Kay Ellen
 
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TX USA
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Date: 11/5/12 4:32 PM Has anyone out there tried lining cotton batik with something soft and silky to get a softer hand? I want to make a Little Something Jacket (http://www.fabricessentials.com/shop/Patterns/Clothing/p/A-Little-Somethin-Jacket-sku-A%20Little%20Something%20Jacket%20-%20CNT2501.htm), and I want to soften the hand of my fabric to make it more like a washable rayon. Does anyone have any ideas and/or experience with this? Would a normal lining fabric accomplish this? Thank you all in advance!
-- Edited on 11/5/12 4:32 PM -- |
Andi
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Date: 11/6/12 8:43 AM Kay, I hate to say this, but it is very difficult to get stiff fabric to be drapey....You can try multiple washes. Sometimes batik has residual wax that can be very tricky to get out, or the base fabric is a mid-lower quality and has little drape.
Underlining is not going to soften, but could actually make it less drapey.
One possibility is to cut it on the bias, but with wider seam allowances,b/c when bias hangs it can "narrow" so you may need more width than if cut on the straight grain.
JMHO, I would be curious if anyone out there has a different option. Good Luck! |
m/m
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Date: 11/6/12 3:52 PM I'm with Andi on this. Linings are used to give fabric extra body, not to make them drape better or to make them softer. If excess wax is the problem, Dharma Trading company has step by step instructions for batiking fabric including options for removing wax (see the last step in the process at http://www.dharmatrading.com/info/batik.html ). Often with fabric you just have to work with what you have, especially if, like true batik, the fabric has been washed repeatedly in processing. |
MNBarb
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1 member likes this. Batik is usually stiff because of its dense weave/high thread count. There isn't much that will get it to feel softer and it isn't likely to ever drape well. It will remain crisp like a good set of cotton sheets. ------
Barb
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson |
CM_Sews
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Date: 11/6/12 4:10 PM Quote: MNBarb
Batik is usually stiff because of its dense weave/high thread count. There isn't much that will get it to feel softer and it isn't likely to ever drape well. It will remain crisp like a good set of cotton sheets.
Another aspect of cotton batik (in my limited experience) is that sometimes it can be stiff with excess dye. Washing it will remove any wax residue and excess dye (watch for colors running in the wash), and it will be softer after washing (compared to before washing), but it will never, ever be as soft and drapey as rayon.
I agree the comparison to cotton sheets is about right.
CMC |
Kay Ellen
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TX USA
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1 member likes this. Thank you all for your responses. I will look into m/m's suggestion on removing wax. I have the fabric hanging over my dress form and I'm just not sure of it for me. I tend to need/like a bit of a soft drape and I hate to "waste" this beautiful batik on a pattern it might not fit well. The picture on the pattern is using a batik, but I'm guessing it's probably a washable rayon batik and not a cotton batik, llthough the pattern does mention cotton as a possible fabric. I'm trying to use up some of my stash and this fabric would be a beautiful top for a couple of my pants. I'll post and review what I decide and make. Thanks again. |
carolynw
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Date: 11/7/12 12:58 PM Besides dressmaking I also do quilting and there are several batiks made by Kaufman, Benatrex, Hoffman and Tonga to mention just a few that while they do have crisp hand (some more so than others) they do make up into wonderful blouses and, depending on the design, shirts for my husband.
They last a long time over many. many washes - are very cool unless you opt for long sleeves. If you have a"high end" batik similar to one of these you have a good chance of making a nice blouse. However, if it is a batik with a lot of wax residue on it I can't offer much help as I have limited and not very happy experience with them.
For information you can contact Hancocks on line or any near-by quilting store.
Hope this helps |
Kay Ellen
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TX USA
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Date: 11/8/12 11:12 AM Hi Carolyn,
I did purpose this at a high end batik quilt store north of Dallas TX. I would describe its hand as crisp, but not utterly stiff. When I hang it over my dressform it does hang down in nice folds, which is why I'm on the fence about it. Being cotton, it will stick to pants and any shell I wear under it, unless those fabrics are slicker. The pattern is a jacket-ish top, with no front closures, just hangs open. I've decided to go ahead and give it a try. Worst case scenario if I don't like the drape, I'll cut it up and use it in my quilting :)
Thanks! |
carolynw
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Date: 11/9/12 1:34 PM Hi Kay
Let me know how it works out - those that I have made did not stick to anything so hope you'll find the same |
Kay Ellen
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TX USA
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Date: 11/10/12 8:58 AM Hi Carolyn,
Really? Didn't catch on other fabrics? Mmmm. I bought this batik at Fabric Fanatics north of Dallas. It's a store the carries only quilting batiks, so they are high quality cottons. I'll certainly post when I finish it  |
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