Have you heard of wax-resist or batik-dyeing? If not, you're in for a treat! This was my absolute favorite medium during high school. I made some giant butterfly wall tapestries and a wrap skirt! It's super easy and there are endless possibilities to customize the craft. Here are the basics:
127 Comments
WOW! I love this idea. I’ve never played around with wax before. I would love to make these as gifts. Will try soon! Thanks Elsie!
Oh gosh, what a wonderful idea! Thank you so much for sharing dear. I would love to try this x
Keri-Anne
http://gingerlillytea.blogspot.com
For the plus marks did you just use an uncolored wax stick or did you melt the wax a bit like explained above?
I seriously LOVE this DIY too! So many amazing things can come from this!
Oh my gosh what a great project! I love looking at your ideas : ) You guys have a great blog!
I have been itching at making a custom duvet cover and this might just be the ticket! What do you recommend using as my “pot” for a larger project?
Thanks Elsie and Emma!
this is so adorable! I can’t wait to try it 🙂
I have never tried this before, but it sounds like a great way to make some personal handmade gifts without breaking the bank! x
Q: For the plus marks did you just use an uncolored wax stick or did you melt the wax a bit like explained above?
A: Hi Alyssa! The wax was not melted for the cross marks, just some of the handwriting- I did it in spots on that one. 🙂
This kind of reminds me of dying easter eggs. Such a fun project!
Allyson
http://www.allysonwonderlandphotography.com/
I have tried this before with a liquid version that I found at the craft store, but it didn’t turn out that great. Glad to see that the crayons work better!
i liked this DIY, and i might try it myself! when i dyed my sweater it really opened my mind to the possibilities with dying and changing up your clothes 🙂
so cute!! What a fun idea! Love the orange one as a little headband. Looks great with your dark bangs 🙂
Oh this is so fun. I had no idea you could DIY this. Super cute and a must try. I love the word one.
What a cool technique!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
How cute!!!! I love this idea:)
Love,
Stephanie May*
http://www.maydae.com
ahhh! i definitely want to find some of those wax resist sticks. those scarves look perfect for spring time.
cheers,
charity
http://lumivintage.blogspot.com
I remember this technique from crafts class in school. I still have a shirt somewhere. Makes me want to try it again!
This is soooo good! My sister bought me a batik pen thingy for Xmas a few years ago but I’ve been too scared to use it cos of all the melting wax and faffing.
Using crayons is so clever now I have no excuse not to try it!
Thanks for sharing.
Isabel.x
http://www.isabelknowles.com
OMG I LOVE this!!! Can’t wait to try 🙂 PS – your post had me reminiscing about romeo and juliet soundtrack “the best!”
This makes me nostalgic too! We learnt a similar technique like this in art class using hot melted wax. It’s great to find ways to use skills you learnt in high school as a lot of them seem pointless at the time. I’d love to try this some time!
Such a cool idea. I definitely want to try this sometime!
While reading this, I just got an great idea for making some napkins. Thanks for sharing this. I even didn’t know about wax sticks!
Wow, what an easy and amazing idea! Thank you so much!
xoxo Olga
http://coffeeandglamour.blogspot.com/
I had never heard of this technique! Guess *my* art teacher wasn’t as cool as your mom. I’m so trying this out for a couple of light scarves for the spring!
I remember doing projects like this in elementary school, but I have long forgotten about them until now. Cute and fun!!!
highfivemebrother.blogspot.com
love your idea.. that’s really great!! 🙂 http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com“
Oh how fun! I used to do crayons on easter eggs growing up, similar technique.
xoxo
Juliette Laura
juliettelaura.blogspot.com
Hi Ladies, I’m a daily reader and big fan of your blog! That may have been redundant, anyways, I’m currious on how you organize your scarves? Maybe a future blog post.
Great idea 🙂 I love the turquoise one!
this is so precious! i am sooooo into scarfs right now! this is perfect!
<3 johanna
http://diary.johannajohnston.com/
love all of your ideas !!! ALL !
http://www.thestyletographer.blogspot.com
ooooh, so many gift ideas now.
That is soo good.
http://lovelybusybee.blogspot.com/
I was wondering if you could tell me the size is the cotton fabric you used?
This is adorable!! I wonder what a wrap skirt would look like…
xo, Clare
http://thewanderingelefant.blogspot.com/
I never realized those wax sticks exhisted. The possibility’s are endless.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com
Reminds me of a project we did when I was in the Girl Scouts! Stopping by after your blog was recommended to me on my blog’s comments. Great place you have here!
Ahhh love this. I have some left over dye as well! Just may give this one a go!
This technique would be great for curtains or pillows, I’ve actually never heard of dying things this way, sweet!
These scarves are so cute! Love them and great idea!
