Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

[Angela J]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

I have used batiks in quilts but not the complete top and especially not the backing. In fact, the quilt on my bed is done in the Herringbone pattern using batiks and Moda white. I sleep very comfy under it.

[DramaMama]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

If you continue to experience this and want to work with batiks again, consider using the batiks for the insert fabric of a Cathedral Window quilt. The colors will really give that quilt pattern a POP!

[Monique]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

I back pretty well all my quilts with flannel.

[traildancer]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

I love batiks and use them whenever I can. Currently, two batik quilts backed with batik are on my bed and I feel they are cuddly. If I use batiks on the top my preference is to use batik on the back. To me, it is more cohesive. However, in order to save money, on some recent quilts I have used cotton for the back. No matter how lovely the fabric, I just don't like the mix as well as using a batik. But the pocketbook rules!

So I think it is personal preference, or else I am just weird!!!

[rebeccas-sewing]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

What would happen if you washed it in fabric softener. The kind you add to the water in the machine rather than dryer sheets?

[Over40momma]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

To 'unstiffen' fabrics, I simply add tennis balls into the dryer when drying. It works for fluffing up older towels too.

[alliek]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

I made a quilt using an orangey/red batik and backed it in flannel. Nice and cozy. Try a "softer" backing for your quilts when using Batik's. They are so pretty, I'm sure your quilts are lovely. Welcome to the forum Liz Taylor. You sure have us thinking!!

[bec]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

I am a new quilter and I love the batik fabrics. I have made 3 quilts this year using batiks. However, the quilts don't really keep you warm and don't seem to be inviting anyone to snuggle. I used Warm and Natural batting and have washed and dried the quilt, but it just doesn't have that good quilt feeling. Has this happened to anyone else? And what can I do?

I just made a quilt out of batiks for my son-in-law. As I made it, I was concerned that it would not be soft and cuddly because batik fabrics just don't have the same feel as regular cotton. So I backed it with a regular cotton that didn't have a really tight weave and I am very pleased with how it feels. Also, I did not do dense quilting. Dense quilting makes a quilt stiff... the more quilting the more it feels like cardboard. I used Quilter's Dream Cotton Request (Request is the light weight batting). The batting was super soft and had wonderful drape.

Of course, it has not been washed yet, so it may be too soon to judge.


Note: If the quilt pattern has small pieces vs. larger blocks, that can make a quilt stiffer. My quilt had 4.5"x9" rectangles, as well as 4.5" squares.

[RosieMS]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

IMG_20151023_183214_burst_02_kindlephoto-13252178.jpg
I made this quilt for my grandson, I used a soft cotton back and 80/20 batting, large swirl quilt pattern. He loves it, and since washed very soft. It was not yet bound in the pic.

[Leslie333]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

I'm a batik girl and often make and entire quilt from batiks. I made one for my son 2 years ago and it it very soft, but it's probably been washed 4 times by now. Conversely, I make a quilt for my mom out of quilter's cotton (no batiks) and quilted it at a medium density and it seems a bit stiff - same Quilter's Dream Select cotton in both. I think it can be a combination of fabrics and quilting density that can make a quilt more stiff.

[easyquilts]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

welcome!

You've already been given good suggestions... I would only ask if you are using a fabric softener... Using one will help soften up the quilt.

Could we see a picture of the quilt?

Once again...welcome...

[Preeti]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

If you want it soft and warm, use a flannel backing.
If you want it SUPER soft and snuggly, use minky backing.

[Alpha O]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

I've also made a quilt from mostly batiks - I had one cotton in the mix. It was one of the QAYG patterns sold and most of the quilting was 1 inch apart. It also is not stiff.

There has to be another solution for backing rather than flannel or minky for those who hate the feel of both. The old robe velour would have worked, how about lightweight stretch velour?

[GuitarGramma]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

Just a little different thought as you mention you're a new quilter. A mistake that I made in the beginning was to compare a quilt with a comforter. I couldn't believe how thin quilt batting was; I expected to see a two inch loft. I had to learn that a comforter was filled with thick polyester, but a quilt got its warmth from the pockets created by the quilting process. I've learned to love quilts for what they are, and not expect them to be otherwise.

[Liz Taylor]

Re: Batik quilt not warm and friendly...

Thanks to all that responded to my thread. I was away for a few days and didn't see your responses. I have purchased very good quality batiks, mostly at MSQC. One of the patterns was the Binding Tool star patterned posted on Jenny's tutorials. I just made it bigger to fit a queen bed. I also used a jelly roll to make a throw for our living room. In both cases I used a batik for the backing. I love the quilts, just am looking for that "wrap up" feeling.