oh boy, I have done it now!!! Bought some lovely beige fabric from Hobby Lobby in Elhart, Indiana in July thinking I bought enough for the project I am working on. WRONG! Now, I am searching all over the place for this exact shade of beige - who knew there were so many shades of beige!!! Anyway, at Joann's yesterday, the gal helping me told me about a Hobby Lobby in Sterling Heights, MI that is about 1/2 hour drive from me. I will go there today and hope I can match it.
On the way home from Joann's, I stopped by the LQS thinking they might have some, but they carry very little solid colors of fabric.
While I was there, I was fondling the new batiks she has just gotten in... when I got home, my hand stunk!!! Oh my - it really STUNK! Have you ever experienced batiks that smell?? I am glad I didn't buy any.

Hmmm, I haven't noticed this before. Will have to check this out.

It is the dye, when it is washed it should wash out the odor.

NO - just hand washed and line dried over 200 different pieces of batik and none of them stunk at all. I started buying fat quarters for a quilt that needed 30 different fat quarters and then discovered how beautiful they were - so then started buying 1/2 yard cuts - just counted after drying and sorted the colors and have over 200. BTW - had to throw away two pieces as they never did stop bleeding.

It may be the difference in where they are made. I did have some pieces that had an odor but it washed out.

BTW, is line drying just your preferred method? I usually dry mine in the dryer.

Yuck!!! :?

It is likely some part of the dye process. Or a friend was telling me that years ago she got some Thai silk that had a terrible odor as it had apparently been sprayed for bugs somewhere in the import/export process.

Ugh! that just leaves a bad feeling...

BTW, is line drying just your preferred method? I usually dry mine in the dryer.[/quote]

Guess that I was afraid that they might fray too much if tossed in the dryer. We have a fireplace in the corner of our living room and we have hooks on two sides so that we can put up a clothes line to dry things in the winter when the fireplace is on - so had DH to put up the clothesline and I "washed" evey piece of batik that I have been buying for the past year - "washed" in a white kitchen dishpan - just swished around a bit with a little soap - then rinsed until the water ran clear - then had lots of big fluffy towels on the kitchen counters and rolled up the fabric in towels and then just put on the clothes lines - no clothes pins needed. Very little ironing will be needed when I get around to making a quilt out of them. I could do about 3 "clothesline loads" a day and it took me a week to do all of them. DH now fully appreciates how beautiful that these batiks are after seeing them all displayed in the living room for a week!

If you dont find what your looking for let me know. I only live about 25mins from that Hobby Lobby. I can go check for you.

Guess that I was afraid that they might fray too much if tossed in the dryer. We have a fireplace in the corner of our living room and we have hooks on two sides so that we can put up a clothes line to dry things in the winter when the fireplace is on - so had DH to put up the clothesline and I "washed" ever piece of batik that I have been buying for the past year - "washed" in a white kitchen dishpan - just swished around a bit with a little soap - then rinsed until the water ran clear - then had lots of big fluffy towels on the kitchen counters and rolled up the fabric in towels and then just put on the clothes lines - no clothes pins needed. Very little ironing will be needed when I get around to making a quilt out of them. I could do about 3 "clothesline loads" a day and it took me a week to do all of them. DH now fully appreciates how beautiful that these batiks are after seeing them all displayed in the living room for a week![/quote]

Sounds neat, I have lots of batiks I just have had shelved waiting for the right quilt pattern.. This diffidently a winter project for me.

Probably the dye. It should wash out.

Hobby Lobby also has an online store.

I was just at that Hobby Lobby this morning ;-). beware, lots of road construction.
I've got lots and lots of batiks from different manufacturers. None have an odor!

I have never had a problem with that & I have bought batiks all over the place, lol. I do wash & dry & iron them ASAP, like with all of my fabrics. I have found using the 15 minute 'fluff' setting working good for drying without overdrying.

Thank you! That is so kind of you. I did find some that will work... the shade is just slightly off and since I had only done a few, it is no problem to start over with the new "beige". I bought way more than I will need just to be sure I have enough. Got a 40% off coupon online last night and even though it was already on sale at 30% off the gal said I could use the 40% instead.

Thank you! That is so kind of you. I did find some that will work... the shade is just slightly off and since I had only done a few, it is no problem to start over with the new "beige". I bought way more than I will need just to be sure I have enough. Got a 40% off coupon online last night and even though it was already on sale at 30% off the gal said I could use the 40% instead. Wish JoAnn's would allow that. I was really impressed with that Hobby Lobby store... will definately go back when I have more time to browse.