The Sewing Place

Best for batik?

sewingj

Best for batik?
« on: July 05, 2018, 09:24:37 AM »
I`m after some batik to make a sundress (a bit late, I know).  Croft Mill have some but  not cheap.  Doughty`s have some for less money but I don`t think they do samples  (they seem to be slightly narrower too but that might not be true in reality).  I`ve never bought from Doughty`s before so don`t know how reliable their pictures are

Any thoughts please?

Holly Berry

Re: Best for batik?
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2018, 11:53:57 AM »
I’m looking for batik too. Most seem to be only 114cm wide, which is ok if you don’t mind a seam or two. The last lot I got from Croft Mill was wider, but that was some years ago. They do have some beautiful ones though at the moment, but as you say pricey. Even eBay only had 114cm.

Sorry can’t be of help, but will follow with interest.
Procrastination get behind me

StitchinTime

Re: Best for batik?
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2018, 12:04:06 PM »
Empress Mills have some batiks, but they too are only 110 cm wide. They do have a 3m deal that takes the price to £6.50/m.
https://www.empressmills.co.uk/product-category/fabrics/quilting-fabrics/batik-fabrics/

BrendaP

Re: Best for batik?
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2018, 16:03:13 PM »
I have made a couple of dresses with Doughy's batik fabric and they are fine.  Just make sure the pattern is suitable for 115cm fabric.
Brenda.  My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.

Iminei

Re: Best for batik?
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2018, 16:24:11 PM »
There are two types of batik to my mind .....the densely woven craft cotton batik at £15 pm and less dense, cheaper stuff which has more drape and is usually wider.

Our Emporia has some of that on rolls in the clothing side of their stocks.

John Louden also do a cheaper, less stiff batik if you can find that ... stuff like this ...#



which I used as binding for The African Queens Quilt and Wolfgangs first quilt.
The Imperfect Perfectionist sews again

sewingj

Re: Best for batik?
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2018, 19:30:01 PM »
The sun has got to my me and made me buy some from Croft Mill!  After reading Imi`s post I was a bit worried about the quality of the stuff from Empress Mills as it doesn`t say it is suitable for dress-making.  Then I started to panic as several of the nicest ones from Croft are already sold out.  So I`ve gone for this:

https://www.croftmill.co.uk/products/fabric-by-width/fabric-width-112cm-44-or-less/hand-dyed-indonesian-batik-cotton-fabric-bluet-product.html?eref=mail

I`m intending to make this
https://sewdirect.com/acatalog/Butterick-6448.html      so the narrow width shouldn`t be a problem.  It has a lined bodice but I will try and make it with facings instead to keep in cooler

Holly Berry

Re: Best for batik?
« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2018, 00:22:31 AM »
I forgot to say I have bought some of the recent Croft Mill batik. The older order of a couple of years ago is ever so slightly heavier than the most recent, which is from the same collection as yours. I’ve just bought some poly cotton to line it with, as I thought it needed it. I would say it’s dress weight though. I washed it before cutting out and it became softer.
https://www.croftmill.co.uk/products/cotton-fabrics/cotton-poplin-fabric/batik-cotton-hand-tie-dyed-cotton-product.html
https://sewdirect.com/acatalog/Vogue-1422.html

Procrastination get behind me

sewingj

Re: Best for batik?
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2018, 15:19:31 PM »
The fabric from Croft Mill came in the post this morning (Saturday) - ordered Thursday afternoon.  The background colour is a bit darker than expected but I love it. It is quite lightweight as HollyBerry said but will be fine for what I want.  It is 114 cms wide - I have washed it and it hasn`t shrunk at all (and they cut it generously which always pleases me).

Just have to find the energy to make the dress now - unfortunately the fit will need a bit of adjusting so I can`t just whizz it up