New to quilting and love the look of batik fabric

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09-01-2009, 02:56 AM

say

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Thread Starter

Join Date: Sep 2009

Posts: 13

Hello to all of you! I just purchased my first quilt pattern and am looking forward to getting started. I have never "quilted" before, but I did make some blankets for my 3 grandchildren, which I was very proud of. Do you have any suggestions of an economical way to get started with getting the fabrics needed for quilts? The batik fabrics are just stunning, but in todays economy, I don't want to spend unwisely. Thank you for any suggestions or hep you can give.
Sherry

09-01-2009, 04:04 AM

Quilt4u

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Join Date: May 2008

Location: Merrimac, MA

Posts: 9,019

Hi from Massachusetts, and welcome.

09-01-2009, 04:06 AM

pocoellie

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2007

Location: Alturas, CA

Posts: 9,393

Welcome from NE CA. Glad you joined us. I've gotten fabric from thrift stores, finding a dress or skirt that I loved the fabric and cut it apart. I usually only buy fabric on sale. Thousands of Bolts and Honeyfork Fabrics on line, both have good prices and excellent service.

09-01-2009, 05:43 AM

Prism99

Power Poster

Join Date: Dec 2008

Location: Western Wisconsin

Posts: 12,930

Look online or check your Yellow Pages for fabric stores. Look for fabric outlets or fabric warehouses. If there are some in your area, they can be worth checking out.

09-01-2009, 05:58 AM

foxxigrani

Senior Member

Join Date: Nov 2006

Posts: 755

Welcome to the board, I don't have any suggestions, but wanted to say hi

Rita

09-01-2009, 06:02 AM

mpspeedy

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: rural Maryland

Posts: 1,564

Hi Sherry, Welcome to quilting. I too love the look of batic fabrics. As a handquilter I usually steer clear of them for anything I will be handling a lot. The dying process tends to make them stiffer than other fabric and harder to work with, especially by hand.
If your local Walmart still carries fabric they are a good source of reasonably priced material. JoAnns also has some great bargins especially in the clearance area. While I truly love Quilt Shop quality fabrics they are often too expensive for quilts that are not meant to be masterpieces. If you will be giving your work to those who don't know how to care for quality materials or you don't want to have to worry about your feelings getting hurt use the less expensive stuff.
Good luck with your quilting and ENJOY!

09-01-2009, 06:18 AM

kathy

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Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: on the Texas Coast

Posts: 4,020

I too love batiks but am currently on a very strict budget. I love to dye my own fabrics. If you dye white on white or tone on tone you can get some awesome looks. Even plain white can be made to look great by different dyeing methods. Perma press does not work well, I'm not talking Rit dyes. You can get the good stuff (procion fiber reactive dyes) at Dharma Trading Co. online

09-01-2009, 06:27 AM

quilter1962

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: Nottingham, UK

Posts: 1,287

Hello Sherry

Welcome from Nottingham, UK - lovely to see more quilters joining us here. You will love it - just wait & see.

Now to answer your question regarding fabrics - don't laugh now but everytime my DH comes in from work & takes off his tie (he has an office related job in a hospital) I say umm that shirt looks like it needs replacing. He often raises his eyebrows, nothing quite like taking the shirt of the back of the person that feeds you LOL.
Anyhow listen to me rabbiting on - I now make sure I use his old shirts & my boys shirts too. I wash them, I cut them up remove the buttons & press the fabric. Ta Dah your be amazed at just how much fabric you can get from one shirt. BTW the shirts are all 100% cotton.

Go on get & have a good old root through the wardrobe LOL - Good Luck

Tisha :P