Block dying ( I think thats what it would be called...) with wax

[Belladune]

Okay, So I bought a bunch of white cotton curtains for the bedrooms in our home.  In my sons room I want to make a border on the bottom of the curtain  to look like a racing flag.  I want the whole curtain to be black (found out on these forums which blacks are the best )  But along the bottom I want there to be white squares.  Now, heres the question:
~~~ Can, and how, can I use wax to block the places I want to stay white?  And what kind of wax can I use? ~~~
~~~ Once I've put  the wax on, how do I get it out? ~~~

Any advice would be appreciated

~*<..Belladune..>*~

P.S.  I might want to do something a little more intricate on our curtains, using the same kind of technique.  Hopefully theres one out there that would be usefull for both projects

[steiconi]

That sounds like batik.  I haven't done it in ages, but as I recall, you use beeswax for the resist, and you iron it between pads of newspaper to get the wax out. 

I think you can buy a liquid resist that would be easier to use and to get out.

Easier still would be to start with black fabric and iron-on applique white squares.  But that's just me...

[Belladune]

I might just use the beeswax, we've got a honey farm less then 1 mile away, and any kind of craft store that is actually stocked with a variety of crafts is about 4 hrs away. 
And the applique idea is brilliant,  although I already bought the white cotton curtains.  so the first method will have to do.  It will also give me a reason to hide in the basement. lol

Thank you!

[WMA]

You could also check out dharmatrading.com...they have several different types of resists
More specifically http://www.dharmatrading.com/resists/ and http://dharmatrading.com/batik/instructions.html

[Belladune]

Thank you WMA.

[WMA]

No problem! 

[truepeacenik]

easiest resist is starch.

all resists will allow some dye seepage, so do a nifty test first.

[rednightsky86]

If you do batik you will most likely get crackles.  You would get the wax out by ironing the fabric between newspapers, which soak up the wax, and then get it dry cleaned.  I second dharma's trading co because batik wax needs to be a certain mixture of beeswax and paraffin (i think) wax, and they have it already premixed.  But be careful, the wax can catch on fire.

[Belladune]

ack fire?  really?  Scary!  I still haven't tried doing anything to the curtains yet.  I'm stil debating on technique.  its either dye or appliqué....  Appliqué would be easier I'm sure.

[little me]

Easy Peasy. Go to your school supply section & buy Elmer's glue gel (blue in color) & use that as a resist - no cracks, no seepage. I made a sign for work w/our name & it came out beautiful, wish I had pics, but didn't take any. Elmer's glue gel is great stuff for resist. You will have to spend some time washing off the glue, but it is totally worth it.