quiltsfor

I've been reading the thread about batiks in the 'In Search Of' forum. I curious about what I've been reading about the batiks not wearing/lasting as long as regular quilting cotton. I'm wondering how much they have changed since the 2005, as ibex94 posted that they didn't make it through the hurricane flood waters but the regular cotton did.

I also wondering if some of the 'newer' batiks are more of quilter cotton with the batiks color designs or if they are the old actual batiks fabric that has changed for the better. Some of the batiks I have are so thin and flimsy while others with batiks in their pre-cut package label are a heavier fabric like the regular quilter's cotton.

sewingpup

Like all fabrics, there are batiks and then there are batiks. I usually stick with the ones in quilt shops, not the chain stores. I have bought batiks that would not hold their color. I have gotten some that really shrink. Hence the sticking with the batiks in the quilt shops and preferable one that has been open for a while and who has carried a specific brand of batik for a while as they would not be carrying a product that has been a problem for them. I don't use batiks all that often, they are pretty. But they have a stiffer feel for me, and I prefer to use quilts made of regular quilting cotton.

Onebyone

I read that the process to make batiks is very harsh on the fabric. Of course quilters saw how pretty it was and put them in a quilt and a new industry was born for batiks. The article said batiks disintegrates as it was never intended to be anything but pretty and serviceable goods for the market place stalls. I guess if quilts made from batik are kept in a museum they are not in danger for falling apart. I guess time will tell from the first quilts made from batiks.

cashs_mom

I agree with Sewingpup. Like as fabrics, not all batiks are created equal. I used batiks back in the day to make clothing that has been washed a lot. I never had any problem with the fabrics disintegrating. All fabrics are subjected to harsh chemicals when they are produced. Thus the strong formaldehyde smell when they are first opened.

tallchick

I prefer to quilt with Batiks, they are a dream to work with. I have a throw quilt on my couch that is made with all Batiks, it is 7 years old and has been washed once a week for the last 7 years. It holds it’s color and looks as new as they day it came off the longarm, and it is even softer than another all cotton throw I have that has also been washed weekly for 7 years.

IBEX stated in her post that her Batiks were flooded and soaking in contaminated water that contained possible toxins from discharged aerosol containers as a result of Hurricane floods. I think that ruined fabric from such a scenario is to be expected and is not a fault of a fabric. That would be like saying my Acme hairdryer is horrible because it was in a flood and no longer works. The situation created the loss, it is not a product defect. If the fabrics were so flimsy and fragile, I doubt that the manufacturers would still be in business.

sewingpup

I agree with tallchick that batiks can be wonderful to work with expectially if you are doing something with a lot of points and bias. They tend to be tighter weave and treated with more stabilizing chemicals so hold their shapes better. So, when I did my Judy Niemeyer quilts, I used batiks. The ones I made are wall quilts and will not be laundered often .

Onebyone

I like them because I don't' have to be particular for front or back side and still have pretty.

suern3

I am not worried about how long batiks will last in a quilt as I'm sure they will outlast me!

peaceandjoy

I wouldn't be concerned about good quality batiks disintegrating or deteriorating. Like any fabric, there are lots of different levels of quality. Big box stores are not as high quality. That's not to say you shouldn't use them, if you choose to.