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5th grade glue batik quilt

4/27/2017

33 Comments

 
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 This project is one of my favorites that I have ever done!

The students all felt super successful and it is a really fun process.  I wish I had done a better job of documenting the first few steps but I'll explain it anyhow.

You can get a copy of a similar lesson plan of mine by clicking here. 

We began this by doing observational drawings of a bunch of different plants.  I borrowed houseplants from my fellow teachers classrooms for this.  The students did multiple large contour line drawings of the plants, mostly focusing on the leaves.

The next step is to trace the drawing with Sharpie and then put the drawing underneath a piece of wax paper and a piece of white fabric over that.  The wax paper is crucial so that the glue doesn't go to the fabric and stick to the drawing or to the table.  Tape it all to a table of board so that it doesn't move.  After taping it down, you will be able to see the drawing through the fabric.  Use blue gel glue to trace over the drawing onto the fabric.  I've tried other glues as well and others work but the blue gel glue is absolutely the best.  

Let the glue dry completely.  Overnight is the best.  Once it is totally dried, use watered down acrylic (or fabric) paints to paint over the entire fabric.  Be sure to cover the glue with paint too.  This assures that you have a great batik effect with strong white lines.  

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Again, let it dry completely. 

The next step is to run warm/hot water and fill a bin.  Separate the fabric from the wax paper and drawing.  Soak the fabric for at least 10 minutes.  After about 10-20 minutes, use hands to rub all of the excess glue.  

Once the glue is completely removed from the fabric, rinse it in warm water and hang it to dry. 
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The images turn our very vivid and colorful!  You can see how each students design turned out very different.  I gave them a limited color palette to work with since they will be used to make a quilt.  
I wish I could take credit for the next step but I passed the batiks over to my friend and she took care of the rest.  She sewed it all into this fabulous quilt.  I love it sooooo much and wish I could keep it forever....but we sold it at the school auction.  
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33 Comments
Cyn
11/10/2017 07:29:44 am

BEAUTIFUL!! What fabric did you use?

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Annie Monaghan
11/11/2017 02:36:35 pm

To be honest, I just went to JoAnn fabric and bought the cheapest white cotton blend fabric.

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Susan
3/8/2018 03:20:40 am

Is it a mostly cotton blend or 50/50 cotton/polyester blend? How big did you cut the squares?

Leeanne
4/4/2018 03:45:47 pm

What was the size of fabric that the students used? Going to try this with my grade twos and love the idea of the raffle at school!!!

Carrie Wing
9/20/2018 04:42:29 pm

What brand is the blue gel glue? Is it Elmers? Can I order through Dick Blick.

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Annie Monaghan
12/6/2018 07:32:41 am

I usually buy it from WalMart. I don't think DickBlick carries it anymore unfortunately.

Debra White
11/11/2017 06:56:50 am

This is beautiful. I would like to try it. I know my students will love it.

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Annie Monaghan
3/20/2018 10:51:54 am

You should definitely try it with your students, it's so much fun!

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Annie Monaghan
11/11/2017 02:35:13 pm

You should absolutely try it out! Watch out, you might get addicted to glue batiking, it's so much fun!

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Mel
3/2/2019 06:14:43 pm

How long does it take for the glue to dry? I am not in a permanent classroom and will need to find a way to transport them...

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Annie Monaghan
11/11/2017 02:35:45 pm

To be honest, I just went to JoAnn fabric and bought the cheapest basic white fabric...

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Brenda
2/23/2018 07:44:30 am

Thank you for sharing this! I can’t wait to try it with my class.

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Lana
3/10/2018 05:36:36 am

Love this :) Was the glue difficult to remove?? The only time I’ve used glue for batik it was nearly impossible to remove! We dyed the fabric once the glue was on so the color would be permanent .... wonder if that had something to do with it? 🤔 Thanks!

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Annie Monaghan
3/20/2018 10:53:16 am

Well it's not especially easy but I've successfully done this with 2nd grade and up. The key is soaking them in really warm/hot water for 15 + minutes.

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rubyann simmons link
3/16/2018 07:32:08 am

I love it thank you for sharing.

