Thread: joining batting

I was reading the thread on quilting in sections and read with interest (and enlightenment!) the process of joining your batting in an "s" line to avoid future creasing if it was done in a straight line. Wow...never thought about that but it makes good sense. My question is as follows: I have just whip stitched 2 lengths of batting together in a straight line and after reading the thread decided perhaps I should undo my joining and re-cut the pieces as suggested...but...I haven't enough width I think to do this as I was making do with what I had lying around. Now am I asking for trouble here? Should I bite the bullet, undo the stitching and buy another piece wide enough that I can attach with an "s" seam? This quilt is for my grandsons' bed and the join is going to be on the edge of the bed before the quilt drapes over the side.

Originally Posted by dunster

I used to join with the curved seam and whip stitch by hand. Now I just butt two straight pieces together and zigzag on the sewing machine. So much faster, and there's no problem with it coming apart or "showing" after quilting. I don't think there's any reason to fret over it, and certainly no reason to do it over.

This is what I do too w/a wide zig zag.I would not take it apart.I have whip stitched by hand too but jts more time consuming.

Originally Posted by dunster

I used to join with the curved seam and whip stitch by hand. Now I just butt two straight pieces together and zigzag on the sewing machine. So much faster, and there's no problem with it coming apart or "showing" after quilting. I don't think there's any reason to fret over it, and certainly no reason to do it over.

This method gets my vote ! I too have been joining batting for years with a wide zig zag, with no issues.

The S cut isn't a necessity; just an extra precaution. A straight line is fine as long as there is a moderate amount of quilting over the area. Might be a problem if quilting lines are 10" apart. Quilting over the join helps keep the batting from shifting. I would leave what you have done as is.

I'd never even heard about cutting batting with an S-curve. I'll have to try that sometime.

I make changing pads as my "practice sandwiches" and zig-zag multiple pieces together. Granted, I do quilt quite close together on those, but even after LOTS of washing in warm water & med-high heat in dryer, I've never seen any issues whatsoever.