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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: MaryW
Date: 02-11-2005, 12:35 PM (1 of 30)
Let's discuss fabric. We all have some.  Each week we will discuss a different fabric. If we all tell what we know about a specific fabric, we can educate each other. For the next 7 days we can discuss batiks. Batiks are beautiful, usually they are 100% cotton or rayon. They drape beautifully and make up nicely into loose tops, casual pull-on pants and the like. You will also find some batiks in quilts. I also know they must be pre-washed because of shrinkage. Anyone else have any experience, recommendations or knowledge of batiks? MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: MaryW
Date: 02-11-2005, 06:14 PM (2 of 30)
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I will post what I can find out this weekend about batiks.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: Military_Mom
Date: 02-11-2005, 08:21 PM (3 of 30)
| This is a great idea...and will be a great learning experience for me! Maybe if anyone can give ideas about what projects they've made with batiks, that would be nice,too. Thanks, Mary! |
User: Military_Mom
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 109 
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From: dmoses
Date: 02-11-2005, 08:52 PM (4 of 30)
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I saw a lovely swimsuit coverup made from a batik fabric. It was just a big rectangle, wide enough to cross over in the front so that the top two corners could be tied behind the neck. It looked really pretty.
Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 02-11-2005, 09:03 PM (5 of 30)
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100% cotton batiks are wonderful to quilt with because they blend so well with most patterns. Washing is a must as some of them bleed colors. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 02-11-2005, 09:51 PM (6 of 30)
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I've worked with the rayon batiks several times. I have a couple light summer skirts and some tops. It is wonderful to work with. You just tell it what you want it to do and it jumps together. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: mamadus
Date: 02-11-2005, 10:27 PM (7 of 30)
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question... do rayon batiks ravel a great deal??? MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-12-2005, 09:45 AM (8 of 30)
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No, Mo, the ones I worked with didn't ravel. It was a lot like working with cotton -- maybe a little bit slipperier. I loved it and it launders great. I did use flat fell seams to keep the strain down. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 02-12-2005, 04:11 PM (9 of 30)
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Maybe the first thing should be a definition of what the fabric term means.. Here all these years I thought batik was a dye process definition for fabric, and now I see you are saying it is a fabric type.. Live and learn.. All batik I have ever seen is cotton that looks very mottled in its colors..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: MyGirlFriday
Date: 02-12-2005, 08:47 PM (10 of 30)
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I thought that batik was the dyeing process...but hey I'm new to sewing! I didn't know you could make clothes with it! I thought it was just for quilting! Speaking of which I bought some of the prettiest lime green with dark green batik fabric to make little frogs with for a quilt I'm going to make!  Please tell us more about this fabric because it is so pretty and now that I know it is versitle I might try a top or 2 out of it! mgf~ 
Blessings & Smiles
Frogs have it easy....they just eat what's buggin' them. |
User: MyGirlFriday
Member since: 12-05-2004 Total posts: 288 
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From: Hogmami
Date: 02-12-2005, 09:38 PM (11 of 30)
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I have learned so much about batik that I am going to have to buy some. I have seen quilts made from it and they are beautiful. Love learning about fabrics.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800 
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From: smith972
Date: 02-12-2005, 11:50 PM (12 of 30)
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does it say on the fabric that it is batik?.....i am sure i have seen it but i dont often know the name of the fabric that i sew with.... Jada |
User: smith972
Member since: 09-10-2004 Total posts: 241 
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From: Timmel Fabrics
Date: 02-13-2005, 07:59 AM (13 of 30)
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Batiks are made by covering parts of the fabric with wax, then dyeing it, the wax protects those covered parts from taking the dye. Then the fabric is dipped in hot water and the wax removed. The process can be done multiple times to make different patterns. But if something was made with the real batik process, it always involves wax, dye, then hot water. Julie
Julie, Timmel Fabrics
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User: Timmel Fabrics
Member since: 06-09-2000 Total posts: 38 |
From: siwian
Date: 02-13-2005, 08:03 AM (14 of 30)
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Jada, I'm soooo glad you said that. I rarely know the name of the fabric I sew with but didnt' want to say it on the boards. Everyone here seems to always know the name of the fabric, the content, and the washing/dry cleaning instructions. I tend to know the washing instructions-I only buy stuff I can wash. So, is BATIK a dye process or is it a type of fabric? Or is it fabric that has been through that dye process? Peggy |
User: siwian
