Advice needed - batting to use for big & soft & fluffy comforter.
#1
Advice needed - batting to use for big & soft & fluffy comforter.
I use store bought comforters instead of top sheets on my beds. I have made lots of quilts but they are never soft or fluffy like a store bought comforter. I've tried Warm& Natural, High Loft Mountain Magic, Quilter's Dream and bamboo bats. Nothing compares. Any ideas?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 548
There's Soft Soft High Loft by the Warm Company. I've never used it personally since it never gets that cold here but all the reviews I've seen are good. I use their regular poly batting and I like it. Quilters Dream might have a similar product but I can't afford them lol
#3
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,559
Well, a comforter is NOT the same thing as a quilt. If you are expecting quilts to be fluffy like comforters, I think you will be disappointed. The closest you might be able to get is to use a high-loft poly and tie it. The very action of quilting a quilt renders it not as fluffy as a comforter.
Having said that, I find wool batting to be wonderful for quilts. It's warm, lightweight, and on the fluffier side of the quilting spectrum.
Having said that, I find wool batting to be wonderful for quilts. It's warm, lightweight, and on the fluffier side of the quilting spectrum.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
There was a thread recently about the Warm & Plush batting but I don't think that will still get you to where you want to be. 'Quilts' typically are just not as high loft as 'comforters'. They are processed similarly, no doubt, but very different. If you want the 'high loft' of a comforter, use that term in your search for battings. You may not still get to a level that purchased comforters are but it may be closer for you.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,559
As I said before, if you want fluffy like a comforter, then use a fluffy poly batting and tie the quilt.
Last edited by Peckish; 09-11-2016 at 06:51 PM.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,733
I agree. A quilt is not a comforter. If you want something fluffly like a comforter, make a pieced cover for your comforter.
I always make my duvet covers and several years ago I decided to make a pieced cover. I quilted it to flannel and used that for the top of the duvet cover. It's a bit heavier than my other duvet covers but it works really well and I love the look of a quilt on the bed.
I always make my duvet covers and several years ago I decided to make a pieced cover. I quilted it to flannel and used that for the top of the duvet cover. It's a bit heavier than my other duvet covers but it works really well and I love the look of a quilt on the bed.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,140
The closest you will get is with a high loft 100% polyester batting like Cloud Loft (http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/SHOP...-Quilt-Batting). It is 5/8" thick & can be quilted up to 6" apart. To maintain the puffiness, I would use a polyester thread & would quilt at 6".
You could create a test sandwich with 2 layers of CL batting held together with basting spray to see if you can fit that under your machine needle (or else, check with your LA to see if she can do it -- sorry, I know nothing about LA machines). If you have a high shank machine, you might be able to get away with putting a medium foot on it (I've seen Patsy Thompson do that on YouTube with a ruler foot) to be able to give yourself enough space. The 2 layers of CL would be roughly the equivalent of most commercial comforter/quilts, but the challenge is that they have special machines to quilt those. Even my old Singer 353 which sews though pretty much everything would struggle with 1.25" of batting, plus 2 layers of fabric. If you don't mind hand quilting, you could always work with a long quilting needle (like the kind ThimbleLady sells at her online store) and quilt it with Big Stitch quilting at 6" apart.
I would not recommend quilting that far apart for anything you hope to keep long-term. It will last fine for 5-6 years, but beyond that, the stitching will very likely start to pull & snap. Then, the poly batting will start to shift & bunch. For a quick little project that is primarily designed to serve as a utility quilt, 7+ years is a nice life. If you put a lot of work into the quilt top, I would probably pair that with a different batting & would quilt closer together.
Good luck! Please post pictures when you've finished!
You could create a test sandwich with 2 layers of CL batting held together with basting spray to see if you can fit that under your machine needle (or else, check with your LA to see if she can do it -- sorry, I know nothing about LA machines). If you have a high shank machine, you might be able to get away with putting a medium foot on it (I've seen Patsy Thompson do that on YouTube with a ruler foot) to be able to give yourself enough space. The 2 layers of CL would be roughly the equivalent of most commercial comforter/quilts, but the challenge is that they have special machines to quilt those. Even my old Singer 353 which sews though pretty much everything would struggle with 1.25" of batting, plus 2 layers of fabric. If you don't mind hand quilting, you could always work with a long quilting needle (like the kind ThimbleLady sells at her online store) and quilt it with Big Stitch quilting at 6" apart.
I would not recommend quilting that far apart for anything you hope to keep long-term. It will last fine for 5-6 years, but beyond that, the stitching will very likely start to pull & snap. Then, the poly batting will start to shift & bunch. For a quick little project that is primarily designed to serve as a utility quilt, 7+ years is a nice life. If you put a lot of work into the quilt top, I would probably pair that with a different batting & would quilt closer together.
Good luck! Please post pictures when you've finished!
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Springfield, IL
Posts: 226
What a great idea to use a quilt top for a duvet. I am new to quilting so I read these threads for ideas. For over 40 years a knitted and crocheted afghans for tv viewing and cuddling up with a book. Now I am putting together my first quilt from squares I learned to make at a quilt class.
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