The disappearing polyester batting
#21
That was my first thought when I saw it. It almost has a melted look to it, but if it still soft, that would not explain it.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Beautiful Oregon
Posts: 320
shrinkage
I know they say shrinkage is good, because it makes the quilt look soft and "older" etc. but I don't want mine to look that way. I pre-wash all my material to pre-shrink. My dear Granny taught me that years ago when we made clothing, so I can't get it out of my head.
I have been using poly batting from Dream Queen. So far, all of my quilts are about 3 months old -- lol. So you see, I need all the quilt-education I can get.
I will appreciate any opinions please.
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 4,582
I have a beginner's question. Does cotton batting need to be pre-shrunk? If not, will it shrink in the washing after it has been used?
I know they say shrinkage is good, because it makes the quilt look soft and "older" etc. but I don't want mine to look that way. I pre-wash all my material to pre-shrink. My dear Granny taught me that years ago when we made clothing, so I can't get it out of my head.
I have been using poly batting from Dream Queen. So far, all of my quilts are about 3 months old -- lol. So you see, I need all the quilt-education I can get.
I will appreciate any opinions please.
I know they say shrinkage is good, because it makes the quilt look soft and "older" etc. but I don't want mine to look that way. I pre-wash all my material to pre-shrink. My dear Granny taught me that years ago when we made clothing, so I can't get it out of my head.
I have been using poly batting from Dream Queen. So far, all of my quilts are about 3 months old -- lol. So you see, I need all the quilt-education I can get.
I will appreciate any opinions please.
#25
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
I had something similar happen to a quilt that I made for my DS when he was about 12, but he took that quilt wherever he went. He's now 39, so that tells you how long ago I made it. My point is that several years down the road with numerous washings, when he came home to live for the last time, I noted that the quilt had become very thin, not sure how, but the batting seemed to have almost disappeared. Granted I had used inexpensive polyester batting, but that's why I now use Warm & Natural in my quilts, as it seems to withstand the tests of time better than polyester, just my experience.
#26
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
I have a beginner's question. Does cotton batting need to be pre-shrunk? If not, will it shrink in the washing after it has been used?
I know they say shrinkage is good, because it makes the quilt look soft and "older" etc. but I don't want mine to look that way. I pre-wash all my material to pre-shrink. My dear Granny taught me that years ago when we made clothing, so I can't get it out of my head.
I have been using poly batting from Dream Queen. So far, all of my quilts are about 3 months old -- lol. So you see, I need all the quilt-education I can get.
I will appreciate any opinions please.
I know they say shrinkage is good, because it makes the quilt look soft and "older" etc. but I don't want mine to look that way. I pre-wash all my material to pre-shrink. My dear Granny taught me that years ago when we made clothing, so I can't get it out of my head.
I have been using poly batting from Dream Queen. So far, all of my quilts are about 3 months old -- lol. So you see, I need all the quilt-education I can get.
I will appreciate any opinions please.
Also, this info is often on the package or paper insert.
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Gaylord, MN
Posts: 4,011
Reading about batting not holding up makes me wonder about the fabric. I've read many comments about washing or not washing fabric first. Could anyone share some "happenings" about what has happened to quilts that the fabric wasn't prewashed and also if the fabric was bought at a store other than a quilt store. In my quilting group, some absolutely will use nothing but quilting store fabric, others use whatever they can find. I have done both or even combined quilt store fabric with fabric from box stores. Also - when you use a jelly roll or any other small pre-cuts that really can't be prewashed, how will they stand up - have any of you had good, bad or ugly results? Thanks for sharing.
#28
I have a quilt on my king sized bed made well over twenty years ago with poly batting. This quilt is wash at least twice a month or more due to my three little furry babies. It is almost as good as new. A little thinner but still lovely. It was machine quilter every three inches + or -. I think it's becaise it was tied way too far apart.
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1,669
My experience with quilt shop fabric is that some of it is twice as expensive and half as good as fabric sold by JoAnn, Hobby Lobby or even Wal Mart. Wherever you buy fabric, you've got to be knowledgeable enough to read and understand the end of the bolt and to know by the feel (called "hand") whether what you are getting is good enough quality to spend your money on. I am becoming more and more cautious about buying even well-known brands of fabric. I never pre-wash anything and now that color catchers are available, never worry too much about colors running. My mother always prewashed everything because in the old days, fabric sometimes shrank 10 percent. froggyintexas
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
To those of you who are worrying...
I wouldn't spend another minute worrying. If the quilt wears out, it wears out--it's an excuse to give the person another one.
Life is too short to spend fretting over presents you gifted in the past, wondering if they look like this.
If they do, at least it means the gift was used and then used up. I don't find that particularly annoying at all--it means that my work was appreciated for a number of years--or at least months. If any other present I gave would actually get "worn out" from use, then I consider that a gift that was well-thought of and appreciated.
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