Batik pros and cons
08-07-2010, 03:16 PM
#61
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Tucker, GA
Posts: 2,042
Here's my two cents worth....but I guess with the price of batiks it should be a lot more????
I don't ever prewash anything. Call me lazy but I've never learned the hard way, so I don't bother to prewash.
Nobody told me to use a different needle so I don't. My usual all-purpose needle works fine. In fact, I just finished a batik quilt top with a needle that I've used weekly, if not daily, for well over a year and it was just fine. (I am self-taught and never think to change a needle unless it breaks!)
I don't put batiks on the back (usually hand-dye a matching tie-dye or something else interesting with multiple colors) so I don't have to machine quilt through multiple layers of batiks and it works out fine. I don't applique or hand quilt them so I can't comment on those....
In short, I just treat them like any other high-quality fabric from my LQS and I've never had a problem. I know that others have given different opinions so you'll just have to experiment! :)
I don't ever prewash anything. Call me lazy but I've never learned the hard way, so I don't bother to prewash.
Nobody told me to use a different needle so I don't. My usual all-purpose needle works fine. In fact, I just finished a batik quilt top with a needle that I've used weekly, if not daily, for well over a year and it was just fine. (I am self-taught and never think to change a needle unless it breaks!)
I don't put batiks on the back (usually hand-dye a matching tie-dye or something else interesting with multiple colors) so I don't have to machine quilt through multiple layers of batiks and it works out fine. I don't applique or hand quilt them so I can't comment on those....
In short, I just treat them like any other high-quality fabric from my LQS and I've never had a problem. I know that others have given different opinions so you'll just have to experiment! :)
08-07-2010, 04:50 PM
#64
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: La Verne, CA
Posts: 794
Originally Posted by kathy
I've never had a running batik either. They go thru som many harsh processes I just don't see how they can run, maybe it's the brand.
But I LOVE my batiks!!!
I will have to say I use them for almost all of my hand appliqes and don't have a problem with the stiching.
08-07-2010, 06:50 PM
#66
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Broadway, Shenandoah Valley, VA
Posts: 478
Batiks are magical. They have mystery and depth to them. Find a quilt pattern that has large enough areas to show off the batiks. I've mixed batiks with other fabrics. Love those batiks. Always prewash. Great to iron.
08-07-2010, 07:39 PM
#68
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 30
They are wonderful for applique. However check for bleeding with all the over dyed ones as so many of them are going to bleed. I usually take each one I am interesting in doing a project with and put a white or clear bowl in the sink while I check for bleeding. If it is then I get out a plastic glove and my bottle of ReTayne which is a product available at most quilt shops. It stops the bleeding. I usually add maybe a teaspoon full in the bowl with clear water for less then a yard and let it sit in the bowl a minute or so and then rinse it and make sure its set by checking it again in clear water. Its simple and prevents the color from ruining your project. I had one piece of fabric that was kind of a rust and it turned the water hot pink. That was a shock. They remain one of my favorite fabrics.
08-07-2010, 07:45 PM
#69
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by Lori S
I love to work on Batiks but... Just a few notes:
1. Do pretreat/wash fabrics with Retayne, batiks RUN/Bleed. it so worth the time to get to the problem prior to constuction. Prewashing will reduce some of the running/bleeding but unless pretreated they will continue to keep running ( smaller amounts at each washing) .
2. It can be tough to buy Batiks over the internet . Not all the colors will show in the small swatch, or the evenness of the color placement. Batiks like the Hoffman watercolor collection are really one color tone/tone so it is not so much of an issue with that collection.
I once purchased a batik on line , the swatch showed very good colors that I wanted but when arrived there was another color ( purple) that in the yardage.
3. Do not use Heat and Bond light or heavy , it leaves a residue stain.
4. Because they are so thightly woven , removing stitches can leave a permanent needle hole.
5. hand applique is painful .... really its hard to get the needle through.
6. If you run out of a specific batik it is next to impossible to get more . There is no identifier in the selvage , the fabric is completley dyed. So tracking one down ... is really hard. If purchasing from the internet do keep a note as to the manufacture and site used. There are a few batik lines ( Hoffman has one that is tonal , and produced for years , but there are lots and lots of shades in the collection and tough to see on a computer exactly which blue you have) .
7. Repeat number 1 .... can not stress the pretreat enough.
All that said .. I LOVE batiks and can not get enough of them. They can create some of the most dramatic quilts.
1. Do pretreat/wash fabrics with Retayne, batiks RUN/Bleed. it so worth the time to get to the problem prior to constuction. Prewashing will reduce some of the running/bleeding but unless pretreated they will continue to keep running ( smaller amounts at each washing) .
2. It can be tough to buy Batiks over the internet . Not all the colors will show in the small swatch, or the evenness of the color placement. Batiks like the Hoffman watercolor collection are really one color tone/tone so it is not so much of an issue with that collection.
I once purchased a batik on line , the swatch showed very good colors that I wanted but when arrived there was another color ( purple) that in the yardage.
3. Do not use Heat and Bond light or heavy , it leaves a residue stain.
4. Because they are so thightly woven , removing stitches can leave a permanent needle hole.
5. hand applique is painful .... really its hard to get the needle through.
6. If you run out of a specific batik it is next to impossible to get more . There is no identifier in the selvage , the fabric is completley dyed. So tracking one down ... is really hard. If purchasing from the internet do keep a note as to the manufacture and site used. There are a few batik lines ( Hoffman has one that is tonal , and produced for years , but there are lots and lots of shades in the collection and tough to see on a computer exactly which blue you have) .
7. Repeat number 1 .... can not stress the pretreat enough.
All that said .. I LOVE batiks and can not get enough of them. They can create some of the most dramatic quilts.
08-07-2010, 07:58 PM
#70
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 30
Originally Posted by Deb watkins
I agree that the look of them is stunning, however I also think that since they do run and bleed alot, it can be a pain to work with them. I had a quilt that was washed before cutting and quilting, and it still ran and pretty much ruined the look of the quilt.
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