Batting, leftovers. What is it?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pine Grove, PA
Posts: 466
Batting, leftovers. What is it?
I have left over batting in all shapes and sizes. How do I tell which are 100 cotton? I want to make bowlies and use only cotton. And from now on, my pieces will be tagged with size and content! Also is bamboo OK for bowlies? Thanks for your help!.😀
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 952
I put all left order batting in the bags that they come in or I put a note in a box telling me that all the batting is the same so that I can use it for whatever. Sorry, no answer for the bamboo, have never used it.
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,140
I would probably just buy more batting so I could be sure.
I suppose you could try a burn test on anything that is low loft & doesn't have a scrim (a scrim is when one side is smoother than the other). If it burns & only turns to ash, with no melty bits & no chemical smell, it's most likely cotton. That said, having worked years in the insurance industry & seeing what happens when people are "pretty sure" something was microwave safe, I really wouldn't risk it. They sell packages of "microwave-safe" batting (assuming you only plan to heat in 30 second increments for no longer than 2-3 minutes) at JAF. Since you only need the Craft Size & they have coupons available on their website for 40% off, I'd just get something where I knew it was 100% cotton with no chemical additives (e.g., bonding or bleaching agents).
I suppose you could try a burn test on anything that is low loft & doesn't have a scrim (a scrim is when one side is smoother than the other). If it burns & only turns to ash, with no melty bits & no chemical smell, it's most likely cotton. That said, having worked years in the insurance industry & seeing what happens when people are "pretty sure" something was microwave safe, I really wouldn't risk it. They sell packages of "microwave-safe" batting (assuming you only plan to heat in 30 second increments for no longer than 2-3 minutes) at JAF. Since you only need the Craft Size & they have coupons available on their website for 40% off, I'd just get something where I knew it was 100% cotton with no chemical additives (e.g., bonding or bleaching agents).
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Lake Stevens, WA
Posts: 1,914
Bamboo, as a grass, should be as safe as cotton -- again, check package labels to see if it is "bonded", meaning a chemical finish on the surface. Another test you could try is whether it melts or scorches when pressed with an iron set at "cotton".
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
For microwave use I sure would make the investment in batting that was specially made for that purpose. You keep reading about fires from folks using the wrong batting. Warm & natural says it's 100% cotton, but that's just the batt. They don't mention the polyester scrim, which is why you can't use it in the microwave.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Snowy Minnesota
Posts: 1,378
Just make sure you don't use any Insul-brite in something that might go in a microwave. While it's great for things like potholders, as it slows down the transfer of heat, it is all too likely to catch fire in a microwave. (The package directions are clear on this point.)
#8
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,559
I would avoid putting "bowlies" or batting in the microwave, period. It was always my understanding that the purpose behind them was to essentially act like a hot pad and protect your hands from a hot bowl after it comes out of the microwave, and not that it went into the microwave along with the food.
#10
I have used Warm & Natural or Warm & White batting in microwave bowls for 5 years & never had a problem with them catching on fire. I never put them in the micro for more than 3 minutes.
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