indigo), and the wax is removed. The waxed areas of the cloth resist the dye and the desired pattern remains. Traditional Hmong batik, known as Paj Ntaub nraj ciab/cab in the Hmong language RPA, is created using white hemp fabric, beeswax, indigo dye, and a tjanting tool. Aesthetically, Hmong batik is similar to other Hmong visual design and often features bold and contrasting geometric designs. These designs are achieved by holding the handle of the tjanting tool with the copper nib positioned closer to the wrist which allows straight strokes to be drawn. To reveal the designs, the fabric is soaked in indigo dye several times and left to dry before being boiled in water to melt off the wax. This technique is utilized by Blue and Green Hmong to decorate skirts, baby carriers, and other typical Hmong textiles but is not seen amongst White Hmong. Paj Ntaub or Flower Cloth Paj Ntaub or flower cloth is a traditional form of Hmong embroidery practiced exclusively by women. This unique form of embroidery utilizes a wide variety of stitching techniques such as cross-stitch, chain-stitch, running-stitch, and satin-stitch and often features applique, reverse-applique, and batik elements in the design. Aesthetically, traditional Paj Ntaub is composed of highly stylized, non-representational geometric motifs that are developed both collectively and individually and vary according to region and tribe. These designs are often used to decorate traditional Hmong clothing including skirts, head dresses, shirt collars, and sashes worn by both men and women and other textiles such as baby carriers, pillows, and funerary textiles. Death and Religion In traditional Hmong culture, the women prepare traditional funeral textiles adorned with Paj Ntaub for their close relatives such as their parents, in-laws, and spouse. This is typically done well in advance of their relatives' death and are gifted to them as a token of filial endearment. These special textiles consist of a funeral robe, known as a tsho laus or khaub ncaws laus, a large sailor collar called a dab tsho laus attached to the back of a White Hmong woman's funeral robe, a funerary pillow square called a noob ncoos for the Blue and Green Hmong, and a pair of slippers called khau noog in the Hmong language RPA.It is believed in traditional Hmong culture that dressing the deceased in these Paj Ntaub textiles will allow them to join and be recognized by their deceased ancestors in