Island Living

 

I love the vibrant colors and creative designs of batik fabric, but I don’t use it very often. To make batik, artisans (usually in Java Island, Indonesia) start with 100% cotton fabric, treat it with beeswax, and then dye it by hand. To withstand the dyeing process, the fabric must have a tighter weave or denser thread count. This is why batik is stiffer than most quilt fabric. It feels more like sewing with paper than sewing with cloth. The finished product won’t be “cuddly,” so it’s better used in a wall hanging than a baby blanket. When working with batik, you should always use a fresh, sharp needle. Batik is less likely to fray than other cottons, but it will show wear in spots that have been sewn and unpicked. Items made with batik should be hand-washed and air-dried, so it makes a poor choice for a bed covering. Knowing this, I went and made one anyway. Silly me.