Member since: 12-27-2001 Total posts: 114 
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From: Timmel Fabrics
Date: 02-13-2005, 08:07 AM (15 of 30)
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Well, batik refers to the process of dyeing fabrics with this wax method. So it is used as a verb to say "I will take a class to learn to batik fabric". And the finished fabrics are called "batiks" , in this case using the word as a noun to those fabrics dyed by this process. I think fabrics are often called batiks when they are not. They look like batiks because the pattern has a certain type of image produced on it. But unless wax was used to cover the fabric so that only the unwaxed parts take the dye, they are not real batiks. Julie Julie, Timmel Fabrics
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User: Timmel Fabrics
Member since: 06-09-2000 Total posts: 38 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 02-13-2005, 10:07 AM (16 of 30)
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Julie -- The rayon I used was from Batik Butik back when they sold retail. I don't know for sure if it is really batik -- I agree those cottons in the quilt shops are likely just printed cottons. The Batik Butik people say it is batiked and I'd just as soon believe them. Even if it is just a print, it sure is nice to work with and wear. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: dmoses
Date: 02-13-2005, 11:14 AM (17 of 30)
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There is lots of information on the internet about batik. Here are a couple of links. http://www.expat.or.id/info/batiksteps.html http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/howtobatik.shtml I would guess that a lot of the batik fabrics in the fabric stores are printed to to have the 'look' of batik. Otherwise they would probably be a lot more expensive. The designs are still beautiful. Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964
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From: Timmel Fabrics
Date: 02-13-2005, 12:02 PM (18 of 30)
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Hi Dorothy, yes the rayons from Batik Butik are real batiks. Barb Alexander, the owner, was a guest host on Creative Machine Newsletter a while ago and she wrote lots of interesting information about the production of these batiks. It was very impressive. She buys from a very small factory in Bali and the owner is very good to his workers, something that doesn't always happen in those countries. They are paid good wages, and he gives them their religious holidays off. The rayon goes through several phases of the production and, between each one, it is hung from the ceiling to dry. I found the information so interesting. I carry some of these batiks and you can see in some places, where the wax has been removed. Julie Julie, Timmel Fabrics
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User: Timmel Fabrics
Member since: 06-09-2000 Total posts: 38 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 02-13-2005, 06:51 PM (19 of 30)
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Julie -- I'll definitely be ordering in the future. Not only are the fabrics excellent, I like the idea of fair treatment of the workers -- I'm one of those people that won't shop at Wal-Mart because that matters to me. Ordering them from Canada was no problem or much extra expense and the price was reasonable. The service there was excellent too. It broke my heart when they stopped selling retail. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MaryW
Date: 02-14-2005, 12:44 PM (20 of 30)
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When making garments from the batik fabric, it is best to serge or do a flat fell seam. The women in Bali use a french seam. The prints hide wrinkles well. I have some of Julie's batik and will make it up into a blouse for summer. Very drapey and light, perfect for our sticky, humid days. Pre-washing is VERY important, you will lose about 4-5" per yd. shrinkage with the rayons. If your seams have puckering, stitch with a very small zig zag. A lt. wt. fusible knit interfacing is recommended as well to keep the soft hand of the fabric. Julie has given you most of the information on batiks. Has anyone else sewn with this fabric or have any comments? MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-14-2005, 03:06 PM (21 of 30)
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Mary -- I didn't notice that much shrinkage. But I do wash in cold water. And I prewash so if it did shrink it was before the garment was cut and constructed so maybe I just didn't notice. I use flat fell if I think some thing is going to pull at the seams. Sometimes -- usually I guess -- I make a french seam and sew it down like flat fell. It's cheating and takes longer but looks better I think. Anyway, I think sewing the seam flat in one way or another keeps it from pulling. I don't know that from reading or hearing from an expert -- but in my experience it seems to help. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Military_Mom
Date: 02-14-2005, 03:08 PM (22 of 30)
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Silly question, maybe....but....what do you mean by 'flat fell seam', Mary? Maybe I need a lesson on seam terminology! Thanks.. ~Becky |
User: Military_Mom
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 109
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-14-2005, 03:14 PM (23 of 30)
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Becky -- With flat fell you trim one side of the seam and fold the other side around it then sew that down -- like the inseam of your jeans. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MaryW
Date: 02-16-2005, 08:48 AM (24 of 30)
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Does anyone know the burn test for rayon?
