BAtiks---nice fabric?
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,967
Hi Kitty, I've made many a batik quilt and have found that they will soften up as long as they are good quality batiks. They often carry residual wax and until that is gone, they will remain a little stiffer.
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
Batiks are cotton fabrics. ( unless you bought rayon batiks)
Softness of any quilt depends on quilt top, backing, amount of quilting, number of seams, type of batting... It all plays its part. But, yes, over time the (Cotton fabric) will soften--like those new jeans that start out so stiff, then become oh so comfy.... Is the backing batik also? What batting did you use? Is the quilt densely quilted?
A densely quilted quilt with a ( firm/ dense) polyester batting may stay ( stiff/ firm) for a long time, but will still over time, with use will soften up.
I use lots of batiks, have never had a stiff quilt ( always soft) so, not sure why yours isn't... How did you launder it? I toss in washer, warm water, detergent, gentle cycle, then toss into dryer, medium heat, regular cycle... Cozy soft, fluffy quilt comes out...
Softness of any quilt depends on quilt top, backing, amount of quilting, number of seams, type of batting... It all plays its part. But, yes, over time the (Cotton fabric) will soften--like those new jeans that start out so stiff, then become oh so comfy.... Is the backing batik also? What batting did you use? Is the quilt densely quilted?
A densely quilted quilt with a ( firm/ dense) polyester batting may stay ( stiff/ firm) for a long time, but will still over time, with use will soften up.
I use lots of batiks, have never had a stiff quilt ( always soft) so, not sure why yours isn't... How did you launder it? I toss in washer, warm water, detergent, gentle cycle, then toss into dryer, medium heat, regular cycle... Cozy soft, fluffy quilt comes out...
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,111
Hello, I have not used batiks much, but the quilt that is here on the couch next to me has batiks and they are soft as cotton. I don't know about the thread count. I don't know what quality batiks these are.. I purchased these from Fabric.com
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 166
I'm sure it is cotton batik. I used Warm and Natural all cotton batting. I have a beautiful all cotton backing on it also. It is not densely quilted and I have only washed it once. Im going to wash it a few more times and see what happens.
Based on the replies I expect it so soften up!!
Based on the replies I expect it so soften up!!
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 4,582
To me, batiks do have a slightly different feel or "hand" to them...batiks seem to be more tightly woven of smoother, thinner threads, so overall batiks feel smoother and 'slicker' to me. I just made my first quilt with batiks and after washing the first time it didn't seem quite as soft to me as other newly washed regular cotton quilts, so I understand your question. But I made mine for a gift so don't have it any more to know how it will change over time. I love the colors though, so will make another. Let us know how yours "ages"!
#8
Batiks are my favorites and they do soften over time. However, depending on the manufacturer, just like "regular" cottons, there can be a difference in stiffness. The batting can also make a difference in the feel.
#10
My favorite lap quilt is all batiks. It's 1 year old anniversary is December 31 It's been washed 2-3 times now and yes ... they get WONDERFULLY soft to the hand! Very smooth, but not 'slick' like satin. It's a wonderful feel!!
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