In the olden days when I could hand quilt I used Fairfield 80/20. It's like quilting through air. But then my cat decided is was better than salmon, which eventually ended up with a trip to the vet for x-rays--no batting inside her but a good 6" had been licked off my quilt. Then the other cat to the vet...she was clean too... (Lord only knows...). So that was the end of that.

I switched to Hobbs Heirloom, did one Hobbs black, which was hard to quilt through, and my other cat adored and pulled tufts up (like bearding) through the top.

Now I have to have everything to the LA'er and I use Warm and Natural or Warm and White. It is a little stiff. But Joann always has it 50% off or on a coupon and then 20% on the other coupon, and you can buy it off the bolt or in a package. Every penny counts when you're trying to live on Soc Sec. And Warm is a local company.

My favorites are silk and wool. However, It has to be a really special quilt for me to splurge for those batts and I really look for special prices. However, for most quilts I use Hobbs 80/20 which I usually get at Hobby Lobby for 40% off. One significant advantage for using the same batting all the time allows me to join pieces when I need a slightly larger size. By so doing I am assured that when washed all areas will shrink uniformly. If you join different batting pieces or even different brands the shrinkage pattern will be obvious on the front. When I store my batting scraps I always make a straight cut on one edge-intended for joining- and measure the piece BEFORE FOLDING AND STORING. I am surprised at how many of my scraps I am able to use. After all, you pay the same amount per square inch for the batting scraps as you do for the part you use in your quilt.

Have you been to Marshall's Dry Goods? They are in Batesville Arkansas.
http://www.marshalldrygoods.com/index.php

I did not see on their website if they sold batting by the yard, but you can contact them and see if they will in the store. If you have not been in there, you are in for a treat. Much better prices than their website and their website has great prices.

All y'all are enablers... I just bought two wool battings from Connecting Threads because of this thread... at a GREAT price! :)

I don't think cotton batting is your best bet. It has to be quilted with lines or design very closely together or you will get little cotton balls after a few washings. If you are quilting for heavy use I think a polyester batt or warm and natural is much better. JMHO

Marshall Dry Goods has a 30 yard roll for $110.00 plus tax, is this a good price?

http://www.marshalldrygoods.com/inde...iewCat&added=1

I always watch for Connecting Threads Warm and Natural batting to go on sale and get my king size batting for $25.....best price I've found unless you buy a roll of batting when JoAnnes has their 1/2 off 1 cut...then I buy $100 worth...lasts a long time!

I try to buy 2 or 3 bats at a time when JoAnn's has Warm & Natural batting on sale, I think it's about $24 or so for a king-size batting. Otherwise, I'd check Connecting Threads or Hancock's of Paducah. When I was doing a whole lot of quilting, I would buy a box of batting, either 4 king-size, or 6 queen size Warm & Natural batting - I was good to go for a long time. It averaged out to be a lot cheaper that way. Maybe you have a friend that you could split the order with, just a thought.

I do mostly hand quilting and I find I work best with polyester.

I buy warm & natural but ONLY when it is 50% off.