Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-23
Here's Just Exactly How You Yourself Can
Make Lovely Bdtik Garments At Small Cost
BY U BARNES.

NEW YORK.-The more a woman
values originality in her gowns the
less she can afford to ignore Batik-
the supreme art of Java
Introduced some eleven years ago
into this country. 1t is now the re-
cognized medium for individual ex-
pression in design.
Some people have the mistaken
idea that IL is too difficult a process
to attempt, but 1t is comparatively
simple, and women all over America
are designing and dyeing their own
gowns. lamp shades, pillow covers
wall hangings-everything.
The Tools needed.
There are only a few things neces-
sary to a complete Batik outfit:
First: A 'tjanting", a little cup
shaped instrument with a handle set
at right-angles to the base on n
side, and on the other a fine spout
through which the hot wax is drawn
by capillary attraction.
Second: A fine sable brush, and
for the covering Of larger surfaces,
one or two soft-haired varnish
brushes.
Third: Beeswax with a mixture of
white paraffin is found to be very
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However, IL Cracked" surface work
is desired (and it is a very popular
form of batik) one part paraffin to
five parts beeswax will give the con-
sistency. Pure beeswax cracks very
little and will stand the highest tenn
perature dye-baths.
To complete the outfit one needs
only a large vessel for the dyeing
fluid, preferably of copper, (the agate
or enamel will work fairly well) and
a small agate pan in which to melt
the
And then of course the dyes, a
glass spoon, or stick for stirring,
a good Thermometer, and rubber
gloves to save the hands.
Batik can be done on all kinds
of materials, cotton, silk. velvet. wool.
mixed goods or leather. Cotton Is
rather unsatisfactory. however, owing
to the fact that cotton dyes have
to be boiled. and boiling Is not
practical when one is dealing with
a waxed surface.
Best Materials.
For the amateur the best material
Is japanese habutai silk, as the wax
penetrates easily and it takes color
well. Velvets are beautiful when
batiked, but they should be sent to
professional finishers to be treated.
for it takes great skill to raise the
f1attened pile of velvet.
The first step is to prepare the
material. 1t should be washed. to
remove artificial loading, and then
ironed. A simple design can be
drawn directly on the material with
the wax filed 'tjanting." but it is
best to make the design first on
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If the material is transparent. the
design may be placed directly under
it and the pattern traced.
The waxing OF the design on the
fabric with the tjanting or brush,
should be done with the material
laid on thin smooth paper, SO that
1t may be removed from the table
without breaking the now cool wax.
Whatever part of the material Is to
remain its original color, should be
covered with a
First Dye Bath.
Now 1t is ready for the first dye
bath. American batiking is done by
dyeing the lightest shade to the
darkest, by a series of dye baths.
After each dyeing the material
should be rinsed in warm water. If
it is to be only a n color design,
the batik may now be thoroughly
rinsed in gasoline to emove all the
wax.
More elaborate color schemes are
produced by a repetition of the pro-
cess, simply covering up, with fresh
wax, the parts one wishes to retain
in the shade of the last dye bath.
This re-waxing, dipping and rinsing
is continued until the colors that the
scheme demands are obtained. and
then the wax is removed as described.
Great stress must be laid on the
Temperature of the dye-baths. When
pure beeswax is used the dye-bath
should be maintained at a heat OF
10 degrees Fahrenheit. If a mixture
of paraffn has been used, 1t is well
to have the dye at a higher temper
ature than ninety degrees Fahren-
heit.