Fashion Friday: silk scarves

Spring and summer scarves are all the rage. They are the perfect way add a pop of color to your outfit and a little warmth around your neck. You can pick up silk scarf blanks from places like Dharma Trading or check out your local thrift shops for that can be over-dyed. Adding designs and patterns to your scarf project is a breeze with a simple batik technique that’s guaranteed to turn some heads. For these designs we used melted wax and cookie cutters to create the batik shapes.

Materials:
double boiler (or glass bowl and slightly larger saucepan)
prewashed silk scarf
wax
cold-water fabric dye
clothespins
small cookie cutter
plastic tub or metal sink
kraft paper
iron

Steps:
1. Using a glass bowl and a saucepan as a double boiler, heat the wax until it's melted.

Safety tip: Be sure to tilt the inner container; otherwise a vacuum could form and you could receive a nasty burn.

2. Clip the clothespin to the side of the cookie cutter and dip the cookie cutter into the wax for at least 20 seconds.

3. Place the wax-dipped cookie cutter onto the scarf and press lightly until the wax is transferred to the scarf. Allow the wax to cool.

4. Mix the dye (following package instructions) in a large tub or a metal sink. Wet the scarf and place it in the dye bath; stir and let the fabric sit in the dye for about an hour.

5. Rinse the scarf in cold water until the water runs clear; hang the scarf to dry.

6. Place the fabric between pieces of kraft paper and press with a hot iron to remove the wax. (you will have to do this several times)

7. Rinse in hot water with a mild detergent to remove remaining wax, then let the scarf hang to dry.