One of the last nights in the capital city, I was blessed to stumble upon a Batik store. Therefore I purchased my first, and as of now only, African artwork. It shapes the outline of my country and is filled with the different people groups that make up my country. It is beautiful work and I look forward to purchasing more for friends and family. By the time that I go back to the capital city I hope I speak enough Hausa to ask if he can make a batik of someone weaving. Oh, this would make me so happy!
What in the world is batik???- Well I am glad you asked! Now here I can share a bit of knowledge that N.C. State College of Textiles gave me. The original process of batik involves waxing cotton or rayon fabrics in patterns. The wax is often applied with carefully handcrafted metal devices dipped in hot wax and printed onto the fabric hundreds of times. Sometimes the wax is applied with a tjanting tool which has a tiny well that delivers wax to the fabric. After the wax hardens, the fabric is dyed in large vats, rewaxed, and dyed again in a different color. Wherever the wax is applied, the color is resisted so the fabric stays the original or previously dyed color. The wax is removed by boiling the fabric or by ironing out most of the wax. Those of you who crave projects; you should research more and design your own batik!
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