[susank]

Several weeks ago I bought a selection of batik fabrics in blues and greens hoping to make a quilt out of them. I have looked at some patterns on line but I'm not finding anything I like. Has anyone made quilts with batiks and if so what type of patterns did you use? Also, do you know of any good sources for patterns using batiks?

[Jami Johnson]

I love the beauty of batiks, but haven't delved into them yet for fear of having one more area of guilt in my life...haha.

When we lived in Portland, one of my favorite quilt stores did a lot with Batiks. It doesn't look like they have an online shop, but I did see a few good ideas using batiks in their current newsletter. It might give you a little inspiration as well as some resources for patterns. Here is the link.

Hoffman Fabrics has some beautiful free patterns, too. Check them out here.

Good luck and I can't wait to see what you make!!

[susank]

Thanks Jami - I can see why this was one of your favourite quilt shops. Interesting ideas and the number of classes is impressive.

The Hoffman site is also good. I had looked at it before because they are the maker of the fabrics I bought but it was worth another look because I think I see a possibility.

Thank you!

[StitchinGrandma]

Oh my gosh Susan. While at the Sewing and Quilt Expo this month I was going to go back to the Vogue booth because they had TONS of batiks on their sales racks and then never got back there. I am still SO angry at myself for that but I keep hoping we can take a drive into their warehouse and then I can buy that when we go.

There are some on these sites:
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/techni...uilts_ss1.html

And because Hoffman has such a large variety of batiks, they have many quilt patterns on their site -some are batik, others aren't so you'll have to peek at them yourself.
http://www.hoffmanfabrics.com/conten...asp?FolderID=7

On the Robert Kaufman website I did a search for "batik" and got this page of results. Some are going to be duplicates I'm sure but click one and then when you hit that page, look on the right side of the page. On that right side will be a picture of a quilt including a link below that to go to a page where you can get the pattern for that quilt.
http://www.robertkaufman.com/search/?q=batik

See if any of those help you out.

[katiedoodles]

Susan,

After reading your post, I remembered that I had bought beautiful batiks about 3 or 4 years ago They were hand-printed in South Africa and I have 12, 20"x20" squares of them. I have been "saving them for something special", but I think it's time for me to finally use them!

[susank]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who does things like that!

I kind of feel the same way about the batiks I bought - they are so pretty that I really want to make something nice with them.

[StitchinGrandma]

Originally Posted by susank

I'm glad I'm not the only one who does things like that!

I kind of feel the same way about the batiks I bought - they are so pretty that I really want to make something nice with them.

Susan I would be willing to bet if you took a poll about saving fabrics for 'something special' instead of using the fabric right away after buying it you'd find almost everyone does this. That's how the term 'fabric stash' was created at one point I'm sure. You do NOT want to see my fabric stash but actually based on many pictures I've seen around the different groups I am a member of I have very little 'stash' compared to some others. If you asked my husband though, he would probably disagree. In fact one of the sayings I hand painted on the trim around my sewing room when we remodeled it says just that....... It says, " "Fabricologist Resource Center"....that sounds more impressive than 'fabric stash' ".

So? Did you come up with anything yet?

[susank]

Vicki - no I have not come up with anything yet. I've actually been at a retirement course for the past few days. I have, however, received more batik fabric that I ordered so that may give me more options. Some of the quilts I have seen use a dozen or so and I had only bought six. Hopefully, they will all get used and not just fall into the stash. My stash is growing every day now that I have discovered on line fabric shopping. In the past I had not wanted to do it because of added Canadian taxes, duties and shipping which I thought made prices too high. Well I was wrong - I have ordered many times now and not paid any taxes(13 per cent) or duties (which can be up to 20 per cent here). My husband is calling my fabric sites my "porn"!! He should be happy - it could always be worse.