After reading much discussion about Warm and Natural batting here, I was thrilled when our local Hancocks offered it at 50% off over the MLK holiday weekend. I went in and bought some to try, and I'm really shocked at how thin it is-- like a piece of felt! Is that really thick enough to make a warm quilt?

Also, I read that it will shrink from 2-3 percent. What does that do to your finished quilt? Would that work better with fabrics that you did not prewash, so they can all shrink along together?

Please help this cotton newbie understand this. So many people seem to love this batting!

It may be thinner but it is warm. If you like a crinkly look, don't prewash your batting or fabric, and it is okay to prewash your fabric and not the batting too :D:D:D

It is very warm. And it works with either pre-washed or unwashed fabrics. If you feel very very strongly about no shrinking warping your quilt design, you can even prewash your warm and natural batt. I've done that in the past, with no problems.

I now like the slightly crinkled look you get after washing, so I don't prewash anything unless I have reason to believe it is likely to run (reds and purples).

If you are accustomed to the higher loft poly batts, warm and natural may seem very light to you, and the finished look is going to be quite different. I'd suggest sewing something small (runner, placemats, small bag) with it to get a feel for how it will look quilted.

RST

Thanks, ya'll. More opinions welcome, too...

I use the 80/20 batting because I don't want any shrinkage. I have read of several people here using 2 layers of W & N for extra warmth.

I have used W&N for all but one of my quilts. I pre-wash my fabrics but usually do not pre-wash the batting. I did pre-wash it once when I wanted the quilt to be flat.

I love working with Warm and Natural. I prefer the flatter quilting over the puffy look anyway. And yes, they are warm. The one on my bed is a W&N quilt!
I did succumb to frugality once and bought a different brand, and will never touch it again! Every time I touched that batting it left finger marks in it, it was so thin and loosely put together.

I use it and find it warm and cuddely without being too bulky. It handles well in the machine and can be hand-quilted.

It allows for greater distance in quilting lines but I always quilt more than the bare minimum.

Some of my quilts start with prewashed fabric - some with unwashed fabric. I cannot really tell the difference once the quilt is washed. However, I love the look of the quilt after it is washed and a little puckered.

Only experience will tell you if YOU like it or not.

I use two layers in most of my quilts. I found a LA who does great job basting my quilts for me and I really like the two layer thickness.

Sometimes I'd like a puffier look (as for a tied quilt), I used a medium loft - Dream Orient, but would like even a fuller look.

What other good hi-lofts are there? And are they all Poly's?

Has anyone used a pre-quilted backing?