Fun Facts Friday! Batik Fabrics - Quilting with Colour

Fun Facts Friday! Batik Fabrics - Quilting with Colour

The scientist in me is going to explore the different types of fabrics used in quilting, starting with Batiks!
What is Batik fabric and how is Batik fabric made? The technique and type of fabric for Batik is uniquely modern and ancient at the same time! Batik fabric is usually 100% cotton or silk with a finely woven texture, providing a crisp feel. It is beautiful to work with and makes a lovely quilt top.
Dyeing Batiks involves using wax to protect the areas of the fabric from the concentrated dyes. This is done by first drawing the design on the fabric with a pencil and then using a special tool called a canting to hand apply hot wax to the areas marked. For larger designs, a cap or copper stamp is used to apply wax.
Once the wax has cooled and hardened, the fabric is dipped into a dye bath and the areas that aren't covered in wax absorb the dye. If the design calls for multiple colours, more wax is applied and the fabric is dyed again in another colour. After dyeing and rinsing, the fabric is boiled to melt the wax, revealing the intricate pattern.
Batik is an extra special fabric type because each piece is distinctly unique! I especially enjoy the deep and rich colours that are used in dying batik fabrics.
Have you used Batiks in your quilting process?
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