To each his own. I like batiks, but don't care for calicos. Doesn't mean that either is wrong.
There are just too many fabrics out there to worry about not carring for something that someone else likes.

I love the color, the blends, and the movement of these fabrics. No -- I don't like them all. But then I don't like ALL of any specific kind of fabric. I don't have many but wish I had lots more.

I am not overly fond of them either. I have used some in different quilts but usually only because I needed that particular color blend to work with the other fabrics I am using.

The batiks fabric for the majority of US manufactures don't have a clue of what a batik fabric is. If you reseach outside of the US, they are 100% cotton, so soft, so supple you don't even have to iron the fabric. No wrinklinng, so wash and dry, you'd think they have polylester in them but they are 100% cotton. I think from my own experience, they are a lighter weight cotton, yet 100% cotton for the warmer climates and they are truely remarkable fabric. Whenever I travel overseas, I look at all the fabric stores...so different.

I wouldn't call you defective because you don't like batiks any more than I would want to be called defective because I don't like Amy Butler or Kaffe Fassett or calico. Quilting has such diversity about it...choice or patterns, fabrics, machine or handquilting, methods, etc. Personally, I love, love, love, love batiks...also Orientals, novelties, florals, etc.

I LOVE batiks...they finger press beautifully,they smell wonderful, they do not fray, they have no "wrong" side, each yard is unique, they do not shrink.
Only bad side...they SHOULD be pre-washed as some do bleed. Yet, I have used them unwashed and have not had any bleeding.
That said...they are very $$$$ pricey so I save every little scrap.
I feel it is a personal preference...like your favorite color or type of print fabrics you prefer. Some like 30's fabrics, some don't.
Give them a chance...
XOXOXOXO Subee
http://www.subeesews.blogspot.com

I have seen some gorgeous quilts made of batik fabrics, but have only made one quilt using them. I make mostly scrap quilts, but don't think that the batiks fit in well with other fabrics, they seem to work best when the quilt is only batik...at least that is my opinion.

I once bought a batik fabric to make a dress in Texas, and discovered that it doesn't breathe, because a true batik is created by waxing the "do not dye" areas, much like we used to wax an egg to prevent dye dye from taking in that area. So I think it's kinda like a tie dye... Each color added is "waxed" differently. Gorgeous color patterns, but dense weave.

I thought I was the only one that doesn't like batiks. They do make beautiful quilts, but they have never "spoken" to me.

I LOVE batiks, I love the colors and the way they have such character to them. I love to make quilts with lots of colors and they just blend into each other.

Send your unwanted Batiks to Me!!! I love using batiks in my quilts and clothing too. I love bright colors and batiks have those.

Gee, no one will yell at you!

Everyone has their likes and dislikes, it is what makes us all individuals. Some of us love batiks but not thimbleberries and vice versa. or any other variety of fabrics.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

I love batiks! I like the bright colors and they make me feel good. I love the Bali pops and have made several lap quilts for Alzheimer's patients. I'd like to think they recognize the bright colors and feel good when they look at them.

When I walk into what I call a "brown" quilt shop (Debbie Mum, Thimbleberries, traditional county fabric) I get depressed and leave quickly. However, when I enter a quilt shop and see great colors I am upbeat and tend to stay longer and spend more money in this type of shop.

I agree totally! I don't like muted colors, they just look muddy to me.

To each his own - buy what you like.There's room for it all.

I love batiks :-D I use them as everyone else uses blenders. The ones I choose have very little design more marbley. Anyway they have been going in my quilts for several years :thumbup:

I felt the same way you did about Batiks and never appreciated them for their value. They are very unique but I feel they don't mix well with other fabrics .. .they belong together. I DO LOVE that they are reversible and it doesn't matter which way you put them. No worrying about right side/ wrong side. I also love unusual designs so my taste for these has developed.

I feel the same way SPIFFY. I love a bright shop. The dark or as you call them, "brown" shops kind of depress me a bit. I tend to gravitate torward shops that are bright, carry good variation and texture and not just traditional shops. My favs are the ones that have it ALL.

I agree with you on this point. Don't like to mix my batiks and other cottons.

I have grown to love them. They are also wonderful for applique. the colors are so beautiful.

Love them but don't like hand piecing/quilting them. I use them when I'm planning to machine piece/quilt. Like them a lot for wall quilts.

