mamaw

I purchased alot of batik fat quarters at the Maine Show this weekend. Now I would like to know if anyone has advice on washing them besides using the Shout color catcher sheets. Any advice is welcome.
Thanks

Ardelle Coult

I never wash any of my fabric - even batiks. If they are red or purple you can just cut off a small piece and put it in a jar of water to see if it bleeds. Newer batiks don't seem to bleed like the old ones.

TeresaT

I never prewash my fabrics either. I just finished a baby quilt with batiks and I just put in a color catcher when I washed it and it came out perfect.

janRN

Same here-don't prewash. One of the reasons I like working with batiks is the feel of the fabric. I've never had them bleed but do test the reds and when I do wash the finished quilt I use a color-catcher. I've never had them bleed or discolor the color-catcher.

Mariposa

I haven't had any problems with batiks, but I still wash them. To get rid of smells, like from shipping, plastics, or even the quilt shop. Just kind of sensitive.

MegsAnn

My batiks have bled a LOT. So I bought some Retayne. Just put a little in the wash, prewash 'em, and you're all set.

Lori S

I use alot of batiks and they are really bad for bleeding , they bleed and bleed. The darker the color the worse it seems.
Color catchers will in the wash work once the excess dye is released into the water. If you machine wash a quilt that has not been treated and there is a bleeder ... and you leave the quilt after the cycles are completed , moisture can still have the colors migrate.
I strongley urge you to get to the bleeders before you make a quilt. I let the batiks sit in water for at least an hour to test for bleeding , as some still have a good deal of resist remaining. It can be surprising .. leave it for 15 minutes and you may be tempted to think ... no problem.... come back in a hour and swish it around ... and you wonder if there is any color left in the fabric.
All the manufactures have this issue in the various batik lines, there is not a one that I can say has solved the problem.
Do use Retayne. It only requires a teaspoon per yard. It is SOOO worth it.
It always makes me wonder ... if we can put a man on the moon .... why can't we make fabrics that do not run?!!! And if there is a process that can prevent it ... why can that not be on the bolt so we know we can purchase with confidence?!!! Sorry I just get carried away on this topic.

mlaceruby

I use batiks all the time and have never had any bleed.
The first several dozen that I purchased I tested and not one of them bleed in testing.
Now all the batiks I have purchased have been from major manufacturers. I don't know about the ones that have been hand dyed by individuals that dye and print their own.

ghostrider

I always prewash batiks with Retayne. It locks in the color instead of just dealing with colors floating around in the water after it's left the fabric. Treats the cause, not just the symptom. :D

lab fairy

Check out the Dharma Trading Company.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/en...chemicals.html

This is good stuff. Color catchers are OK for some things but I really don't trust them for hand dyed or fabrics. I figure if I'm going to spend that kind of money I want to make sure I don't get "muddy" or faded results in the end.