Thread Bare Batting???
#1
Okay, so I laid out my first quilt for my sandwich and was very disappointed in the batting. It was paper thin in some places, but I went ahead and made my sandwhich and have spent hours handquilting on a couple of the squares. I thought "when it is washed it will probably fluff up". Now I am doubting myself. I paid close to $40 for the batting at JoAnn's, so I figured it was fine. What do y'all think? Should I rip it apart and start over?
I have added a picture of the batting bag. I didn't think about telling what kind it was. 100% cotton, loft height <1/4", no scrim, unbleached, bonded.
I have added a picture of the batting bag. I didn't think about telling what kind it was. 100% cotton, loft height <1/4", no scrim, unbleached, bonded.
picture of bag
[ATTACH=CONFIG]70098[/ATTACH]
#3
I bought a brand other than warm and natural at Joannes once and it did okay because it was a flannel quilt. I would never buy it again because it was very thin. I'm not sure what you should do next. But this is a great place for quilting assistance.
#4
if I was going to the time to hand quilt it I would be sure I had a good batting, even if that means taking it out and starting over. You may be right, it may fluff up but what if it doesn't? how important is the project?
#7
Originally Posted by rebeccalr
It was paper thin in some places, but I went ahead and made my sandwhich and have spent hours handquilting on a couple of the squares. I thought "when it is washed it will probably fluff up". Now I am doubting myself. I paid close to $40 for the batting at JoAnn's, so I figured it was fine. What do y'all think? Should I rip it apart and start over?
I wouldn't spend the time hand quilting a king-size project feeling unsure if the batting will hold up.
#10
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Okay, that is a very traditional batting -- the type that antique quilts were made with. When you wash the quilt, the whole quilt will softly crinkle. This is the look you get with traditional batting. I personally love this look.
This type of batting is going to be thin (package says 1/4" loft, which is thin) and look as if it has thick and thin spots. There is nothing wrong with the batting; this is traditional batting. The "cotton classic" in the name indicates this. Fairfield is a reputable brand.
How hard is it to hand quilt? The batting I usually use is Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon cotton batting, which is a traditional batting similar to the one you purchased (but *much* less expensive, I think!). It was hard to hand quilt because there is so much drag on the needle. Quilters Dream Request is supposed to be much easier to hand needle; not sure if it crinkles up the same way when washed, though, as I haven't used it. Quilters Dream is a newer manufacturer of batting, and theirs is needlepunched. Fairfield and Mountain Mist have been in business for many decades; their "classic" battings are traditional battings.
If you prefer a high-loft, more modern, comforter type look, the batting you are using will not give you that.
Personally, I would just finish hand quilting with this batting and then wash the quilt. I love the way a quilt looks with traditional batting.
Next time, if you want more fluffiness, try Hobbs Heirloom 80/20. This is a little thicker than a traditional batting, probably easier to hand-needle, and probably closer to the look you were expecting. Most of us are very accustomed to the polyester comforter look these days; the bed coverings we buy from the store are invariably high-loft polyester. Hobb 80/20 is sort of a middle ground between the traditional 100% cotton look and the modern, store-bought 100% polyester look.
This type of batting is going to be thin (package says 1/4" loft, which is thin) and look as if it has thick and thin spots. There is nothing wrong with the batting; this is traditional batting. The "cotton classic" in the name indicates this. Fairfield is a reputable brand.
How hard is it to hand quilt? The batting I usually use is Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon cotton batting, which is a traditional batting similar to the one you purchased (but *much* less expensive, I think!). It was hard to hand quilt because there is so much drag on the needle. Quilters Dream Request is supposed to be much easier to hand needle; not sure if it crinkles up the same way when washed, though, as I haven't used it. Quilters Dream is a newer manufacturer of batting, and theirs is needlepunched. Fairfield and Mountain Mist have been in business for many decades; their "classic" battings are traditional battings.
If you prefer a high-loft, more modern, comforter type look, the batting you are using will not give you that.
Personally, I would just finish hand quilting with this batting and then wash the quilt. I love the way a quilt looks with traditional batting.
Next time, if you want more fluffiness, try Hobbs Heirloom 80/20. This is a little thicker than a traditional batting, probably easier to hand-needle, and probably closer to the look you were expecting. Most of us are very accustomed to the polyester comforter look these days; the bed coverings we buy from the store are invariably high-loft polyester. Hobb 80/20 is sort of a middle ground between the traditional 100% cotton look and the modern, store-bought 100% polyester look.
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