thank God for this breakthrough.