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-16-2005, 08:52 AM (25 of 30)
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It comes from trees so it must burn not melt -- but I'm not burning any to find out. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Timmel Fabrics
Date: 02-16-2005, 12:14 PM (26 of 30)
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Yes, since rayon is natural, the burn test will produce an ash that crumbles in your fingers. The problem with burn tests is that they only work on fabrics which are one fiber only. If you have a blend, the results will tell you nothing. You would have to separate the fabric and burn each fiber separately. Julie
Julie, Timmel Fabrics
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User: Timmel Fabrics
Member since: 06-09-2000 Total posts: 38 |
From: Military_Mom
Date: 02-16-2005, 10:08 PM (27 of 30)
Thanks,Dorothy for the info about flat fell seams! I love this message board...I learn SEW much! 
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User: Military_Mom
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 109
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From: Emmy
Date: 02-17-2005, 02:12 PM (28 of 30)
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I LOVE batiks! I bought my first batiks last fall on sale, and made up some summer tops. I've wanted some for years, but have never seen them locally until this past year. The fabric is 100% rayon and turned out to be a little too hot for summer, so I've been wearing them this past winter. I just love the colours, especially the fact that they vary somewhat throughout the fabric. I also love rayons, but I find that the best rayons for summer are a cotton/rayon blend, which is cooler than 100% rayon. I'm hoping they'll have more rayon blends, and more batiks this summer. Emmy
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User: Emmy
Member since: 09-01-2001 Total posts: 127 
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From: Linda in Eden
Date: 02-17-2005, 10:23 PM (29 of 30)
| I have mainly sewn cotton 'real' batiks both in quilting and in garments. I actually was glad when my local store started to carry rayon batiks. I have never had a problem with shrinkage in the cotton batiks I have used. All have been purchased at a quilt shop. They usually have a higher thread count than other quilting cottons and if made as real batiks, the wax removal with hot water should have taken care of shrinkage. They don't 'ease' as well as plain cottons again do to the higher thread count. When I have used then in garments, they retain their crisp hand so this must be taken into account for sleeve cap ease,hems, etc as they aren't as drapey as the rayons. |
User: Linda in Eden
Member since: 02-17-2005 Total posts: 1 |
From: Timmel Fabrics
Date: 02-18-2005, 08:04 AM (30 of 30)
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When Barb Alexander, owner of Batik Butiks, was guest host on Creative Machine Newsletter, someone posted just this question about the shrinkage with the fabrics. They said that with all the hot water used in the process, the shrinkage would probably be minimal. But Barb replied that the rayons she buys are dipped, then hung and stretched from the ceiling to dry, so they are held under tension that may cause them to stretch during this time. Therefore, with the batik butik rayons, she warns about 5-10% shrinkage on the fabrics. I haven't found it to be that much, but I always allow for that when making something. Julie Julie, Timmel Fabrics
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User: Timmel Fabrics
Member since: 06-09-2000 Total posts: 38 |
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