Tips For Quilting With Batik Fabric
Visit any quilt or fabric shop and you are bound to come across the batik section. For people who don’t know, batik is a process of dyeing fabric using a wax resist method. Batiks have been around for a long time. While there is evidence that batiks date back to Egyptian times, the island of Java in Indonesia is best known for it. Today, batiks are made by many fabric manufacturers and are popular in the quilting world. If you plan on using them, here are 10 tips for quilting with batik fabric.
Note that these are general tips that I have come up with after quilting for about 30 years. Every batik, and every user, is different.
1. Front Versus Back of Fabric
If you’ve ever had batiks, you will know that it can be difficult to figure out which side is the front and which side is the back. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. You don’t have to worry about sewing your fabric pieces together correctly. However, on many batiks, there are some signs that can help you identify the wrong or right side of the fabric.
Tiny spots are a good indicator of the wrong side (the back) of the fabric. That’s where the wax did not go through the fabric.
Dull edges on the pattern typically indicate the wrong side.
Vibrance of colors is also a good way to tell the wrong from the right side. The wrong side doesn’t always have quite as much saturation as the front.
2. Weight or Feel of the Fabric
Batiks are a tighter weave and have a heavier feel to them. For many people, they feel stiff. Even after being washed, they don’t tend to drape softly like traditional quilting fabric.
If included in a quilt that is used and washed, that stiffness does go away.
3. Fabric Bleeding
Many batiks have a tendency to bleed, or lose color, more than traditional quilting fabrics. That is definitely something to keep in mind when using batiks in quilts, and it is recommended to prewash them to get out some of that excess dye.
4. Pressing Issues
Because of their tighter weave, batiks can be harder to press. I have found that they wrinkle a bit more. However, once pressed, that denser texture means they are crisp and easy to sew with. I use a fair amount of steam when pressing batiks.
5. Odor
Some batiks have a distinct odor to them which does seem to lessen over time. I notice a wax smell more when I am pressing the fabric.
6. Expensive versus Inexpensive
Fabrics are a personal choice and, while there are definite differences between expensive and inexpensive batiks, it’s ultimately up to the user to decide what they want to quilt with. However, in general, I have found that inexpensive batiks have a looser weave and less vibrant patterns and colors. They just don’t seem to have that traditional batik feel.
7. Colors
My favorite characteristic of batiks is their saturated color. Don’t get me wrong, regular cotton quilting fabric comes in incredible colors, but batiks have a certain depth of color that isn’t found in other fabrics.
8. Use in Appliqué
Because of the tighter weave, batiks don’t fray as much as some other fabrics. That makes them good for appliqué. A word of caution here however. Because of the tighter weave, I find them a little bit trickier to use for needle turn appliqué.
9. Hand Quilting and Batiks
I have hand quilted through batiks and, while it can be done, it is definitely more difficult. The fabric weave accounts for that. It is definitely something to keep in mind when choosing fabrics for a quilt that you plan on hand quilting.
10. Combining Batiks and Other Quilting Cottons
I have made many quilts combining batiks with other quilting cotton fabrics, and have never had a problem. However, batiks tend not to shrink as much as some other cotton quilting fabric, so you may want to prewash all of your fabric to avoid any shrinkage after the quilt is done.
Give Batiks a Try
There you have it, 10 tips for quilting with batik fabric. Over the years I have found that most people either love or hate the fabric. The people who I have spoken to that dislike batiks often say it is because of the feel of the fabric, and I can understand that.
However, I urge everyone to give batiks a try. With their glorious colors and crisp pressed texture, they make stunning quilts.
Items You Can Use To Make This Project
You can find many of the items that I used to make this project in my Amazon Store.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Batiks Are Not Just For Quilts
Batik fabric is beautiful in almost any project. Check out my patchwork infinity scarf pattern which looks terrific in batiks.
23 Comments
Sandy Trachsel
August 15, 2019 at 5:52 PMThanks Claudia. I love batik fabrics, but did not know much about them. Your article is quite informative.