Ohhh, I saw this a few weeks back and am really wanting to do this! Good job, those look great! 😀
This sounds incredible! I have been wanting to make my own scarves for a while now!! 🙂 Is this a permanent process, for example if you wash the scarf afterwards will it fade or completely wash out? If I didn’t wash it, would it still fade over time?
Sorry for all the questions, but it sounds so interesting!
I’ve never even heard of this! Looking forward to trying a completely new craft, thanks!
such a neat idea!
adorable idea!
As always, yours posts are so CONVENIENTLY timed Elsie! 🙂 Just this morning I was considering the idea of dying curtains, but wasnt sure the best way to achieve a pattern before dying.. this will be perfect! 🙂
Nice! Haven’t seen this before, maybe I should try that with my arts & crafts class, I’ve been looking for ideas 🙂
Love this movie too!!!! Have a nice day!!!
great idea!
xx
http://www.ireneccloset.com
Oh this is fun! Love the orange one!!
Looks totally cool and I haven´t heard about the technique so far. Thanks for sharing <3
xx
I love this idea, I haven’t done wax or batique printing since uni (many moons ago!) I shall be trying this out asap.
The head scarf looks so cute!
http://paulatasker.squarespace.com
I would like to use it in pillows!!!
Write favourite and inspiring words on pillos maybe my next project
Did you read the book “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”?
♥nic
Cool! And it looks realy easy to do!
http://fashionbrunette.blogspot.com
Love it !!
Check out my new post: http://www.thestilettoholic.com/2013/03/05/my-maicco-dress/
lovely and very funny idea !! as usual… thx
Check out my new outfit post :
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You always have amazing DIY ideas 🙂
Wow, that is great idea. I really like it and you did a perfect job. Have a nice day.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
gorgeous project & I love the colours you’ve used 🙂
What a wonderful idea!
Lulu xx
https://www.luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
great work, look at me: http://handmadeowo.blogspot.com/
wow! this is pretty wonderful. this is not at hard and now i do it myself. thanks for sharing
I somehow missed this in art class! Adorable handmade headbands? I’m in.
I am soooo excited to try this! Thank you for the clear instructions, makes it really easy to see what to do.
-Meg, http://www.willwork4cupcakes.blogspot.com
I rememeber doing this in school! Talk about blast from the past 🙂 love it! I have never watched the movie but I have read the book, The Diving Bell & The butterfly. beautiful movie x
Love this, I’ve been meaning to try batik again, I never realised you could use wax crayons – duh! Will definitely be experimenting with this in my next textiles samples, thanks for sharing and inspiring!!
Very cool. Where do you buy the plain cotton scarves?
I LOVE IT! I really enjoy checking out your blog to see what you guys have going on and this idea is fan-tas-tic! I am going to try this out over the weekend! Thanks!
Love this idea! And especially the fact that I only need to go out and buy 2 things from my craft store!
It looks gorgeous and it reminds me of trying out batik t-shirt making in Ubud when I was a kid. I recently tried to do this in reverse by bleaching a coloured shirt. Didn’t quite go to plan….
This looks fun! I like the blue one a lot:)
anna
Love this idea!
xo
Diana
http://unusuallylovely.com
These are great! I can’t wait to make these!
WOW, what a cool DIY!
amazing. 🙂
http://www.style-ettos.blogspot.in
Is it necessary to cover both sides of the fabric with wax if I want the pattern on both sides?
I did something like this at school (so many moons ago!) but I remember it turned out so well. Wish I still had it!
love this idea, thanks for sharing!
This is such a fun, easy project! I’m a scarf addict, and this would be a great project to try out for spring!
This is so much fun! I’ve been playing with wax resists lately but on paper to make some art! With spring coming, I should shift to some fabric!
I love Rit dye, I always have so much success with it! Thanks for the wax resist tutorial, this is such a great idea. I can’t wait to try it.
Nicole
http://www.younglovestyle.blogspot.com
This looks like such a cool project! I’ve never played around with dye… I think it would be fun to try with other medium, like paper or handknit fabric 🙂 Thanks!
Absolutely love this project! I need to try this ASAP!
We did Batik Dyeing in high school as well…it was very fun! I didn’t know they made wax “crayons” though! We just dripped melted wax onto our scarves to make it easy and time efficient 🙂
I have some very much faded curtains that I loathe and this might help me revive them and keep from having to spend more money on curtains. Thanks so much for the idea!!
LOVE!
oo i’ve been toying around with the idea of doing dip dyed curtains! would be cool to use this technique on them as well!
My mom taught us this for Easter eggs!! It’s still my favorite! And the Cranberries!! I think we’d be great friends 😉
Just knowing that you like that movie gives me a better idea of who you are – even though I read your blog, enjoy your daily photos, pin your projects – because The Diving Bell and The Butterfly isn’t a film many people can sit through and appreciate. Seeing through his eye, feeling the man’s frustrated limitations once the story was over was effective film-making, but very uncomfortable. I tried to explain the experience to some people who were aghast at my lack of knowledge of popular films/blockbusters, and it didn’t really help my case. Anyway, that was a cool detail/footnote at the end of another cool project. 🙂
I did this in school too, after dying a piece of fabric did we sew a little bag from it. I still have mine.
