How to batik?

I really wanna try this and I was wondering if any of you have and have any tips and hints to give me. Or just general directions. I really have no idea where to start. Maybe if you know of any websites that give directions...
any info would help me out. Thanx

 

i tried batiking once and failed miserably. you basically just stretch the fabric really tight (over cardboard or something) and then paint on melted wax in the design that you want. the trick is, the wax has to be REALLY hot and totally melted when you put it on. this sounds simple enough, but if it's even slightly cooled when it gets on the fabric, it won't go all the way through and won't work. so yeah, tight fabric and really hot wax, paint on your design, and then dye the fabric. after it's dyed, put the fabric in boiling water to get the wax off. the wax will rise to the top of the water and you just keep skimming it off til it's all gone. then the parts that are waxed obviously aren't dyed and so you have your design. i had trouble keeping the wax hot enough and it didn't go through the fabric, so i basically just got a dyed piece of fabric with crusty wax on it. it kinda sucked. i'd like to try it again sometime, though. i'm quite obviously not an expert, so if someone else good give some input or ideas, i'd like to hear it, too.

 

We did this at school last year. You need a janteen and a wax pot. The wax pot just keeps the wax at a constant temperature and a janteen is like a small cup with a hole to let the wax drip out of. Basically get a piece of fabric - any pieces you want to keep white you put wax on using the janteen. Wait for it to dry and then paint ink/dye over it. Wait for this to dry, then whichever areas you want to keep this colour, put wax on, then paint over, etc. Make sure you go light colours to dark colours or it won't work.

 

Thanx guy's. I can't wait to try this!
Can I use candle wax? or do I have to buy the blocks of wax from the craft store?

 

i think we used something called parafin wax.....not sure...i could be making that word up, but it seems to stick out in my memory. i think just any wax you can buy at a craft store is good...depending on what you're doing, you might need quite a bit.

 

This is an awesome website for dying fabric. http://www.dharmatrading.com/batik/
They sell everything you need even blank clothing, and fabric. Have fun batiking! I have never done it but I love batik fabric. I am getting more into dying my own fabric so some day I think I will branch out into batik.