How to Make Batik Indigo Stockings for Your Mantel This Holiday
I am a huge fan of purple, but indigo comes in at a close second. This deep, rich hue is a perfect addition to the holiday season if you want to add a non-traditional flair to your decor. For this DIY, I’m using an Indonesian technique called batik. It is the practice of appling wax to fabric before dyeing to create a pattern. Grab some holiday cookie cutters, dip them into candle wax and stamp away to achieve our version of batik prints.
Materials and Tools:
1. Pour four gallons of water into a large container and mix in the powders provided in the kit. Stir in a circular motion until all the powder is dissolved.
2. Put your candle wax in the microwave (in 10-second increments) and stir until it is melted. Dip your cookie cutter into the wax and create a print on the canvas stocking.
3. Wait for the wax to turn white on the canvas, then dunk it into water.
4. Submerge the piece into the indigo dye solution. Let it sit in the vat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally for an even dye.
5. Pull the pieces out of the solution and let them oxidize for ten minutes. Once they have turned from green to blue, you can rinse them in the sink and remove all the leftover wax.
Indigo dye is one of the most beautiful hues, but let’s be real — the vat of dye smells atrocious! Follow the directions included with your dye to mix the perfect concoction.
Stir in a circular motion to encourage the powder to dissolve. Cover your vat and let it sit for 30 minutes. This will give the dye some time to form a bubbly “flower” on top. This piece helps keep the dye alive. Remove the flower (by pushing it to the side of the vat) when you start dyeing.
Melt your candle wax in the microwave and stir until it is completely dissolved. Dip the cookie cutter into the solution and print onto the stocking. We know it looks like melted butter, but it’s definitely not! Don’t forget and put it on your bread.
Have fun with your designs! We created this pattern by overlapping two different-sized star cookie cutters.
Once the wax has turned white, it is completely dry. Dunk your stocking into a bath of water to pre-wet the fabric before putting it into the indigo dye.
Here we go!
Let the stocking sit in the bath for 20 mins and stir occasionally to get an even dye.
Pull the stockings out of the indigo and place them in another container to let them oxidize for about 10 minutes. You will know they are completely oxidized when the stockings are blue and there is no green.
Wash your stockings out in your sink and scrub to remove all the wax.
Oh hey, indigo — we officially welcome you into our holiday color palette family. Time to stuff these babies with the best stocking stuffers out there!
photo lenses
funny phrased pencils, a cute luggage tag and a desk calendar to help keep 2016 organized.
indigo scarf
handmade soap and a turquoise 2016 agenda.
NFL socks
Bourbon marshmallows and some Ficks hangover preventer ;)
Will you be decking the halls with hues of Indigo? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!