Working With Batiks
- Debra Howard
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
April 1, 2025
What exactly are batiks?
"Batik fabric is a textile created using a wax-resist dyeing technique, where wax is applied to specific areas of the fabric to prevent dye from penetrating, resulting in a patterned design when the wax is removed"
Many of you know that I haven't always been a fan of batiks, but I thinki it was an acquired taste in my case, lol. I now absolutely love batiks, both the colors and the actual fabric. How can you not love fabric that looks like this:
But there are a few things that are interesting to note when working with batiks.
*Batiks have a tighter weave than regular quilting cottons so they often feel stiffer. It is helpful to use a finer needle when sewing with batiks to prevent larger holes in the fine weave, something like a 70/10. Using a finer weight thread will also make your stitches less visible, maybe a 50 or 60 weight.
*You may notice a bit of a "waxy" smell when your hot iron is on the fabric, this is normal.
*Speaking of ironing........I absolutely love how batik quilt blocks press so nice and flat.
*You rarely have to worry about a right and wrong side of the fabric. Due to the dying process, both sides are very similar so if you do happen to get one in your quilt upside down, it is next to impossible to notice it. The top half of the following picture is the right side of this piece of batik, and the bottom half is the wrong side.
*Although you can mix batiks and regular cottons in the same quilt, remember they may not shrink at the same rate. Batiks have usually already shrunk a little during the dying process.
*Another big plus in my opinion is that batiks don't tend to fray nearly as much as traditional cotton. Some of this is due to the tighter weave, and some of it is due to the shrinkage that occurred during the dying process.
*You may find it slightly more difficult to hand quilt a batik project, it can be done but it's definitely more work.
*Some batiks will bleed a little, especially dark colors. I have had great luck using Color Catchers the first time I wash the quilt. I typically throw in 4 if I think there are colors that will run. I have also heard a lot of quilters say they like to add Retayne to their first wash to "set" the color but I have never personally used this.
*And then there is the wax issue. If you've never worked with batiks before you may be surprised to find leftover remnants of wax still on some pieces of fabric. It can be small little pieces or sometimes a very large "chunk".
Some pieces will often often scrape off with your fingernail but if that doesn't work, then sandwiching your fabric between layers of paper towels and applying the iron to melt the wax will do the trick. Some people use newsprint as well.
***One of the other things to remember is that batik prints can vary a lot and depending on the size of your quilt pieces you may need to choose carefully. In this next picture, there are three fabrics that give an overall consistent look when cut up into 2.5 inch squares. Even the multi-colored piece on the bottom is still consistently green with gold when cut up smaller.
But the following piece of fabric will be very inconsistent when cut up in smaller squares. So if you need a consistent color theme from that particular piece of fabric you probably won't like the results.
Look at the three very distinctive colors that came from this one piece of fabric:
*Another interesting tidbit about batiks..........there is never any information on the selvage (no manufacturer, no designer name, or line name, no color lot, nothing........). So if there is a chance that you will want more, you need to record what it is when you buy it off the bolt.
If you've never worked with batik, I urge you to branch out and give it a try, I think you will enjoy it!
Twila
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