Working with Batiks. What Are Some Differences Vs. Regular Cottons?
 

I like to sprinkle a few batik fabrics into my quilts, so now I have quite a stash of batiks that I've been trying to diminish. Over the years, I've noticed quite a few differences in working with batiks, verses other quilting cottons.

- They're two-sided. At least they look that way to me. I can't tell the front from the back.
- They can bleed. I still throw all caution to the wind and don't prewash them. (Am I bad?) :(
- They're generally thinner fabric than regular Q cottons.
- They don't stretch as much as other Q cottons.
- I tend to create folds and puckers when I machine quilt them. Probably because they're thinner. They mistakenly fold and slip under the walking foot more easily....grrrr.
- They are more expensive than my "bargain basement" Q cottons that I usually buy.
- They can really brighten up a quilt in an instant!

What else have you found out by working with batiks?

~ C

I'll go between yours ...........

- They're two-sided. At least they look that way to me. I can't tell the front from the back. Agree .... in most cases. Often times there is a difference where the pattern is not as predominant on one side or the other. If I am concerned, I mark what I am using as the backside with a safety pin, so I know without having to argue with myself later!

- They can bleed. I still throw all caution to the wind and don't prewash them. (Am I bad?) :( Only you can answer that one! :) ..... Lots of non-batiks can bleed too. Just as some batiks do not.

- They're generally thinner fabric than regular Q cottons.
- They don't stretch as much as other Q cottons. They have a much tighter weave. As a result, fraying and stretching are minimized.

- I tend to create folds and puckers when I machine quilt them. Probably because they're thinner. They mistakenly fold and slip under the walking foot more easily....grrrr. Perhaps conquer that with better sandwich prep with more stability from the spray or basting you do?

- They are more expensive than my "bargain basement" Q cottons that I usually buy.Lately I have noticed that a lot of batiks are less $ than the new-stocked regular quilting cottons. There is such a variety of batiks, that many stores do not truly offer a good selection. Some LQS' in fact do not "like" batiks and just don't stock them.

- They can really brighten up a quilt in an instant! Yes indeed! .... but so can a lot of regular quilting cottons.

What else have you found out by working with batiks? The more that I work with them or see them used by others, the more I appreciate them. I love the tonal variances that batiks can offer, whether TOTs or multi-coloureds. They can present some amazing chameleon backgrounds and constants.

Thanks for the tips. I certainly have to agree with you on that. I think that their chameleon character is what makes them so much fun to work with.

~ C

Absolutely! :)
Surprises await you with every snip and stitch.

Sometimes they don't show up, until the fabric has been chopped up and put back together again!

I was taught in home ec many years ago the way to tell the right side of fabric is to feel it. The smoothest side is the right side. I bought some from Walmart, don't know if I have used it yet or not. I never buy batiks. I use other blenders and don't worry about them bleeding.

Does anyone know how they machine quilt? I heard somewhere that they are harder to stitch but have no idea if it's true or not. I'm a beginner to FMQ that's why I'm asking. I have some lovely batiks I want to work with. Thanks!

I have had problems with needles becoming dull very quickly when sewing batiks. I adore them--as the two shelves worth in my sewing room can attest to--but have found them hard to sew.

I have just discovered microtex needles and find that they sew thru batiks much better than my regular needles. Then, a few days ago, I started making a bag using Bosal interfacing--you know the stuff that makes your bags really really hold their shape? Today, I was doing the side seams, so I had to go thru 6 layers of fabric ( front, side and pocket plus 3 layers of lining fabric) 2 layers of Bosal, and a layer of the thinner batting I had used for the pocket. That microtex needle went thru it all with no problem at all. It will definitely be my go-to needle now.

I have had no problem machine quilting batiks. I use a vintage Singer 301 machine with size 12 needles that I purchased on ebay at 100 for $9.99. I do prewash my batiks.

I have a queen size WIP that I drag out now and again and work on that is all Batiks. I've never noticed it being anymore difficult to sew through.
I always wash my batiks and I usually hand wet and squeeze the dark colours to get the majority of the dye out if they bleed, before I wash them.

Watson

I mostly hand quilt and have no problem quilting through batiks. I also prefer microtex needles for sewing them on the machine.