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
August 15, 2019 at 8:23 PMThanks Sandy – I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
Pamela
February 20, 2020 at 12:15 AMBatiks are definitely unique in every way, the process, the colors, feel and the denseness of the feel. Absolutely my favorite choice. Done with black, it makes the colors even more vibrant.
Joanne
March 24, 2021 at 3:20 PMHow do I wash precut batik bundles like jelly rolls, etc… Or should I even wash them at all?
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
April 1, 2021 at 8:23 AMIt’s up to you if you wash them or not. I do like to prewash my fabrics. I use a lingerie laundry bag for precuts so they don’t get tossed around as much. I suggest testing a strip or two first so that you see what the results are. Then you can decide if you want to prewash or not. Thanks for stopping by.
Christine
March 30, 2023 at 4:36 PMSo much to learn and experience with fabric. Thank you for the lesson.
Eileen Benson
September 20, 2019 at 2:30 PMIt was helpful when you said that dull pattern edges will indicate which is the reverse side. I want to buy some batik fabrics online to use for a family quilt. Your tips should be helpful once I start working with the fabric!
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
September 23, 2019 at 7:41 AMThanks for reading and enjoy making your quilt.
Beverley Williamson
June 3, 2020 at 3:07 PMI have just opened by pack of strips in Bali Pops and was so excited at the depth of the colours I feel I need to make something special with it so I think I will treat myself to a quilt … it will be the first one I will have made for me. Wish me luck and thank you for the tips they were very helpful indeed.
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
June 4, 2020 at 7:29 AMOh that sounds like fun and I do love my batiks. Thanks for stopping by the website.
Nancy
June 7, 2020 at 6:42 PMThis is a good summary of the characteristics of batiks. It’s good to keep in mind hat even with their saturated colors, they will fade from light and washing them too often. As said, they do soften up with use.
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
June 8, 2020 at 7:30 AMThank you. I definitely love my batiks. I’m starting a new table runner today with a jelly roll of batiks. Fun!
Maggie
January 17, 2023 at 5:44 PMLike you, I love the color saturation and combinations that you can only get with a batik. I have been collecting material and patterns that i like for a while. I have a nice collection but I haven’t decided on a patten yet. I came across your article in pinterest when I was looking for batik quilts for inspiration. Thank you for the education! Now i can start on the right foot. ❤️
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
January 20, 2023 at 8:46 AMI love batiks so much and that color saturation can’t be beat. Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!
Kathy Harvey
June 22, 2023 at 8:36 AMI’m concerned with my batik fabric. I got jelly rolls and some fat quarters to make a quilt along with black Pima cotton strips. The texture and feel of the batik is thinner and doesn’t run through the machine as well. Am I doing something wrong? It doesn’t seem like it will hold up for years in a quilt
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
June 23, 2023 at 7:42 AMHmm…I don’t know if I can help you. Batiks are usually easy to sew with and hold up really well. I do use a finer needle when I’m sewing with them. Maybe do a little test and wash it a few times and see how it holds up. Best of luck!
Arlene
October 7, 2022 at 3:18 PMWhat is the best needle to use in your machine when sewing with batik fabric ?
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
October 30, 2022 at 7:30 AMA fine sharp needle like Microtex works really well with batiks.
Helen
February 9, 2023 at 9:34 PMThank you for the information. I purchased 40 strips of lovely colors and am putting them with white. I really don’t like the thought of washing the strips first and wish I had seen your article sooner.
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
February 12, 2023 at 6:49 AMThanks for stopping by. Enjoy quilting with those strips!
Eleanor Raap
June 29, 2023 at 3:51 PMThanks for the best batik article. For those of us who accumulate them for our quilting stash, what is the best way to store them until ready to use in a quilt?
createwithclaudia_7j76hs
July 10, 2023 at 7:39 AMthanks for reading. I store mine the same way I do my other fabrics. I do keep them separate however I will use them together with other quilting fabrics in quilts.
Jane Ramey
October 21, 2023 at 1:03 PMBatiks don’t stretch much so not a good choice for Double Wedding Ring quilts, that I learned to my horror.