Advice on batiks, please!
 

I am going to use batiks in my next quilting project, and as I am somewhat new to this great craft, I am wondering if there is anything specific about working with batiks that I should know before I begin. I quilt by hand. Thanks!

Due to the density of weave, they are very stable/non-stretchy. Accuracy in cutting and stitching 1/4" seam is essential. It takes more effort to stretch them around curves. They ravel very little, therefore good in raw edge applique. Due to the density, they are more difficult to needle. In the machine use a microtex 70 wt needle and 50-60 wt thread. Because I stitch the second side of the binding by hand, I don't like to use batik for the binding. I'd recommend machine quilting over hand quilting. For the type quilting I do, I love them.

Pre wash!
Have been known to bleed

Get good quality batik like Hoffman. I have never had any issues with that brand bleeding also they are a dream to applique with both by hand and machine. They feel thinner but are woven more denselyand are very durable .You might need to use a smaller needle on your machine like 70/10 schmetz micro sharp to piece and aplique. Also for quilting you might need a smaller needle else you get a holey look.

I used batiks in a memory table runner and hand quilted it with no problem. I also made a quilt and used ocean colors on tan with no bleed. The only thing with batiks from me is there is no give so accuracy is important. That being said I have only used batiks from Quilt shops, I know they sell them at Joanns and I don't know if there is a difference like in some other quilting fabrics.

There was a thread recently about batiks and the amount they bleed here and the consensus was that it didn't really matter where you got them from - quilts shops or chain stores - some bled a lot and some hardly any (I still don't pre-wash btw).
I've no experience of hand sewing other than binding, but wasn't aware of any difference.
One thing I would say though, is that if you are bothered about 'right' and 'wrong' side, which ususally look very similar, is to mark the wrong side with chalk or some such before you start.

pre-wash, and use a nice new sharp needle for quilting- batiks are a bit more difficult to stitch through due to the tighter weave than regular quilting cottons- but with a nice new sharp needle, good batting and backing it's certainly very do-able. they are easy to work with, not apt to have frayed edges (again due to the tighter weave) i know many people who (shied away) from batiks, once they finally gave them a try they wanted to make everything with batiks! :D

there is no (right/wrong) side with batiks, or any other 'hand dyed' fabrics---either side can be used as you want- sometimes a design may be more prominent on one side- or there may be slight variations- use the side you like at the moment- that is one of the great things about batiks/handdyes- you don't have to reverse patterns for applique- either side can be used anytime-no need to worry about it (there are people who make watercolor quilts who use the 'back-side' of printed fabrics sometimes too because they want a more 'muted' shading...there is no right/wrong side to any fabric--just a front & back--either can be used---i pay for both sides of my fabrics...)

I am hand quilting a batik wall hanging and it is hard to hand quilt!! I can only do the stab stitch so it will take much longer to finish!!!!!