Cotton batting is very good and yes, the spray basting does hold it very well. I normally use the blue can from Walmarts, its called June Taylor. It hold very well and I put my quilt away for months and went back to it and it was still holding. It doesn' not gunk up your needles. I just took a class and the teacher loves Sullivans spray. She says it holds well and you can actually lift off if you got wrinkles, etc and then iron it back and it sticks. I've tried 505 but was more impressed by the Walmarts brand; I felt it held better but I know others who love it. So it could be that maybe I didn't spray as well as I should. I'm like you; theres no way I'm going to get on the floor and pin. W & N is super good batting.