Silver Needle

I know Sew Batik recommends pre washing theirs with synthrapol. I just purchased some for a Large throw on a shop hop from a different company. I was wondering if it's a good idea to pre wash all batiks to remove extra dye etc.

jaciqltznok

always! Even though I had never had one bleed, you just can't be too sure these days. The quality all around is less than what it was 10 years ago!

WilliP

As a rule for myself, I always prewash fabrics. Sizings, insecticides, dyes etc all may be present in newly purchased fabrics.So I prewash everything and starch if necessary.

valleyquiltermo

Always I have had them bleed.

QuiltnLady1

I just made a table runnner using pre-washed batiks (I washed them 3 times). Well, when I steamed the seams the dark still bled onto the light right on the seams (if I had used Harriet Hargrave's test to wet, put it between paper towels and put a weight on it I would have known to continue washing). I will be throwing the top in the wash with come color catchers and see if I can get the color out.
These were LQS batiks and I did not wash them enough -- I would advise washing your batiks.

sharon b

Thanks for the tip - I had never heard that , but will certainly try it

And yes I do suggest washing batiks- the ones I purchased a year ago , it was not the reds that ran but the blues so you just never know which ones will have too much dye

NikkiLu

Absolutely!!!!! I started buying batik fat quarters about a year ago for a pattern - then found another pattern, so decided to buy 1/2 yards - then decided that I really liked the batiks - so graduated to yards. I read so much on here about the batiks bleeding that I decided to see if they did - and boy, did they. I have a pure white dish pan in my kitchen sink and one day it was empty and clean - so I put a drop or two of liquid detergent in the pan with just a little bit of water and gently swished around the fabric - I would then rinse until the water was clear - sometimes it took many, many rinses to become clear. I laid them on big thick towels and rolled them up and then put the fabric over a clothes line that I had my DH to put up in my living room. It did not take them very long to air dry and they did not wrinkle very much either. I would say that a good 1/2 of them did bleed. I actually had to throw away two of them as they never did stop bleeding.

bigdogmom

I am really afraid now to try my new batik jelly rolls I got from sew batik at Cincinnati show. How do you pre wash them????

auntpiggylpn

Another QB member posted some time back that to wash jelly roll strips and other pre cuts she would hand wash them in the sink, trying not to manhandle them to much but to get all the extra dye and chemicals out, rinsed them well until there wasn't any color to the rinse water then put them in a salad spinner and gave them a spin to get most of the water out. Then layed flat to dry and pressed. I haven't tried this personally but I thought it was a clever idea. I keep my eyes peeled at garage sales as I am looking for a salad spinner. I don't really need a brand new one to spin fabric!

PS - I had never heard of Sew Batik and just went to their website. They have gorgeous fabrics! I have never seen or heard of batik flannels! a bit pricey at $11.49 a half yard but pretty just the same!

mcdaniel023

I might be totally insane or very brave. I never prewash. I dislike ironing of wrinkled fabric so much that if I had to do it all the time, I would not enjoy the quilting process and would probably quit. I doubt that, but I really don't like washing and ironing new fabric and like the feel of the not washed fabric.
I bought a batik jelly roll from a board member. It was not prewashed. I made a beautiful braid lap quilt with it and some other batiks that I purchased (joanne's and lqs). When I was finished I washed it in cold water with three color catchers and LOTS of water. It turned out beautiful. This quilt was mine to keep.
Am I recommending my method...nope. I am just sharing my experience.