batting, whats good and why?
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 59
batting, whats good and why?
I hear everyone say warm and natural but I want to know why that is? Considering the price of W&N I wont spend that much just cause people say its the best. Whenever I make my tote bags I have noticed that the batting seems to thin out and it doesnt have that puffy look it used to. So what kind do I need to buy to have it stay puffy. I am quilting about one inch squares.
#2
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
i made my first quilt way back in 1976---so i've made alot of them- and personally i very seldom choose warm & natural---just not one of my favorites- i have customers who love it though.
i do not recommend a specific batt---i feel there are so many wonderful batts on the market- and each has it's place- i choose the batt by the project-
some of the batts i love are:
all of the batts from the Dream company---Dream Wool, Dream Orient, Dream Bamboo, Dream Green, Dream Cotton---all of them- they are expensive though (i have to say dream wool is my favorite batt-but reserved for special quilts) the reason i like them so much is they are all very soft, easy to needle- work nicely for hand and machine quilting, have beautiful drape
others i use alot of are the Hobbs batts- Heirloom, 80/20, hobbs wool, - a bit more affordable than the Dream Batts-
they again have wonderful drape- a selection in lofts, hold up well- are easy to needle.
i am a person who recommends to people to read the packaging---make sure the batt you are considering is a good choice for the project- some can be quilted up to 10" between quilting lines (like w&n) others need to be quilted every 2"---and everything in between- some are good for tied quilts- others are not
take into consideration if it's going to be washed alot (a kids quilt or utility quilt) or if it may only get laundered a couple times in your life time---
and take advantage of all the choices out there-
try out a different batt when ever you have the opportunity & it will work for your project & keep a (batting journal)
in mine i cut a 6" square from each new batt i'm trying out- i note the name of it- the fiber content- the quilting recommendations, the care instructions- where i got it & how much it cost- then after i use it i note my experience with it- then if i am on line shopping or something & someone is having a sale i can look back & see---oh i used that one 6 years ago and hated it! and know to not buy it again- or i also know- oh...i loved that one...
don't restrict yourself to one persons preference---try them all & see what YOU like!
i do not recommend a specific batt---i feel there are so many wonderful batts on the market- and each has it's place- i choose the batt by the project-
some of the batts i love are:
all of the batts from the Dream company---Dream Wool, Dream Orient, Dream Bamboo, Dream Green, Dream Cotton---all of them- they are expensive though (i have to say dream wool is my favorite batt-but reserved for special quilts) the reason i like them so much is they are all very soft, easy to needle- work nicely for hand and machine quilting, have beautiful drape
others i use alot of are the Hobbs batts- Heirloom, 80/20, hobbs wool, - a bit more affordable than the Dream Batts-
they again have wonderful drape- a selection in lofts, hold up well- are easy to needle.
i am a person who recommends to people to read the packaging---make sure the batt you are considering is a good choice for the project- some can be quilted up to 10" between quilting lines (like w&n) others need to be quilted every 2"---and everything in between- some are good for tied quilts- others are not
take into consideration if it's going to be washed alot (a kids quilt or utility quilt) or if it may only get laundered a couple times in your life time---
and take advantage of all the choices out there-
try out a different batt when ever you have the opportunity & it will work for your project & keep a (batting journal)
in mine i cut a 6" square from each new batt i'm trying out- i note the name of it- the fiber content- the quilting recommendations, the care instructions- where i got it & how much it cost- then after i use it i note my experience with it- then if i am on line shopping or something & someone is having a sale i can look back & see---oh i used that one 6 years ago and hated it! and know to not buy it again- or i also know- oh...i loved that one...
don't restrict yourself to one persons preference---try them all & see what YOU like!
#7
Leah Day has a great page on batting info:
http://www.daystyledesigns.com/batting.htm
For another interesting topic on batting, this article talks about testing various battings for what happens if the battings catch fire. Especially important to think about for baby/children's quilts, and quilts for invalids.
http://www.imqa.org/media/uploads/20...Fall2011_1.pdf
http://www.daystyledesigns.com/batting.htm
For another interesting topic on batting, this article talks about testing various battings for what happens if the battings catch fire. Especially important to think about for baby/children's quilts, and quilts for invalids.
http://www.imqa.org/media/uploads/20...Fall2011_1.pdf
Last edited by LindaM; 06-28-2012 at 03:56 PM.
#8
I've used W&N and liked it, at the moment I'm using Quilters Dream Cotton. The QD seems thicker than the W&N - but I notice that it's leaving a lot of fabric dander on my quilt AS I quilt it. I wouldn't exactly call it bearding, and it is highly possible that the only reason I notice is because parts of my quilt are black.
When I can find it I am desperate to try wool.
When I can find it I am desperate to try wool.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 3,813
Thank you so much for this question and for the answers, especially for the websites. I was getting ready to put a cotton/polyester batting in a quilt for a child. Thank you, thank you for this information. I will now choose a safe batting to put in this quilt, and in other children's quilts that I make.
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