Originally Posted by
maviskw
We used to cover the wool batt with cheesecloth or some very light fabric. It was basted on with needle and thread. The top and back were sewn together, turned right side out and the batt slipped inside. Then that was tied, not too close together. When the top was dirty, it was taken apart, the outside washed (and repaired) and put back together and re-tied.
Wool batts do not need washing as often as you would think. As a natural fiber, they do not hang onto odors. Even with children who wet the bed, washing the outside was enough.
Sounds like when Grandma removed the feathers, washed the feather tick in the summer, then stuffed the feathers back inside along with some new ones. The only wool my family had were a few wool double blankets. I'd vote for Evelyn Sloppy's faux cathedral windows ragg quilt, and it does not require turning the circle right side out. As Woody and Jan have said, the ragg quilts are comfortable and stand up to the wear.