Wax Resist Workshop with Malta Dubrawsky // Favorite Things

Last Saturday, the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild hosted a fabric dyeing class taught by Malka Dubrawsky. I jumped at the chance to take the class! I don't have any particular interest in batiks or fabric dyeing, but there is something wonderful about having the wax, tools, supplies, and step by step instructions all laid out for you.I happily spent the day with Jessie , Aubrie and many other talented women--I didn't have high hopes for my actual designs, and planned to just enjoy the process. There were some really beautiful pieces that came out of the dye bath, and as a bonus, I'm happy with mine too. [I *think* this is Aubrie's awesome fabric below. She made her own diamond cardboard tube & also used a paintbrush].In a nutshell, batiks are made by applying hot wax to fabric.   After the wax dries, you immerse it in a dye bath, set the dye with soda ash, and let it soak, anywhere from an hour to overnight. Afterwards, you drain the dye, boil (simmer) out the wax and voila--beautiful hand dyed fabric.  The wax resist blocks dye from penetrating the fabric, so unlike conventional fabrics which are screen printed, there is no "right" or "wrong" side of batiks

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I love the blue & brown fabric--I was much better with stamping on fabric rather than drawing/painting/carving your own stamp.Did you know Malka teaches a Craftsy class called Fabric Patterning with Wax Resist? I can't wait to buy a stockpot from Goodwill and simmer away the wax. I think I'm going to use my fabrics to make a 100 Quilts for Kids patchwork quilt similar to the Star Bright Quilt. Bright and happy, and best of all, the fabric I made will actually get used! [Malka's quilt, shown here, is just beautiful.]