SherylM

In April I'm going down to Corpus Christi, TX to visit my aunt, who's going to be 89 years young (she's one of those people that you want to be when you grow up - I absolutely adore her!) I decided to make her a quilt for her birthday, but I can't decide what kind of batting to use.

I live in Michigan and have mostly used Quilter's Dream wool in my quilts and I love it. Right now I'm making a QAYG string quilt with Quilter's Dream select weight cotton, and that's nice too (don't care for Warm & Natural.)

I've been in Corpus Christi in the summer and it's a sauna, but she certainly has AC in her house. I'm finding myself going back and forth - wool, because it's lightweight and it breathes, but will it be too warm? Or QD cotton, Request (very thin) or Select, and will it be too heavy?

I'm agonizing over this, which I always do at some point with every quilt I make, so PLEASE put me out of my misery and help me figure this out! Thankyouverymuch!!!

cashs_mom

I live in Houston and would not recommend using a wool batting. I never think of wool for anything here, because it's just too warm for most people. Even though we have air conditioning, most people don't run it at 60 so it's not really cold in the house. The most I ever use is a lightweight quilt on my bed or over my legs and feet in the evening when we are watching tv. Sometimes even that is too warm. We really don't have a winter either. 100% cotton batting is lightweight and breathes also. Any natural fiber breathes.

Annaquilts

I live in Socal and my favorite is wool batting for both winter and summer. Like you mention, wool breathes.

Sync

I live in Arizona and my youngest daughter lives in Hawai'i. I use Hobbs silk batting or 100% cotton batting.

Ioftheneedle

Silk batting, now that is something new to me. I have never seen it offered in LQS.

Sync

Ioftheneedle, I love using the silk batting, it is so easy to quilt. The brand is Hobbs Tuscany. I have not seen it at my LQS but I buy it online, especially when it's on sale. lol Here's a link ....

https://www.connectingthreads.com/ba...HobbsSilk.html

SherylM

Thanks for all the input - I knew you would help me think this through! I decided that I'm going to use Quilter's Dream Request cotton batting. I think it would be better to use a very thin batting; she can always add another blanket if for some reason it's not warm enough (they did have some highly unusual snow storms and cold weather this winter) but if it's too warm, then she would probably not use it and that would break my heart.

I don't make my quilts for lookin' at - I make 'em for snuggling under!

About the recommendations for silk batting - I think I would like to try that at some point, but not in a quilt that I'm giving away, until I know how it acts. It does sound very luxurious and nice!

Faintly Artistic

I'm in Arizona. I love wool because it breathes. I haven't used the wool batting yet, but made my son a blanket from felted wool sweaters. He uses it year round on his bed, not too hot in the summer...he uses that and the quilt I made him (cotton batting) in the winter because the wool isn't quite enough.

cashs_mom

We did have some cold weather this year, but that was highly unusual. Last year I think I wore my heavier coat one time. It was too warm for it the rest of the time.

SherylM

When I go down to visit in April, I'm looking forward to wearing my summer clothes! It will more than likely still be cold up here, though the weather is so wacky everywhere, you just never know. I feel so bad for you southerners that get "surprised" with all that snow, because even though the northern states can get ridiculous amounts, at least we're equipped for it and used to it. I know you don't have furnaces in your homes down there - my aunt just has a small heater.

After I thought my decision was final (I drive myself crazy sometimes), I decided to call a quilt shop in Corpus because I figured they would certainly know what was best for their climate, and she told me that they mostly sell and use Quilter's Dream Select, so that's what I'll go with. I think I'll be happier with it too; this morning at my LQS I saw a couple of quilts that were quilted with the Request and they just seemed so...skinny. I'm used to my poufy wool quilts.