grandma7

I have had both shoulders replaced and my left one doesn't work quite like the original. The strength in both shoulders is diminished, as well. I find that I am unable to quilt on my DSM and a long arm is not an option.

I believe that I can tie my quilts and have a good friend who will help me. My question is about the batting. When I have been machine quilting, I have been using W&N low loft. Should I use a polyester batting with a higher loft when I tie the quilt?

Thank you for all of your responses

Judy

Krisb

A higher loft bat works well for a tied quilt, but you could use a lower loft if you like the look/feel. Just remember to tie at the same distances as needed for quilting for that batting. If you have a batting that needs to be quilted 2”,you need a tie every 2” in every direcion.

One of my first quilts used a poly batting, comforter loft. It coukd never have been quilted; it was too thick. So it was tied. That quilt kept us warm in a house with only wood heat through -40.

Tartan

When I tie a quilt, I like the puffy look of a polyester batt. I only tie smaller quilts and I use my QSnap floor frame to keep the quilt layers taut as I put in my rows of stitches. I use long lengths of Perle cotton thread and space the stitches 4 inches apart. I then cut between the stitches and that gives me 2 inch thread ends to tie a surgeons knot with. If you want fluffy ties, use yarn. I hope your shoulders continue to improve.

Geri B

.....or how about big stitch hand quilting?

nativetexan

I still like my quilts flat. use Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 in most of my quilts. or i have used Hobbs Thermore thinsulate.

Jingle

I don't tie quilts but, I almost always use high loft poly batting.

Irishrose2

We tie our prayer quilts for the church and the slightly puffy poly works up so much better, IMO. I buy a roll from JoAnn's that is 48" wide.

grandma7

Thanks for your help. Geri B, I did do the big stitch on a baby quilt, using the W & N like I do when I machine quilt. I had problems "catching" the back evenly and properly. I felt like the batting was too much. I did not do as much research on the big stitch, so I wonder what loft/type of batting works well for that, as well. I actually love the hand quilting process, so wish to get better at big stitch, as well.