Batiks are awesome and you should in no way be intimidated. I do find they lose a little color with the first wash because of the wax processing they go through, but it is generally minimal. A Shout color catcher in the first wash usually handles it. They are a woven a little tighter than other quilting fabrics so you may want to start you project with a fresh blade in your rotary cutter and a new needle in your sewing machine. And you can mix batiks with any other fabric in a quilt, no problem. So, sit back, relax and ENJOY!

That is wonderful!! Are you gonna share the beautiousness with us?

Love everything about batiks; the colors are absolutely stunning, and the feel of them is soooo good.

YOu should be able to get retayne at Dharma Trading online as they sell stuff for dying fabrics. I love batilks and am doing my quilt now in batiks.

Jeff

I have the same question - can they be washed all together, regardless of color?

I have about 40 fat quarters I will be using and they are all different.

Yes, I'm wondering about washing different colors together, too. I have a jelly roll of batiks and would love to know.

I am not what you would call a quilter, but I have worked with batiks because I love the color the richness and the feel. I have used them in hand applique, and they work up great. They don't ravel like a lot of fabric and when you are making small pieces in applique that is very important, they work up beautifully in piecing, I can't think of one bad thing to say about them. Batiks are the best. I am currently collecting to make two different types of quilts, one piecing and the other hand applique. Don't ever be afraid to use them, they are by far the best. Can you tell I love them lol..

I would not wash greatly different colors at the same time.

I love batiks. They are eye candy to me and the color from them just is so much more appealing to me. I think it is about the colors and the texture. With cotton fabric color is part of the attraction but then there is design, too. In the beginning, didn't care for them until I saw the Tonga line and fell in love with the various colors and color graduations. Find a block you really like, buy fat quarters to use and see how they work for you.

My sweet baby sister(59) sent me a charm pack, 8 fat quarters, and 6 1/2 yd. pieces of batiks in blues and browns. I am in heaven. Now I need some suggestions for a pattern that will show them off effectively on a queen size bed. I have researched mega sites on the web, but still.... Please help with suggestions. (And yes, I have ordered several more yards of lighter batiks to fill out the necessay yardage reqs. )

I have been buying batiks, but I haven't gotten up the nerve to work with them yet! What's wrong with me? Sounds like I am missing out.

I love batiks and use them a lot. I have never had a problem in any way. Just be sure to pre-wash.

T think the problem comes when you try to hand quilt. Tough to get the needle through.

Just grab that rotary cutter and give it a go!!! They are still making more , so no need to worry about never being able to find even more beautiful batiks.

I was told by a woman who works with batiks all of the time that they don't need to be prewashed as they have to be washed so much to get the wax out. They supposedly don't have a lot of "loose" dye left in them. Can anyone confirm this?

That is the opposite of my experience. I would not ever trust a batik not to run.

i'm making a quilt where 4 out of 5 of the fabrics are batiks and have used them with other fabrics and haven't had a problem

Ditto that, i'd always prewash, test.

I think the process does away with excess shrinage, but it does not do away with excess dye.

They are not at all difficult to use when machine piecing or machine quilting, IMHO. I absolutely love them and have made several quilts from all batik fabrics.

Couldn't you wash after construction with a color catcher?

I PREFER batiks not only for their beauty but also because I find them easier to handle whether prewashed or not. I find they don't fray easily, don't shrink, press nicely, don't need starch. I do find them a *tad* harder to hand quilt, but not much. So much better for hand appliqué, IMO.

I do.. My avatar is made from all batiks - has been washed several times, and no fading or bleeding - and I have a lot of the "Raven" black batik in her.

Haven't used them.

Where would I go to learn how to make batiks?

I join with the rest who *LOVE* batiks. I began buying fat quarters of them before I knew what a batik or fat quarter was and YEARS before I learned to quilt. I've accumulated a small stash I'm just now beginning to use. I took my first quilting class in January and headed straight to the batik section of my local quilt store to select the fabric for my quilt (top). I think it turned out beautifully and am anxious to finish it and get it up on the wall where I can proudly display it.

No one warned me about potential pre-washing problems or advised using Retayne. I've not had one issue or disaster!

I also appreciate the fact that they're less likely to fray.

You do not like them, So you say.
Try them! Try them! And you may.
Try them and you may, I say.

(credit to Dr. Seuss, Green Eggs and Ham)

Where do you get the colour catchers?

I bought mine at the local supermarket. They are made by Shout. Walmart, Kmart might have them too.

The only "problem" with batiks for me is that they are more tightly woven than quilting cotton and it dulls my quilting needles faster. Batiks are beautiful and I love them!

Question: When you use batiks, do you mix regular cotton fabric with them?

I love batiks but haven't worked much with them. I had heard they are hard to quilt by hand and not to try, but so much for that advice!

I love them ! :thumbup:

Sure, why not?

I love batiks and have used them unwashed and prewashed with no problems. I love the variety of colors and patterns. Their my personal #1 choice.

I have used batiks for years and have not had a problem. I do prewash and I would not hand quilt them. That's just my opinion. :-)

Now I know who has all those batiks I don't buy. LOL! I love seeing them in quilts, but they just don't inspire me.

I love batiks,but they are hard to work with for hand applique.
Great for machine piecing though.

I love batiks and haven't had any problems working with them. I've seen where people write and say they are hard to work with but wonder if it is the colors that they have a problem with instead of the actual fabric.

I think they are greatly improved over the years. I like to choose a good brand.
I don't have any trouble hand quilting.

They are not hard to work with, they are a tight weave which some don't like to hand quilt but I have never had a problem with it. The only problem I have had is the colors are so saturated that many times batiks only go well with other batiks. If it is small pieces it works okay but not big pieces. Jan

I am working on a q/top batik I bought, as usual I washed all -top/backing/binding , and when ironed I COULD NOT BELIEVE that it had stretched 3 inches sideways, I was HORRIFIED, a lovely lady on this board came to my rescue and told me to wash again ,towel press excess water and tumble, it went back to original size but disappointingly looks raggy.