I need to try this. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
I absolutely adore this idea! I’m about to try it on a shirt I’ve been meaning to dye. I’m thinking white stars. 🙂
This is an awesome project! Thanks for posting! Already pinned…..whoot whoot
So incredibly cute! And easy! Right up my alley!!!
Wow, that looks like fun! I was wondering if it’s safe to do with kids?
http://www.girlsandhappiness.com
Laurali, This would definitely be safe for kids using cotton fabric and crayons. I would do the dyeing part for them, of course! 🙂
XO.
HELLO ELSIE & EMMA!
I write for first time, I read your blog all days, I LOVE YOUR BLOG it’s a big inspiration for me, thanks for all your ideas, recipes and adventures.
I send a kiss from Mexico city.
PS. I want to tried this tutorial, maybe with draws for my sisters.
i love this idea, i am absolutely wanting to try making some scarves!! looking forward to the curtains!
http://www.citystylecountrysmile.com
Love it! Rit dye is one of the more badass craft supplies, for sure. I’m thinking about using it to revive some dingy-looking old favorite dresses, love the idea of adding a pattern instead of a full-on dye!
I ADORE THIS! Such a cute idea!
I remember doing this at school! Though we use to use at least two dyes at once to get cool rainbow effects. I just stuck my samples in my sketchbook; I never thought to make scarves like this!
Great project, so many possibilities! And I’m obsessed with the harlequin wrapper on those wax sticks!
Saw your scarves featured on The Long Thread blog ~ love them and thanks for the tutorial!
Already am planning to draw leaves on my cloth napkins and dye them green to match all of the other green leaf-related items in my apartment!
(which, let’s face it, is everything…)
Quick question: does the wax stand up to machine washing?
Hi Maggie-
I couldn’t say as I have not tried, BUT i would only hand wash these scarves. 🙂
This is genius!!! I was just wondering about something like this and wondering if it would work – you just proved to me that it would, I am so excited!!!
Love this idea and so want to make some hand towels with this method!
when we wash it what soap should we use. ive done this before but the soap left a kind of stain
I love batik fabrics, and I’d love to make some of my own. Thanks for sharing!
Do colored crayons leave colored spaces?
this is so lovely! i’m excited to try it myself. I was so excited I had to share it on my blog (with credit to you all, of course) : http://ahappystitch.com/2013/03/11/march-happy-happenings/
Lightbulb! I have a bunch of the clear wax crayons that come in Easter egg dye kits – bet they’re the same thing….
could this ever be machine washed? it would be cool for quilting.
Doralyn,
I would not machine wash these scarves. I’m sure you “could” but it’s not worth the risk to your other clothing. I hand wash a lot of stuff in my home and it’s not that hard. I just keep it in a separate pile and wash them in the sink with laundry soap when the pile gets big.
Hope that helps!
Hello, could you tell me your source for your plain white scarves, please? I have so many ideas and I need a canvas! 🙂 Thanks for your two recent scarf posts.
Sophie- they’re from Hobby Lobby!
This idea is just amazing!
Wanna try this to!
xoxo
This is amazing! You could even try reversing it by writing the wax bit on a coloured scarf and bleaching the colour out… Don’t know if it will be as pretty but I guess it’s worth a shot :3 Great work 😀
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hey there-
my friend and I tried this over the weekend and ours did not turn out. We followed your instructions but I am wondering if maybe we just used too cheap of crayons. Would that matter? We used RoseArt white crayons. You could see our pattern and writing while it was in the dye but when it was all said and done, all we ended up with was some colorfully dyed fabric.
any suggestions?
Batik is awesome!
To answer Ryan’s question – you can use your washer! Fill it with hot water, then carefully add the dye to the water. Lastly, put the duvet cover in. Let it go through a nice, long wash cycle with an extra rinse. Then, do ta again – until the water in the washer is clear! Once you’ve taken it out to dry, see if there is any dye residue on any if e washe parts, wipe those off, and o one more cycle with the washer empty.
Whew. It’s easy, promise. 🙂
This is so cool!
so amazing! I’ve been looking at wax resist dying all day. I was getting quite overwhelmed by it all. You have totally cleared my mind and I can’t wait to give it a try.
Great post! Thanks! 😀 😀
Dom.
Craftedblog.com
LOVE!
Muchas gracias por encerar mis ideas! Es un blog grandioso muy exquisito! Mis mejores deseos para tu trabajo.
These are beautiful! Can you do them with any fabric (ie: a fine woven muslin) and is their an “enviro” dye that you can use or is dye just dye? I am a total amateur!