Having only just returned from a trip to Bali last week, I am still in awe of the fantastic level of craftmenship which I saw from this small island in Indonesia. The Balinese people truly are a skilled race with a strong tradition in stone carving, wood carving, weaving and – what I wanted to write about today – batik processing.

I was lucky enough to witness how the Indonesians use Batik printing techniques to colourfully decorate their sarongs which are worn for religious ceremonies. It’s a time consuming process, yes, but I wanted to share with you a piece of their tradition and eye for quality… and maybe one day you might want to try out this method on your own work.

1. Choose the cloth you wish to use. Try silk, muslin or cotton for the best results and ensure it is clean.

2. Trace your design onto the fabric with a pencil. For traditional Batik design inspiration visit www.batikdesigns.org

3. Decide on what colour dye you wish to use for the first colour and then trace wax over all the parts that you do not want to be that colour. Repeat on the other side of the material for the best results and then leave the wax to dry completely.

4. Mix up your dye by following the instructions on the pot and place the fabric in the dye bath for approximately 30 minutes or however much is recommended by the dye manufacturers. Remove from the bath and leave to dry.

5. Next we need to remove all of the wax by placing the fabric into some boiling water. This will allow you to start a new colour.

6. Make sure the material is dry and then trace wax over the parts of the fabric where you don’t want the second colour to take hold. This will likely include the area that you have already dyed unless you wanted two colours on the same spot!

7. Mix up and dye with the second colour, leave to dry, remove the wax again and repeat the colouring process as needed to finish off your design.

Note: The Balinese use the traditional colours of blue, brown, and light yellow.