Batting questions and Longarmer's preferences
06-09-2011, 07:19 AM
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Long Island, New York
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I have been using Warm & Natural batting and I really like it. On my last quilt, though, I tried Fairfield 80/20. I found it ok. I would like to know is there any benefit to using an 80/20 vs a 100% cotton batting.
Do longarmer's prefer to sell you the batting or does it matter if you provide your own? I've only sent two quilts to longarmers twice. One was a baby quilt and the other was a bed size (can't remember if it was full or queen) and both of those I provided the batting. They were two different quilters.
I have two large quilts that need to be quilted. I'm trying to decide if I want to use a 50% off coupon to buy batting for those quilts or if I just want to go with what the quilter offers.
Do longarmer's prefer to sell you the batting or does it matter if you provide your own? I've only sent two quilts to longarmers twice. One was a baby quilt and the other was a bed size (can't remember if it was full or queen) and both of those I provided the batting. They were two different quilters.
I have two large quilts that need to be quilted. I'm trying to decide if I want to use a 50% off coupon to buy batting for those quilts or if I just want to go with what the quilter offers.
06-09-2011, 07:22 AM
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,760
Originally Posted by AFQSinc
I have been using Warm & Natural batting and I really like it. On my last quilt, though, I tried Fairfield 80/20. I found it ok. I would like to know is there any benefit to using an 80/20 vs a 100% cotton batting.
Do longarmer's prefer to sell you the batting or does it matter if you provide your own? I've only sent two quilts to longarmers twice. One was a baby quilt and the other was a bed size (can't remember if it was full or queen) and both of those I provided the batting. They were two different quilters.
I have two large quilts that need to be quilted. I'm trying to decide if I want to use a 50% off coupon to buy batting for those quilts or if I just want to go with what the quilter offers.
Do longarmer's prefer to sell you the batting or does it matter if you provide your own? I've only sent two quilts to longarmers twice. One was a baby quilt and the other was a bed size (can't remember if it was full or queen) and both of those I provided the batting. They were two different quilters.
I have two large quilts that need to be quilted. I'm trying to decide if I want to use a 50% off coupon to buy batting for those quilts or if I just want to go with what the quilter offers.
06-09-2011, 07:26 AM
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
my customers usually bring batting with their quilt tops- unless they are long-distance- the customers who mail me their quilts for quilting send $$ for batting and i provide it.
once in a while i get one in with a batt I HATE! (unfortunately usually a fairfield--not that fairfield doesn't make good batts- they do- but not all batts are good for long-arm quilting!)
if the batt is best suited for hand quilting it may not be so great for long-arm quilting-
some of them are so fragile that just draping it across the frame causes it to pull apart- you deal with holes---i HATE IT...so when someone brings me one like that i let them know i will be replacing it with something (usable)i do not charge them for the replacement batt-since they did bring one- but i use it up some other way--or if they do want it back then they pay for the new one.
ive long-armed all kinds of batts, cotton, poly blends, bamboo, silk, wool...dream green (recycled from bottles)
and have had wonderful outcomes from all of them-except that dog-gone one that pulls apart from it's own weight.
once in a while i get one in with a batt I HATE! (unfortunately usually a fairfield--not that fairfield doesn't make good batts- they do- but not all batts are good for long-arm quilting!)
if the batt is best suited for hand quilting it may not be so great for long-arm quilting-
some of them are so fragile that just draping it across the frame causes it to pull apart- you deal with holes---i HATE IT...so when someone brings me one like that i let them know i will be replacing it with something (usable)i do not charge them for the replacement batt-since they did bring one- but i use it up some other way--or if they do want it back then they pay for the new one.
ive long-armed all kinds of batts, cotton, poly blends, bamboo, silk, wool...dream green (recycled from bottles)
and have had wonderful outcomes from all of them-except that dog-gone one that pulls apart from it's own weight.
06-09-2011, 08:34 AM
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Russellville AR
Posts: 1,942
Discuss with your longarmer what your intended use of the quilt will be... a wallhanging, a much loved and abused child's quilt, a show quilt... she or he will be able to advise you as to the best type of batting to use for that particular need.
I personally don't much care for 100% cotton batting. It's heavy, and it doesn't show off the quilting much. I like 80/20 or 70/30 blends (Hobbs and Quilters Dream) but wool batting is my favorite. It breathes well, drapes beautifully, highlights the quilting, and these days can be washed and dried.
I carry a good variety of batting, but do require my customers to use one of my batts. They're all top quality, and I know that I won't have issues with them during the quilting process. Some longarmers will use what you bring them, some won't. Just ask :)
I personally don't much care for 100% cotton batting. It's heavy, and it doesn't show off the quilting much. I like 80/20 or 70/30 blends (Hobbs and Quilters Dream) but wool batting is my favorite. It breathes well, drapes beautifully, highlights the quilting, and these days can be washed and dried.
I carry a good variety of batting, but do require my customers to use one of my batts. They're all top quality, and I know that I won't have issues with them during the quilting process. Some longarmers will use what you bring them, some won't. Just ask :)
06-09-2011, 08:50 AM
#5
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Front row
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The two LAs here (they bought a machine and practice on customers quilts) use the cheapest stuff they can find. It's horrible. Stiff and scratchy. I let them baste my quilts for me but insist on them using the batting I provide. One said I was too picky about something that didn't even show in the quilt. I said I know I'm very picky that's why I only want you to baste my quilt. She just huffed and did a much better job on the basting. No puckers. LOL.
06-09-2011, 09:55 AM
#6
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IL
Posts: 2,671
Charisma offers her own batting at a very good price, but I wanted to try wool batting to see how it would look before I wrestle with it myself. So I bought a twin size and sent half with the wallhanging she quilted PERFECTLY for me. So now I have the other half for myself.
06-09-2011, 02:51 PM
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Long Island, New York
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I feel like the 80/20 did show off the quilting more - I can imagine what a Hobbs batt would have been like. I like the fact that I can get a good amount of W&N or W&W using a coupon.
06-09-2011, 03:03 PM
#8
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 10,703
I really like W&N and also I have used Quilters Dream and like it very much. The QD is light weight and has wonderful drape and softness. The W&N is a bit heavier but still a nice drape with a more solid feel. I always suggest that people use either of these because I know how they work for me. All quilters have their favorites and do their best work with them.
peace :-D
peace :-D
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