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. )