Batting, bearding, and blah, blah, blah…
#1
Having recently discovered the joy of bearding (no, not the type us guys can razor off), I did a little looking into the possibilities of eliminating said problem. What I discovered was that even the black batting I was considering still has the problem and the only real solution, given me by Leslee, was to possibly use a couple layers of flannel and avoid batting altogether. Grrr…
That said, I did find an interesting article on batting, and the problem, online:
http://www.masterstech-home.com/The_Sewing_Room/Articles/BattingFAQ.html
I hope you find this as enlightening as I did. It’s just that investing so much time into hand quilting, I’ve come to hate bearding and all it entails. I’d rather shave every day, and that’s saying a lot!
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Becky
Posts: 706
Thanks Steve, for the education on Batting. I had used W&N in the past. And it was very difficult to hand or machine Quilt. I thought it was me. I did'nt know there could be so many pbls with batting. So is their an answer for the perfect batting? Sometimes ignorance is bliss? But it's also nice to know that most MFG's stand behind their product. Which means for me to list the batting in the quilt making, that way if there is a oooppppps, then I'll know where to look first.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,097
It's a rather old article, and there are MANY new batts since then. There are needlepunched poly battings that are less prone to bearding.
Warm and natural batting is much easier to quilt after you prewash it. It's still not as easy as polyester, but easier than it is right off the bolt/out of the bag. Cotton doesn't beard as much as poly.
Wool will beard, but the new commercial wool batts (since the time of that article) are being developed specifically to combat that problem. I am helping a friend with a locally-made wool batt, and it does beard. It's still WONDERFUL to quilt through. :-)
Using a good-quality cotton calico for your quilt top and backing will help prevent bearding. Poly fabrics will be much worse.
Warm and natural batting is much easier to quilt after you prewash it. It's still not as easy as polyester, but easier than it is right off the bolt/out of the bag. Cotton doesn't beard as much as poly.
Wool will beard, but the new commercial wool batts (since the time of that article) are being developed specifically to combat that problem. I am helping a friend with a locally-made wool batt, and it does beard. It's still WONDERFUL to quilt through. :-)
Using a good-quality cotton calico for your quilt top and backing will help prevent bearding. Poly fabrics will be much worse.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Los Lunas, New Mexico
Posts: 426
Steve, thanks for the link. I have not had any bearding problems. I use W&M, wool, and quilters dream. I just tried thermamore (spelling ?) It is thin and very warm. Batting seems to be my big problem...not knowing which to use in my quilts.
#8
One of my friends that does long-arm quilting told me that when she has one the beards a lot, she just uses a spray bottle of water - gives 'em a spritz & most of them suck back inside when they dry! Easy & worth a try, huh?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post