sewmary

All bamboo batting is not equal. Are you talking about 100% bamboo, the 50/50 rayon-bamboo, the 50-50 cotton-bamboo, the 50-50 silk-bamboo?

I have used 100% bamboo and loved it.

As to the environmental effects: cotton is heavily sprayed with chemicals/pesticides. Bamboo grows well without pesticides but there are other environmental concerns about deforestation, etc. Poly is entirely petro-chemicals (oil-based). Rayon is a 50/50(or so) blend of natural products and chemicals used in manufacturing it. And there's probably something wrong with using silk also! Pick your poison!

Whew - pretty heavy for a quilting board!

sahm4605

I like the bamboo. I have one oversized twin i finished for my almost 2y/o son. (will be 2 on sunday) It is supposed to be hypoalergenic and or anti-"yuckys" microbial or bacterial can't remember which. I used 100% bamboo and while it did beard a little bit because I had it folded up waiting to be quilted for 3-6 months it is not a problem to get cleaned up. I have washed it and it is wonderful. as with any product I am more interested in what it is made up of. like cotton and what-not. The chemicals wash out after awhile. Like others have said it is processed and as long as you know that going in I wouldn't worry about it.
I love how it quilted up I have also made a couple of baby doll quilts out of the scraps for my dd. and they are sooooooooooooo soft too. I am making a extra large full size right now that will be using more bamboo batting. I would get a small sample of it to try. like a baby/lap blanket size. that way you can try it out and see if you like it and make sure you know if you are getting a blend or 100% and as a side note not all 100% are 100%. so make sure to read the fine print if you are getting it from a package.

QuiltE

Thanks for the notes re 100% vs. blends. Honestly, I have no clue what it was, only that I was told it was bamboo. There was no paper wrapper rolled with it, like there often is with the other battings, so I couldn't read that detail, the shrinkage or the quilting spacing. Or any of the other info that usually is included.

Has anyone washed it Lots? Results?

How far/close does the quilting need to be?

More thoughts? Keep them coming folks!
Please? and Thanks!!

sahm4605

I know that the batting that I used needed to be quilted about 6-8"s or so, if I remember right. you could quilt it closer and it would still be soft. I have washed the doll quilts a few times, not a whole ton but probably 15 times. they have held up good.

Kas

Bamboo is a natural fiber, but in order for it to be soft and not like splinters it has to be processed with harsh chemicals that turn it into rayon. It is no longer bamboo. It is Rayon made from bamboo. Nothing environmentally good about it. So, as long as you are ok with using rayon with no thoughts of "bamboo is good for the environment" then you are ok. I have no problem with the product itself, just the marketing of it as environmentally concious. It isn't. I will choose the chemicals used to defoliate cotton, myself.

lindy-2

i havent used bamboo batting but my LQS used to carry it but they stoped because it is aparently very flamible and she dident whant to sell something that could posibly be dangerous.

QuiltE

Is it really any more flammable than many other fabrics and battings? I would think the poly batting would be right up there as well.

Kas

I haven't heard anything about its flammability. I am guessing poly would just melt. Cotton is highly flamable. Does she still sell it?

annesthreads

I've tried it once. It felt beautifully soft, but my quilt had a dark brown backing and by the time I'd finished it was covered with fluff from the batting. However, once I'd cleaned that up, it was OK - haven't noticed any further problems.

ckcowl

I love the bamboo battings- they are a dream to work with- wash up wonderfully- have great drape in the finished product-
hold up for years and years-
my preference over polyester batting (you think the process for bamboo is ...extreme- you aught to check out what goes into making a poly batt!)
bamboo is a renewable source---like cotton and wool- and is a wonderful batt to use.