Batik and Indigo dye

We went to an indigo shop to see how fabric is made into batik using the indigo plant. The plant is soaked in a lye solution for a long period of time and turns to a thick dark navy paste. This paste is mixed with water that has been purified by draining through sand. Fabric is stamped with hot wax for the desired pattern and soaked in the indigo solution. When removed from the dye it is green, and dries to a darker blue. It is then boiled to remove the wax. We each got to make a small sample.