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Just my opinion, Hobbs 80/20 or a polly batting generally have a nicer feel for baby quilts then Warm and Natural, heavy and stiff. I often do use it because I have it on hand but I always regret it after wards. I don't prewash batting. Life is too short for that. I do wash quilts after I make them or tell new parents to wash it in their favorite detergent before giving it to the baby. I love the puckered look quilts get after washing so I was on warm and dry the quilt really well in the dryer.
Anna Quilts
I generally use Warm & White/Warm & Natural and have never found it to be stiff, after washing.Originally Posted by Annaquilts
Neesie
By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
~Richard Dawkins
Hmmmm.....I bought my first Hobbs 80/20 and I find that it is too stiff for my taste compared to the W&N I am accustomed to. I am in a bit of a quandry. I needed a king size batting and no W&N that size available. Bought Hobbs 100% cotton. WAY too thin. Bought 80/20 and it feels like card board. Back to the internet to find a W&N in a king no matter the cost!
I recently started using Hobbs 80/20 for baby quilts - I like the little added puffiness it gives. Nevertheless, still use Warm and Natural for everything else - love how it machine quilts and don't find it too stiff. Guess we're lucky to have so many battings available - something for everyone.
I prewash my fabric, but never my batting. I always use Warm & Natural off the big bolts, but intend to try the Hobbs.
I think only washing the outer fabrics and not the batting is a bit like washing only one's outer clothing and not washing one's underwear.
But to each his/her own way of doing (or not doing) things.
The only reason I prewash the outer fabrics is because of my sensitivity to the chemicals or dyes used, not because of shrinkage or color running issues. Since I don't have to handle the batting much and it's sandwiched while I'm sewing, it's not a problem. Like you said everyone has his own way. ~~ Please trust me when I say, I really do wash my underwear.
If I pre-washed the batting, it wouldn't give me the "old-fashioned" look, I so dearly love! BTW, I also wash my undies!
Neesie
By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
~Richard Dawkins
If you are referring to the look of quilts made from leftovers and do-overs from way back when, most of the components of those quilts had been washed almost to death - and the fillings were probably selvaged sheets or blankets - also washed to almost to death - and the finished quilts were tied. And there probably was little or no crinkle/pucker left to happen from shrinkage.If I pre-washed the batting, it wouldn't give me the "old-fashioned" look, I so dearly love! BTW, I also wash my undies!
But if you like crinkled/puckered - go for it!
I was referring to the old-fashioned quilts, with which I grew up. They were made by my grandmother. They were made from worn clothing, had cotton batting (I've seen it, through worn spots), and were hand-quilted . . . and yes, they were slightly puckered, from the batting shrinking.
Last edited by Neesie; 09-25-2012 at 02:42 PM.
Neesie
By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
~Richard Dawkins
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