Batik help
#1
I really want to get batik for this new project (specifically a watercolor batik or something similar), but (like with many things) I never worked with batik before. I don't want to find myself pre-washing a beautiful red batik and then end up with a white or pink piece of fabric. And I really don't want to go for a close substitute to batik unless I really have to...I'm not going to let fear stand in the way of me and a beautiful fabric for this quilt. So how should I handle a batik fabric (epessily a red one...I hear any fabric with red dye can be a troublesome)?
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Central California
Posts: 149
I always pretreat batiks with Retayne. Retayne will set the dye as batiks always bleed. Use 1 tsp of Retayne for every yard of fabric. Soak in hot water for 20 minutes. Rinse and dry. The instructions are on the bottle.
I love working with batiks.
Judy
http://www.prochemical.com/directions/Retayne.htm
I love working with batiks.
Judy
http://www.prochemical.com/directions/Retayne.htm
#3
Originally Posted by Judy Gail
I always pretreat batiks with Retayne. Retayne will set the dye as batiks always bleed. Use 1 tsp of Retayne for every yard of fabric. Soak in hot water for 20 minutes. Rinse and dry. The instructions are on the bottle.
I love working with batiks.
Judy
http://www.prochemical.com/directions/Retayne.htm
I love working with batiks.
Judy
http://www.prochemical.com/directions/Retayne.htm
#4
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Central California
Posts: 149
I don't know. The instructions say to wash in warm water and rinse in cold. I think I would contact the company and ask if it is safe for children.
Batiks are notorious for bleeding. Although I have never tried it, you could try setting the dye with white vinegar. Before Retayne I used salt water but found I had to do it over and over and over again.
Judy
Batiks are notorious for bleeding. Although I have never tried it, you could try setting the dye with white vinegar. Before Retayne I used salt water but found I had to do it over and over and over again.
Judy
#5
Originally Posted by Judy Gail
I don't know. The instructions say to wash in warm water and rinse in cold. I think I would contact the company and ask if it is safe for children.
Batiks are notorious for bleeding. Although I have never tried it, you could try setting the dye with white vinegar. Before Retayne I used salt water but found I had to do it over and over and over again.
Judy
Batiks are notorious for bleeding. Although I have never tried it, you could try setting the dye with white vinegar. Before Retayne I used salt water but found I had to do it over and over and over again.
Judy
#6
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: In the middle of a mess...
Posts: 20,025
Wow! Ya learn something new everyday!
I did not know batiks would bleed.
I have some pretty ones just sitting on the shelf awaiting their fate.
They are the kind that are "too pretty" to cut.
I did not know batiks would bleed.
I have some pretty ones just sitting on the shelf awaiting their fate.
They are the kind that are "too pretty" to cut.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,962
I've never had any of my batik bleed, I've washed it the same as my other fabrics and never had a problem. Although i do wash in cold water, the dryer preshrinks it. I don't treat it any differently than cotton that I buy for quilting.
#8
This doesn't help. One says batiks bleed like crazy and one says they don't. Now I'm confused!
As far as the batik bleeding into the other fabric, that wouldn't be a problem since the dye wouldn't show up on the black background. I'm just concerned that if I wash batik like any other fabric it will change the color drastically...either dull the color or turn it into a pastel (Eew).
As far as the batik bleeding into the other fabric, that wouldn't be a problem since the dye wouldn't show up on the black background. I'm just concerned that if I wash batik like any other fabric it will change the color drastically...either dull the color or turn it into a pastel (Eew).
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Central California
Posts: 149
I don't think I've had a batik that didn't bleed. Fill the sink with hot water and put your fabric in it. If it doesn't bleed you don't need to treat it. Or, I have read that you can tell if a fabric will bleed by putting a small sample of it in water and then in the microwave. I haven't tried the microwave test myself.
Judy
Judy
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