I think there are some very pretty batiks and some very ugly ones too, i dont' care for them all, but some i love.

I have not made anything with them yet but I got some of Connecting Threads and I really like them just trying to figure out what to make, so many patterns can't make up my mind.

Terri

I don't care for batiks either and have only 1 fat quarter in my stash and that's only because it was in a grab bag given at one of the shop hops :oops:

I love them, it's mostly visual. As for machine quilting them, I have no problem. I dislike printed fabrics since I started using batiks...they just look amateurish to me. Batiks speak to me, visually they flow like water, they're earthy to me. Yeah, maybe I'm nuts. LOL

I have really never liked batiks either

I use batiks in applique quilts, gives shading & blending for florals,, the stiffnes does help with fraying, & I agree, they are harder to needle, I change needles more often when working with them.

I think it's like everything else, the quality of the fabric is important. The better companies do sell nice fabric, while discount shops often sell the lower quality.

I love them for applique, they don't ravel and there is no right or wrong side. Some think they are too dense to hand quilt but I found using a quality needle they applique like butter and hold a sharp crease line. I test all the dark colors ones for bleeding but so far haven't had a problem.

I love batiks! Their bright colors brighten up many of my quilts! I usually hand dye a lot of my fabric, though, so I can control the quality of the fabric. I agree that many of the batiks are thin, or stiff, or fade a lot. That is why/how I got into dyeing my own.

I don't use them alot, but I do like them...They ravel very little, you don't have to worry about a wrong or right side....As far as the stiffness, I like that, makes sewing the pieces together easier, at least I think it does....Batiks have many wonderful colors, I especially love the jewel tone Batiks....A friend of mine is in Bali, Indonesia on vacation and will be bringing me some back.....:)

San
FL

The best advice I ever had was from a quilt teacher, Nancy Lee Chong. She said to wash three times the first with Cinthrapal(sp)then two more times and then press and use. The fabric has more threads per inch and has such brilliant colors.