Batiks Are The Best!

I have previously posted a video showing the process of making batik fabric for Moda.  I have been preparing a new pattern using a quilt that I made from batiks, and I started thinking about that video.  While looking around to find that video, I came across another that is a new and improved version.  This one is narrated by a designer for Avlyn Fabrics, and explains what is happening to the fabric.  Plus, he includes information about the copper stamp making and the history of the art of batik.  So here you go---


Here's the quilt I made, please ignore the scraggly winter-dead grapevines at the top.  I hung this outside in the sunshine on my pergola for the picture.  

I used mostly leftovers and scraps of my own stash, along with sharing of my good friends, Nancy and Leisl.  The sign of a good friendship is the sharing your stash of batiks!  I am actually thinking that I would like to make this again, with more planning of the colors.  And a lighter outside border.  And a larger size.  In a rectangle instead of a square.

When I look at our shelves of batiks, it gets that notion going that I should start selecting and collecting a whole bunch of new batiks!  I used 91 colors of batik in this quilt, just a fat eighth (9" x 20") of each one.  So if I pick up a little here and a little there, I will be ready to go again!  Will you join me?  

We Love Batiks!

When we are opening newly delivered boxes of fabric, we love to open the flaps and see what's inside. I especially like the bolts of batiks with their fantastic colors and designs.  The special thing about batiks is that you really have to unfold some of the yardage to get a full sense of what it looks like.  There can sometimes be some frustration with the fact that what you see on the first fold might not look exactly like what you see on the 4th or 5th or 11th fold.  That is due to the nature of the process of making a batik fabric.  And once you watch this video you will understand why.



It is about 17 minutes long, so be patient with the loading.  It's worth it.  A single cut of yardage is followed throughout the many steps it takes to be shipped to the fabric company, in this case, Moda.

A few things that crossed my mind as I watched:
From now on I will always prewash batiks and use Retayne to set the dyes.
I will never complain about my working conditions.
I will fully appreciate the fact that I am not exposed to serious chemicals every day.
No matter how much I end up paying for a yard of batik, I would gladly pay at least twice that amount IF it would go straight to these workers.

Just FYI, there is no spoken English in this video, so if the traditional music becomes less desirable after a few minutes, just silence it and watch for the occasional subtitles in English.