making a soft quilt
 

There was a post earlier today from Coffeebreak about making a quilt that was soft. Many of you suggested multiple washings. This seems like a silly question, but, do you also dry it between washings, or do you just restart the washing machine? Do you add fabric softener? Like Leah advised, keep trying different combinations until you get the quilt you want. I'm still trying. Thanks for your help.

I use 100% cotton fabric, wool batting, hand quilting, wash my quilts in a front loader machine and damp dry them to make them soft. I love, love, love the one on my bed made like this and washed now about 8 times over the past couple of years.

Jan in VA

I have to agree with the wool batt if you want a soft cozy quilt. It comes out that way right after the quilting, doesn't even have to be washed. I know that doesn't help your situation with a quilt you are trying to soften now, that will take time with washing and drying I presume.

Luana, try drying the quilt in the dryer and see if that gets you the result you want. You can wash & dry it again if it's not soft enough. The most recent quilt I made only needed one pass through the washer & dryer to get soft. It's probably the softest quilt I've made to date - I wish I knew what kind of batting the quilter used! The density of quilting will also affect the softness of a quilt.

I would not recommend liquid fabric softener. I dry my quilts in the dryer on med heat.

I will have to give the wool batting a try...thank you for the tips, Jan!

I saw Hobbs wool batting at the Des Moines expo. I will see where I can purchase it and give it a try. Thanks for the advice.

Hancocks of Paducah and Connecting Threads both carry Hobbs battings.

Jan in VA

Thank you, Jan I was just looking at my new Connecting Threads catalog, now I will check out their website. Do you use Hobbs wool or do you have another favorite?

The softest quilts I have made have been all flannel (pieced top, backing and using flannel in place of batting). Before making the quilt I would wash and dry and wash and dry. Make sure to clean lint filter half way through drying cycle and also afterwards. I actually know someone that forgot to clean the lint filter and their kids new school clothes burned along with the dryer.

I use Joann's ultra cuddle fabric to back my quilts. They feel so soft and luxurious, everyone loves them.

I do not use batting, just sew the cotton quilt top to the ultra cuddle fabric using SITD.

Sometimes the key to making a soft quilt is not to quilt too close together..Just be sure to use a batting that allows you to quilt farther apart

When I want a soft quilt for a child or for a throw, I like to choose a flannel for the back. But for the softest ones I use fleece (polar fleece) and then do not use batting. I still quilt it on my long arm being careful not to over stretch the fleece. The blankets are then very solft and pliable.

Can't wait to try wool batting, either! And in my opinion, I really think that hand-quilted quilts are absolutely the softest and most cuddly. :)

I wouldrecommend liquid softner over the dryer softener sheets any time. I had a formal dress (washable), but I used dryer softner sheets in the dryer, and they left spots all over my dress. When I washed the dress, the spots came out.
I was able to use the liquid softener in the washer without any adverse effects.

Jeanette Frantz