Another important element in the quilt is, of course, the batting. If someone is having health issues due to the fabric in a quilt, chances are, they may have issues with the batting used too. Here's a few of the safer, more eco-friendly batting choices out there. These might also be especially good for making a baby quilt.
Hobbs Heirloom Organic Cotton 100% USDA Certified organic cotton (unbleached)
(Grown and processed in Texas, USA.) Loft 1/8", stitch distance 3-5".
Pellon, Eco Cotton Blend Batting
Made from 100% recycled materials. 70% Recycled Cotton, 30% Recycled Polyester. (Made in the USA) Needle punched with Scrim, machine washable, 0-3% shrinkage.
Moda - United Notions, Soy Soft, 50% Soy Bean fiber/50% Organic Cotton, chemical free.
I was curious about this one. Here's a description from the Honey Be Good Site: "Soy Soft quilt batting is made of soybean protein fibers and organic cotton. It has the lustre of silk and the feel of cashmere. The fibers are stronger than wool cotton or silk. Naturally antibacterial and cleaned without harsh chemicals. The needle punch technology avoids the use of binders or resins. Will not shift or shed. Stitch up to 8 apart."
I found these at
http://Honeybegood.com, (a store that I love, but am not affiliated with,) but there are many other resources out there. It's probably best to just use a search engine to find your favorite retailer.
I'm also curious about bamboo and silk battings. Bamboo seems to be a sustainable plant source, but I wonder about how the batting is made and about how far it has to travel to get to my door. The same goes for silk.
If anyone else has some good batting suggestions, please feel free to post.
~ Cindy