Quilting Batik Fabric by the Yard

Because batik is one of the most popular materials for quilting, it's no surprise there are plenty of quilt patterns available for this vibrant material. From vintage to modern, for beginners or experienced quilters, Fat Quarter Shop has plenty of quilt patterns for batik cotton fabric to whet your creative appetite.

While batik print fabric can be used interchangeably with other materials, there are some distinct characteristics of batik fabrics:

• Reversible: Although most materials have a right side and a wrong side, batik fabric generally does not.
• Tighter Weave: Batik print fabric possesses more threads per inch in each direction.
• Pre-Shrunk: Because batik quilt fabric has been wetted and dried during printing, it's already experienced shrinkage before you purchase it.

The process for creating batik fabric is quite different from other types of fabric, so there are some things you should do as you embark on your quilting project:

• Pre-wash your batik fabric before you begin. Although this material is pre-shrunk, the dye could run, so it's a good idea to wash it first. Just check the laundering instructions for the batik cotton fabric you purchase – some manufacturers recommend hand washing the material rather than putting it in a washing machine.
• It's recommended you air dry your batik fabric but not in direct sunlight. If you do decide to tumble dry the fabric, do so on low heat and never wring out excess water.
• Its denser thread count renders batik a little stiffer than other fabrics, but it also tends to fray less.
• If you cut batik on the bias, it barely stretches at all.
• Be sure you use a sharp needle with batik quilting fabric. Also, it's a good idea to do a quick inventory before you start your project to make certain you have all the quilting supplies & notions you need.