peaceandjoy

Warm and Plush is 50% heavier than Warm and Natural. Warm and Natural has a scrim, which Warm and Plush does not have. No scrim means that Warm and Plush needs quilting to be a bit closer together; no more than 5", I think?

Many people have said that Warm and Plush shows the quilting lines more distinctly than Warm and Natural, even aster washing both. That may or may not be a plus for someone, depending on the look the maker is wanting. As I won't ahve that quilt back for another week or so, I can't really do much more than put the info out. Hopefully, I will soon be able to say that I do (or don't) care for it!

SophieHatter

Well, I've just had a look at what was available in John Lewis:
1) Brushed cotton flannel sheet. This seems awfully thin and flat for a quilt?!
2) Polyester, no labels, seems not very dense. I think this is what I used for Gran's quilt. It's OK.
3) Natural cotton, needled, it's this: https://www.johnlewis.com/cowens-nee...white/p3399982. Very lovely and fluffy and light, and not at all what I thought cotton wadding would be like, so that's a useful experience! But this one is perhaps a bit fragile. The lady behind the till said she uses it for all her quilting projects but you do have to treat it kindly. I think it's a "high loft" version, and if I get something denser it will be tougher but harder to sew. I can't find any info on what loft they'd call it, recommended quilting distance etc. - it seems Cowens specialise in "carriage and coffin trimmings" and kits for soaking up spills of hazardous substances, rather than crafting!

The polycotton was out of stock, so I don't know what that, or denser cotton, would be like.

I was also firmly told by the John Lewis staff that for a wedding present I should avoid polyester because it has a much lower range of comfortable temperatures (something I can agree with from my polyester jumpers which I can only wear when it is seriously freezing), and so was more likely to result in disputes over whether it was warm enough to need it on a bed! I hadn't thought of that parameter

SophieHatter

I've found yet another parameter! Does natural cotton make people sneeze? What about after it's in the quit?

ckcowl

I am a Huge Fan of wool batting. Hobbs and Dream wool being my favorites. I love The loftiness, the breathability, the ease of stitching is wonderful hand and machine, the drape Beyond compare. Each time one of my quilts with a wool batting come out of the dryer- after laundering once or twice a year- the quilt is simply Fabulous! Lofty, soft, huggable. It also shows beautiful quilting stitches well. I love wool batting.

SophieHatter

I know wool's the best, but I have MOTHS! Their larvae eat wool, and poo out dust. It is extremely depressing.

I am going to have to quilt this properly in 4" squares, so that will mean I can use fluffier and more natural stuffing.

These are my favourite options from my research:

1) Quilter's Dream 100% cotton (natural). Not sure whether I'd go for the lightest (Request) or medium (Select) loft. https://www.quiltersdreambatting.com...-dream-cotton/
2) Pellon Eco-cotton with Polyester. All the benefits of adding a bit of polyester without feeling guilty about the environment: http://www.pellonprojects.com/produc...otton-batting/
3) Bamboo blend 50/50. I can't find the manufacturer's website, but this one has details: https://www.secretgardenquilting.co....n-Wadding.html It's what they sell in my local haberdashery, which is ridiculously posh and eco-friendly!

They all are apparently fairly light but solid, soft, drapey, medium warmth and loft. They all say they are easy to hand sew. They all say you can sew up to 8" apart, so my 4" squares will be very secure. They are all mostly natural fibres, so will be breathable (I'd guess the bamboo most and the polycotton least, but all OK?). They all say you can bung them in a washing machine (once quilted) on a wool cycle. They all have some eco-friendly credentials. There are more things to compare (price, durability, availability and shrinkage may well differ) but I'd better go to bed now!

Any reviews of the above?

Peckish

I keep coming back to wool also. You state you have moths. In my experience, moths have only destroyed items that were being stored, not items that were actually being used and washed on a regular basis.

I have never heard of anyone sneezing because of cotton batting.

If you want "environmentally friendly", avoid bamboo. They claim it's sustainable, but the process it goes through to become soft batting is horrible for the environment.

My favorite batting is Quilter's Dream, both cotton and wool. I used wool in the quilt that lives on my bed and it deserves the name "dream". I wash it in cool water and tumble dry low.

Another thing to realize with wool batting is it will be completely enclosed by the top, backing, and binding.

SophieHatter

Thanks everyone!
I did use Quilter's Dream (Select weight) in the end, and it is lovely! It seemed easy enough to hand sew, not difficult like the normal cotton wadding a friend of mine tried (I can also recommend the Clover leather quilter's thimble, though).

SophieHatter

[ATTACH=CONFIG]619327[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]619328[/ATTACH]And here is the finished quilt!

Cheshirepat

Ah, I was hoping this would be the follow-up once you saw the thread revived here! Lovely! The hearts on the back is a very sweet touch!

SophieHatter

I will bear that in mind about the moths, but even my favourite cardigan that i wear all the time has got a moth-hole in today, so I'm glad I didn't risk it.