I grew to appreciate them after I found out what the process of dying the batiks is. Most of the work is done by hand with stamps. I like to use batiks for some quilt patters because they do not stretch as much.

My scrap quilts have all sorts of quilting fabrics in them(not flannels). I make flannel quilts too.

I just started to use them I never understood them either
but I did this lighthouse quilt (I am still working on it)
and I like how it resembles water

I did sneak a few, maybe one or two in with my charm apple core quilt I am cutting for now. I am not sure how they will play out once I lay it out. We will see.

You know Margaret, my wallet is much thinner as well, and since joining this board, there are so many things I never knew I liked before either. I'm still on the fence with batiks however.

I love batiks!! The colors, designs are fantastic. I prefer working with them to regular prints. The Bali Pop stips in all different colors make into beautiful quilt tops even when using a basic pattern. Yes, there are some that I don't like, but 90% I love!

I've been quilting for 30+ years and have used everything from cotton blends & old clothes to the nice cottons we now can get. I started stashing batiks after a trip to a Hawaian quilt shop where I learned a lot more about how they are made. Many times the paint has built up as the layers are added which can make them feel heavy or scratchy and bleed when washed. Also, if they are triple dyed (my favorite) the lightest color is added on first, then release (wax) is put on where the next color is not wanted. This can happen several times allowing each color to show through. Of course, if you've ever done any watercolor painting (not on fabric :), you know how washes are created by putting paint on a wet surface so it pools & blends. Then a sprinkle of salt for little dots of more intense color here and there.

It's quite a process -- and does add a density to the fabric. So, the first lesson is to wash 3 times as someone noted in a previous post, and make sure the rinse comes out clear before you stop. Go ahead and dry this fabric -- it has been washed and dried many times while it's on the stretcher and doesn't seem to fray much at all. I've also noted that the grain is straighter so there is less fraying when you work with anything on the bias.

So, in the middle of my closet of frabic is a shelf of loved batiks. My first finished project with them was a purse done in strips. Loads of fun playing with the colors. Hope you try them.

I felt the same way about batiks until I went to this HUGE fabric warehouse in Gastonia, NC. They have rows and rows of different batiks! The way they were lined up by color were so eye-catching! From the hottest yellows and reds to the deepest, coolest purples...in short...I was hooked!

I can't get into batiks either!

Do you know anybody like me, who likes to put together landscape quilts? Maybe you could swap fabric with her? Some of those muddy colors look good in tree trunks and branches -and patches of earth.

I think you are right, though, those muddy colors do not add anything to geometrical patterns.

A friend sent me a large parcel of Batiks from Bali about 10 years ago. I made the first batch into dog quilts for my two little loves. They have been washed weekly, sometimes more, and still look new. This made me a believer. I now use batiks in almost every quilt and always in my binding as it wears so well and is so tightly woven. It is gorgeous to use in applique as it makes flowers come to life with their shadings. Great in landscapes. Love it!

I am with you on this one. I am not fond of batiks. I do not like the stiffness.

Almost any pattern can be made with batiks.
Especially scrappy quilts, like uneven 8 pointed stars.
One secret to using batiks is to buy many clear bright colors. Try using fat quarters only!
Another is to use only colors of all the same values.
Don't follow the rules...leave out the darks and lights.
The darks and lights make visual "holes" .
A quilt made of many medium value bright colors mixed together can be as attractive as a flower garden.

I like all fabrics. I particularly love batiks. I love the rich colors and tones. I like that they can be trans gender. In other words you can make one that is feminine yet not "girlie" and the same for a guy. I made a couple of these for my son and his partner, but my daughters loved them too. Here are a few that I have made in the last 8 months.

Don't care for them
Everyone has different tastes in things, Batiks are just not my thing. I do like tye dye though.

Not all batiks are stiff, usually its the lower quality fabrics.

Here's 2 quilt tops made from batiks. The pattern is from
"Layer 'em Up" by Sharyn Craig.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo...45965719NSQHvs

Sharon W.

if you don't like it then don't try and make yourself like it. lots of fabric out there to use instead. Son't sweat it and don't feel guilty
I'll know not to invite you to my work room as I have 60 bolts, about 90 1 yd cuts and three file boxes full.

I like patterns made with batiks..but, yes, I don't like them much either. I am making 2 right now with batks and they are not my favorites. I hope the recipients will be happy as they chose them....just not my style.