"Gourmet batting". Hobbs 80/20 +1/2 layer of wool batting
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: East Kootenays, BC
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"Gourmet batting". Hobbs 80/20 +1/2 layer of wool batting
Cindy Needham mentions in her Craftsy class that she has often combined a layer of cotton and a half layer of wool in her quilts and I've heard longarmers also do this often. I was thinking of doing this on my current quilt project. I am not a longarm quilter but use a Sitdown sweet 16. I am also a spray baster. So I have a couple of questions for anyone with experience doing this. 1) my quilt is 95 x 109. Is this going to be an impossible size with a batting of 1 1/2 thickness to wrestle? I've done one this size, a little bigger actually with one W&N batt and it was fine, but challenging at times. 2). If I were to do this, as I am a spray baster, I'm assuming I would have to spray between the batting layers as well to stop shifting. Correct? 3) I have Hobbs 80/20 and a Quilters Dream wool batt. Do I have to worry about different rates of shrinkage between them, or is it even an issue?
My reasons for trying this combination are: additional warmth in the quilt (live in Canada ;-)), more quilting definition in the end product, and the drape and memory of wool batting.
any insight on this subject would be appreciated.
thanks,Kathy
My reasons for trying this combination are: additional warmth in the quilt (live in Canada ;-)), more quilting definition in the end product, and the drape and memory of wool batting.
any insight on this subject would be appreciated.
thanks,Kathy
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
(1) You can make handling a quilt this size easier by suspending the quilt. Leah Day does this. Also check the QB for quilters who have purchased the Jenoop system: http://www.jennoop.com/suspenders.html or made their own from PVC.
(2) The cotton and wool battings would want to grab each other; however, I would still use a very light layer of basting spray between them.
(3) Shrinkage should not be a problem as long as your quilting lines are at least moderately close together -- I would estimate no more than 3" or so apart. The quilting stitches "bond" the two layers together within the small confine between quilting lines. Any differences in shrinkage within such a small area would be unnoticeable.
(2) The cotton and wool battings would want to grab each other; however, I would still use a very light layer of basting spray between them.
(3) Shrinkage should not be a problem as long as your quilting lines are at least moderately close together -- I would estimate no more than 3" or so apart. The quilting stitches "bond" the two layers together within the small confine between quilting lines. Any differences in shrinkage within such a small area would be unnoticeable.
#5
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,131
I still quilt on my Bernina 1530 and wouldn't want to put that thickness thru my baby. I am so lucky to be living in So CA. I have a package of Hobbs wool batting which I STILL have never used.
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 15,975
I combine battings all the time. I rarely use just one layer. I quilt with a Brother 1500 sit down machine and never have a problem with any of the combos I use. One layer of cotton batting is too thin, almost like nothing there.
#7
I have just finished the 3rd utility quilts for my girls. Each has a double layer of Morning Glory HiLoft poly batting for super warmth (we live in a very cold area during the winter). I did straight line quilting with the walking foot on my Janome 6600. Yes, it was bulky.....yes, it was difficult at times to maneuver all that bulk.....no, I didn't attempt fmq.....yes, my 6600 zoomed right through them with no tension issues..... yes, my girls love them because they are super warm.....no, it will not fit in my washer (laundromat only).
#8
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: East Kootenays, BC
Posts: 947
(1) You can make handling a quilt this size easier by suspending the quilt. Leah Day does this. Also check the QB for quilters who have purchased the Jenoop system: http://www.jennoop.com/suspenders.html or made their own from PVC.
(2) The cotton and wool battings would want to grab each other; however, I would still use a very light layer of basting spray between them.
(3) Shrinkage should not be a problem as long as your quilting lines are at least moderately close together -- I would estimate no more than 3" or so apart. The quilting stitches "bond" the two layers together within the small confine between quilting lines. Any differences in shrinkage within such a small area would be unnoticeable.
(2) The cotton and wool battings would want to grab each other; however, I would still use a very light layer of basting spray between them.
(3) Shrinkage should not be a problem as long as your quilting lines are at least moderately close together -- I would estimate no more than 3" or so apart. The quilting stitches "bond" the two layers together within the small confine between quilting lines. Any differences in shrinkage within such a small area would be unnoticeable.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
I often use more than one layer of batting. Typically one layer is cotton , and the other a thin layer of poly or wool. It depends on my budget if its wool or poly. Love the results... it really give the quilting definition.
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