I purchased alot of batik fat quarters at the Maine Show this weekend. Now I would like to know if anyone has advice on washing them besides using the Shout color catcher sheets. Any advice is welcome.
Thanks

I never wash any of my fabric - even batiks. If they are red or purple you can just cut off a small piece and put it in a jar of water to see if it bleeds. Newer batiks don't seem to bleed like the old ones.

I never prewash my fabrics either. I just finished a baby quilt with batiks and I just put in a color catcher when I washed it and it came out perfect.

Same here-don't prewash. One of the reasons I like working with batiks is the feel of the fabric. I've never had them bleed but do test the reds and when I do wash the finished quilt I use a color-catcher. I've never had them bleed or discolor the color-catcher.

I haven't had any problems with batiks, but I still wash them. To get rid of smells, like from shipping, plastics, or even the quilt shop. Just kind of sensitive.

My batiks have bled a LOT. So I bought some Retayne. Just put a little in the wash, prewash 'em, and you're all set.

I use alot of batiks and they are really bad for bleeding , they bleed and bleed. The darker the color the worse it seems.
Color catchers will in the wash work once the excess dye is released into the water. If you machine wash a quilt that has not been treated and there is a bleeder ... and you leave the quilt after the cycles are completed , moisture can still have the colors migrate.
I strongley urge you to get to the bleeders before you make a quilt. I let the batiks sit in water for at least an hour to test for bleeding , as some still have a good deal of resist remaining. It can be surprising .. leave it for 15 minutes and you may be tempted to think ... no problem.... come back in a hour and swish it around ... and you wonder if there is any color left in the fabric.
All the manufactures have this issue in the various batik lines, there is not a one that I can say has solved the problem.
Do use Retayne. It only requires a teaspoon per yard. It is SOOO worth it.
It always makes me wonder ... if we can put a man on the moon .... why can't we make fabrics that do not run?!!! And if there is a process that can prevent it ... why can that not be on the bolt so we know we can purchase with confidence?!!! Sorry I just get carried away on this topic.

I use batiks all the time and have never had any bleed.
The first several dozen that I purchased I tested and not one of them bleed in testing.
Now all the batiks I have purchased have been from major manufacturers. I don't know about the ones that have been hand dyed by individuals that dye and print their own.

I always prewash batiks with Retayne. It locks in the color instead of just dealing with colors floating around in the water after it's left the fabric. Treats the cause, not just the symptom. :D

Check out the Dharma Trading Company.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/en...chemicals.html

This is good stuff. Color catchers are OK for some things but I really don't trust them for hand dyed or fabrics. I figure if I'm going to spend that kind of money I want to make sure I don't get "muddy" or faded results in the end.

Thanks for the input on Batiks. I will definitely buy some Retayne. I have had several Batiks bleed color, especially the reds, purples and dark blues. For me, I do not wash my fabrics that go in wall hangings, or purses; anything I know I will not wash. Good luck. :wink:

Be aware that some batiks can transfer color just by rubbing on another fabric. You may want to test that with the ones you do not plan to pre-wash.

I have never had a problem with my batiks bleeding.

I put fat quarters in a lingerie bag and use synthropol. Just a cap full in a small load. This works even better than the color catcher sheets and especially for batiks! I have only found bottles of synthopol at quilt stores.

mmmm-some say they never have bleeding, some say they always bleed. Do you think it is the quality of fabric?? How do you know? I just bought batik FQ's at Joann's-does anyone know if those will bleed or will I be ok not pre-washing?

I have not had a bleed issue ever. But when I make something especially with batik I don't want to take the chance of a bleed after is all put together. Batiks are the ones that I definitly alway wash before hand even fat quarters. You just never know. I have only had horror stories from others and I don't want one of my own.

I prewash the same way as ghostrider but I also put in a color catcher in my wash with the retayne

the batiks i've seen from Joannes DO BLEED AND SHRINK! be sure and at least test before using. if you are leaning toward not prewashing a test should be done...
quality does make a huge difference in the properties of batiks, joannes batiks are nothing like hoffman bali batiks. all batiks should be tested for color fastness. and the ones dyed on (less expensive) looser weaved fabrics will shrink along with bleeding.
ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

When it comes to batiks there is no way of knowing for absolute certainty!
Some of the "batiks" that are sold at Joann's are not true batiks, that is they are not dyed in the same manner... but again there is no way of being absolutey sure of what process was used. But them in a sink of warm water ...swish them around a bit you will know in an hour exacty what you have.
It is not the quality of the fabric and the dyes can be made colorfast but not if using a traditional batik method. ... it is the method/process used that causes the running/bleeding in batik fabrics. I have had some of the worst running and bleeding in Hoffman "watercolor" collection batiks.
I think if we can purchase Retayne or similiar why is it the manufactures are not doing this as part of there process? Why does the consumer have to take this step?