Dyeing to Learn Batik

You all haven't heard from me for a little while and, more importantly, I haven't heard from the giveaway winner. So, before I plunge head first into this post, I've selected another giveaway winner.

She is Eve and she commented:

So glad everyone is safe! What a scary week.

So Eve, please contact me at malka@stittchindye.com and I'll get you the fabric and skirt tutorial ASAP.

I'm thinking that based on the title you all might already have guessed that the focus of this post is the dye class I mentioned here a while back. Well, I'd love to turn that assumption on its head, but I can't. I'm practically bursting to tell you about the class because it went so well and, as often happens with teaching, I think the evening ended with me having gained more inspiration from the students than they could possibly have gotten from me.
It's really no wonder when you take a gander at the beautiful fabrics they made.






My initial plan was that the class would primarily center on demonstrations with the students having a chance to try the techniques.
We explored applying wax with brushes,a variety of found object stamps,



and traditional batik tools.





I was so impressed with their willingness to try all the tools and their innate sense of patterning that I went ahead and made a couple dye baths in chartreuse and red. I boiled out their fabrics yesterday and ironed them because I wanted to really enjoy the fabrics in their full glory. Since most are local, they'll swing by and collect their beauties. Otherwise, I'll drop the fabric in the mail.
Sometimes it takes seeing a fresh approach to the techniques that you practice daily to recharge your excitement. I was planning on making this class a one time deal, but I so enjoyed it that I'm going to offer it again next month. I'll amend my listing on Etsy to reflect a new date.
I'm also looking into offering a shibori dye class as well. This class would teach patterning fabric with plexiglass shapes rather than wax resist. I'll update you all here when I've firmed up plans for that.