Prewash batiks?
04-20-2012, 07:05 AM
#21
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
I guess you didn't notice that their flannels are 106" wide which is over 2 1/2 times wider than your usual flannel (figuring at 42" although I have had some that measured even less)
So given that their exceptionally nice batik flannel is 2 1/2 times wider than your average LQS flannel the price works out to be around $9 per yard which is comprable to 42" wide LQS flannel.
I have gotten sewbatik flannels as well as their regular cotton batiks and I can personally vouch for the very fine quality of their products. They are competitively priced when comapred to many LQS when no huge sale is going on.
To the OP, I always prewash everything. Batiks and non batiks alike but as so many others posted batiks can be especially notorious for bleeding. With Batiks I treat with Retayne in my prewash to set the dyes as well.
So given that their exceptionally nice batik flannel is 2 1/2 times wider than your average LQS flannel the price works out to be around $9 per yard which is comprable to 42" wide LQS flannel.
I have gotten sewbatik flannels as well as their regular cotton batiks and I can personally vouch for the very fine quality of their products. They are competitively priced when comapred to many LQS when no huge sale is going on.
To the OP, I always prewash everything. Batiks and non batiks alike but as so many others posted batiks can be especially notorious for bleeding. With Batiks I treat with Retayne in my prewash to set the dyes as well.
04-20-2012, 10:02 AM
#23
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Washington State
Posts: 2,587
Synthrapol is pretty much just soap--removes excess dye. For Batiks I use Retayne in hot water maybe several times until the dye stops running. I buy the better stuff (Hoffman) and the dye still runs.
04-20-2012, 11:00 AM
#24
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Maryland's Eastern Shore
Posts: 223
I always prewash everything unless it is something that will be a wall hanging and probably never washed. I have had fabric bleed that is not even a batik - good quilting fabric from my LQS. I wash and then use Retayne if there is a problem. To use Retayne, you need to use very hot water (140 degrees or more). I read another thread talking about putting the fabric in a big pot on the stove with hot water and Retayne. It only takes a little Retayne in a pot of water.
Continued washing for several times may cause the fabric to look faded. The Retayne sets the dye.
Some of my friends think I am a bit fanatic about washing everything, but I can't see ruining my hard work because the fabric bled.
Continued washing for several times may cause the fabric to look faded. The Retayne sets the dye.
Some of my friends think I am a bit fanatic about washing everything, but I can't see ruining my hard work because the fabric bled.
04-20-2012, 01:11 PM
#25
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Vancouver, Washington State
Posts: 2,113
The instructor in the quilting class I took in February said that there was no need to wash fabrics these days because they were woven much better than years ago and pretty much all were straight on the grain. Well, let me tell you, not only is this not so, but even the higher quality fabric I bought from her shop was way off on the grain, only to be noticed once washed. If I'd made my quilt using it straight off the bolt it would have been a twisted mess once washed, so I personally wouldn't want the recipient of any of my quilts to be disappointed after washing it the first time, not to mention all the work that goes into the finished quilt. I consider washing the fabric and ironing/starching it to be the first step in making a quilt. Just my opinion.
04-20-2012, 01:31 PM
#26
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Royse City Texas
Posts: 2,870
I have had batiks bleed a lot...I ALWAYS....ALWAYS...hand wash in hot water and then simmer them in sythrpaol.or Retayne (I forget which)..worth the time and effort...if I have small pieces I combine like colors to "cook". I have a front load washer so I can do them in my washing machine.
Last edited by Treasureit; 04-20-2012 at 01:34 PM.
04-20-2012, 05:49 PM
#29
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,688
Retayne sets loose dyes wherever they are floating. It's intended to be used before fabrics are made into anything, iow, during the prewash. My guess is that none of your batiks have ever been of the bleeding variety and that's why you've had no problems. Lucky you!
04-22-2012, 11:38 AM
#30
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: West Texas
Posts: 2,073
It is interesting to me that I have heard many anecdotes (here on the forum and elsewhere) from people saying that quilt shop owners/employees have said there is no need to pre-wash or test for bleeding. It makes me doubt their experience or expertise. Do they say that in order to justify the high price of their fabric, maintaining that it is of the highest quality?
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