I, too, am a W&N user so can't speak for any other kinds of batting. But, I've joined pieces using the zigzag on the machine with no issues with the feed dogs. Have also whipstitched by hand. My only recommendation when doing it by machine, with W&N in particular, is to watch which way you lay the pieces together. Otherwise you do get stretching as Julybaby8 mentions. And if you're planning to hand quilt, I don't know how advisable the heat tape would be for that purpose.