I was just wondering. I've not done too much with batiks but i have noticed that usually the batiks are about a dollar to three dollars higher per yard than other fabrics. Why is this?

Batiks are much more labor intensive to produce.

And even though I'm sure those workers aren't getting any minimum wage we'd recognize, the "allure" and "uniqueness" of the fabrics get passed along.

The batiks offered to quilters are actually pretty simple when compared with the incredibly complex designs - really one-of-kind fabrics - also produced.

I know the artists who produce the stamps are really respected. I think they're top man in the batik hierarchy. ;-)

I had a link showing the production but I can't find it now. I'll keep looking. It's a really amazing sight to see.

batiks are made by hand- no 2 alike---lots of variation on a single bolt. they are not printed- mass produced in a factory- the process is much more labor intensive...and the beginning stock is a tighter weave fabric than the basic cottons you are used to using- a higher thread count- *(cost more just like sheets with higher thread counts cost more)

Thanks! Explains a lot. I wondered that it must be something like that.