We're passionate about fabric at Sew Me Sunshine. Here's our guide to batik fabric printing, and tips on how to care for this type of fabric.
WHAT IS BATIK FABRIC PRINTING?
Batik is a dyeing technique which uses a wax-resistant method. Selected areas of a design are blocked out on the fabric by applying hot wax over them, a natural dye is then applied over it, and the parts covered in wax resist the dye. Once the wax is removed with boiling water you will be left with the desired design. This process can be repeated many times in order to produce the desired fabric design.
Artisans can apply the wax using a tool called a tjanting. This tool has a spout so that the artisan can draw the designs onto the fabric. Hot wax can also be applied to fabric using carved wooden blocks, intricate copper stamps or metal inlaid wooden blocks. These blocks or stamps are dipped into wax and then applied to the fabric, these are ideal for repeated patterns.
Most Batik fabric is either made from cotton, silk or rayon (viscose).
Images sourced from Pinterest.
HISTORY OF BATIK PRINTING
It is difficult to pinpoint the true origins of batik. Evidence has been found in the Far Eat, Middle East, Central Asia and India from over 2000 years ago. It has been found it was used in Egypt in the 4th Century BC, and there are records of it being used in China in the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618) and in Japan in the Nara Period (AD 710-794).
Batik can be found across the globe. Indonesian Batik is the most widely known. It remains a large part of the culture of Indonesia, especially in Java. In fact the word Batik originates from the Javanese word 'tik' which means dot, and it is where some of the finest Batik cloth in the world is still made today. It is considered to be a vital part of Indonesian history so much so that in October 2009 UNESCO designated it as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage.
13th century stone carving on a temple in East Java showing batik patterns sourced from the Batik Guild.
CARING FOR BATIK FABRIC + SEWING TIPS:
- It is best practice to pre-wash batik fabrics before using them, this is in order to remove any excess dye and to help soften the fabric. Most manufacturers will advice to hand wash your batik fabric, but if you prefer to use a washing machine then use a cool hand wash cycle and make sure to wash it on its own and with a colour catcher. It is always advisable to do a test wash first. Once washed air dry your fabric away from direct sunlight.
- Batiks tend to have a tighter weave which means they are less prone to fraying
- Due to their dense weave it is advisable to use a new, sharp, fine needle (70/10)
- You can also opt to use finer thread
- Use a pressing cloth when ironing, and use a low-medium heat setting with no steam
- It is often hard to tell which side is the right side because the wax used to create the design penetrates through the fabric. If you look closely you may see that one side has less blurred edges than the other which people tend to opt as the right side
- The batik fabrics that we stock here at Sew Me Sunshine are either cotton or viscose. Please refer to our specific viscose and cotton fabric guides for further tips on sewing with these fibres.
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