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Patty
3/19/2018 12:45:16 pm

This quilt is amazing!!!!! Many years ago I used a paste mixture made with alum and put that in squeeze bottles then painted fabric with huge water lilies like Monet. Let that dry. Then we painted on the fabric using food color paste (mixed with water ) Let that dry. then just chipped the dried alum paste off and that was it. No wetting the fabric and washing off glue.

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Beth
3/21/2018 11:41:59 am

Fabulous! Fantastic way to introduce the Batik arts via simple and easy techniques. After their contribution to the group project, the kids can replicate this again on their own! The unity of the completed project is exquisite. Hope you got a huge price for your school with this. Taught jr. and middle school art for 37 years, did hot wax and dye batiks. I am fascinated with new ways to explore traditional techniques with materials that are “safer” and more kid friendly. Excellent process, experience and result, Win, win, win all the way! Cudos!

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Annie Monaghan link
4/13/2018 06:33:44 am

Thanks! I am excited about it too!

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Leeanne
4/4/2018 03:41:51 pm

Love this! What kind of acrylics did you use as the colour palette is fabulous!

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cheryl meehan
4/7/2018 04:35:07 am

Love this! I live in Florida and could see this done with sea turtles. Great idea for an art fund raiser!

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Annie Monaghan link
4/13/2018 06:32:52 am

That would be awesome!

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P Brown
4/13/2018 04:18:17 am

Does this end up being color-fast? I'm wondering about laundering if this were to be used on something functional.

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Annie Monaghan link
4/13/2018 06:34:49 am

To be honest, it would probably fade quite a bit but you could probably find some higher quality fabric paints to use or mix the acrylic paints with some fabric medium.

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Lynn
4/19/2018 06:07:26 am

Did the ink from the coloring in of the leaves make the background dye? This is beautiful.

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Karen Samenow link
6/11/2018 02:53:41 pm

I love how easy this is. I have been part of a similar process with the same results, & this is far better with much more satisfaction. Thank you for sharing. Karen

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Ceola Parson
1/4/2019 06:14:35 am

That is so cool!

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Sean
12/14/2022 12:17:39 pm

yes

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Sherry
1/4/2019 07:34:08 pm

Does the paint fade when you soak it?

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Miss Ariel
2/4/2019 12:10:22 pm

What about just tossing them in the washer? Would this be ok? The acrylic should stick, and if the glue is not harmful to the washer it seems quite convenient. I would like my 4 year-olds to participate in washing but am considering letting them hand-wash a few our their pieces and washing the rest in the machine. What do you think?

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Deb C.
2/13/2019 10:11:12 am

I have done this project dozens (hundreds?) of times... mostly with seniors, and if the water is too hot it will remove the acrylic paint that we have used. Too hot means that you cannot put your hand in the water. I use a plastic woven scrubby ball, like one used for dishes, for rubbing off the softened glue; don't rub toooo hard or the paint will rub off too.

I do not use wax paper under the fabric. I do put the original drawings under the fabric, and when the fabric is painted some of the paint gets on the paper drawing.... and I like this also! Sometimes a bit of the paper sticks to fabric, but it washes off when the glue is removed.

I thin down the acrylic paint to a watercolor consistency... thin. If the paint is too thick it will soften and get removed when you remove the glue.
Sometimes we go back into the finished/washed work to redo some parts with sharpies.

It is also possible, after the first wash-out of the blue gel glue to do a second glue-ing and repaint parts. (as is often done in traditional Batik)

Often I buy clean secondhand flat cotton sheets, and tear or cut them into the shapes I want for my groups.

I hope this helps.

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Mary link
9/3/2020 08:37:38 am

Great job kids. Wish I could have bid on that quilt myself. 👍

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Christine Duval
7/12/2022 02:04:33 pm

I just ran across this and I think it's beautiful They all did a fabulous job.

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Marta da Silva Amaral
8/4/2022 08:55:39 am

Maravilhoso! Bem mais fácil que a técnica do Batik, mas igualmente lindo!
Grata por compartilhar!
(Brasil - Amazonas)

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