What's your favorite batting?
 

I have a 9inch machine on a grace frame and am wondering what your favorite battings are. I used a poly for a couple of charity quilts...my husband likes heavy quilts so I tried 2 layers of warm & natural...
I wanna know what the most of us prefer.
Thanks,
Kirsten

I used Quilters Dream 100% cotton for the first few quilts I made since I started back quilting last year ( I took a 20 year hiatus). I loved how nice it was to work with. The last quilt I made, I used Hobbs wool. I became a quick convert. The wool seemed so much lighter by weight, the quilted areas had more definition, and I think it just looks nicer. Wool does cost a bit more, but considering it takes me 6 months to finish a quilt (I work full time), I don't have to think about it often.

My favorite is Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon 100% cotton, but I am unusual in this choice. It is a *very* traditional batting and replicates the look and feel of a vintage quilt. Things I like about it: (1) light in weight with a very soft drape, so is easy to wrap yourself up in the quilt, (2) thin, so I can machine quilt closely with a fine thread and still have a soft quilt, (3) gets softer with every machine wash and dry. I had the opportunity to handle a baby quilt I had made perhaps 20 years ago. It had held up to many trips through the washing machine and dryer and, when touched to the cheek, felt soft as a cloud.

It is getting harder to find this batting, so I am thinking of trying out Quilter's Dream cotton to see how it compares. (Quilter's Dream is needlepunched, so more stable than Mountain Mist.)

I have tried almost everything. My preference is Thermore by Hobbs because of the way it handles, drapes and feels. for one quilt for myself, I used 2 layers of it, since I get cold really easily. My second choice is Matilda's Own, an Aussie wool bat that is thick and lovely, but not cheap or easy to get. If I were doing hand quilting, it would probably be my top preference. My guild uses either Warm and Natural or Hobb's 80/20 for our LA.

It depends upon the project. Usually use Warm and White. For better drape use Bamboo. Love Dream Wool for dimension and softness. Quilters Dream cotton is thinner than Warm and White, so this might be good for wall hangings. A high loft poly is good for Faux Trapunto. Flannel can be used for warmth and thin in clothing. Insulbright for insulation.

When I began quilting I used poly. My firstroject Iurchased some poly and didn't realise there was different thicknesses and mine was way too thick looking back. Then I began using woll, cotton, Hobbs dream etc because I was told it was the one to use. My last quilt is being done with poly and I realise that for lightness and definition it is so good.
I've come to the conclusion in the last few weeks that I must select for purpose and not be led by others.

I used to use the Warm & Natural all the time. Now my preference is Hobbs 80/20. It has a nice feel and drape to it.

My absolute favorite is Hobbs Heirloom 80% cotton 20% poly. It's so easy to work with. I have a lot of trouble with 100% cotton batts, they make sandwiching hard for me.

i love, love, love wool batting, second choice is hobbs 80/20...then any and all of the dream battings, dream green, dream orient, dream poly, dream wool (favorite) dream cotton, dream bamboo (another fav)...pretty much any batt made by the dream company is - a dream to work with-
all time least fav---fairfield batts- followed closely by w&n...those i never ever spend my $$ on.
there are many wonderful batts on the market- try them & see what you like best- every project deserves special consideration. every 'special occassion' quilt i make i try to use wool- it is so wonderful; and out of the 3 quilts i've made for my own bed the wool one is the one that is used the most- year around...the other 2 are too heavy for summer use- the wool is light & lofty

I have used Dream cotton and I love it, but find the Hobbs 80/20 much easier to work with, and less expensive. That is primarily what I use now.