A little batting 101?
10-07-2010, 10:00 PM
#12
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,312
Originally Posted by Flying_V_Goddess
I've been getting in shirts for my t-shirt quilt so I've been thinking about the other materials I'll need. And today I've been hitting the batting. But its actually been a couple years since I've completed a quilt so I realized I forgot a some of what I know about batting since I haven't worked with it for a while.
I found out most of what I forgot through Internet sites and YouTube videos, but I'm having trouble finding a couple things. I remember that you should have your batting be bigger than your quilt top and backing, espessily if you're sending out your quilt to a long arm quilter. But I can't remember how much bigger your batting should be. Or even if you really need extra batting all around or if you do should your backing be the same size as your batting.
And I'm thinking about cotton batting, but a lot of sources say it shrinks a little and I'm a little worried what the shrinkage would do on a t-shirt quilt that has a few hard to find shirts. Could the batting be shrunk before being put into the quilt (spend a little time int eh dryer maybe?)?
Also thinking of getting black batting as all the t-shirts are black and the quilt will have grey sashing and borders, but the only black battings I've been able to find (so far) are polyester. Are there any sites that offer black batting in cotton or maybe even a cotton blend?
I found out most of what I forgot through Internet sites and YouTube videos, but I'm having trouble finding a couple things. I remember that you should have your batting be bigger than your quilt top and backing, espessily if you're sending out your quilt to a long arm quilter. But I can't remember how much bigger your batting should be. Or even if you really need extra batting all around or if you do should your backing be the same size as your batting.
And I'm thinking about cotton batting, but a lot of sources say it shrinks a little and I'm a little worried what the shrinkage would do on a t-shirt quilt that has a few hard to find shirts. Could the batting be shrunk before being put into the quilt (spend a little time int eh dryer maybe?)?
Also thinking of getting black batting as all the t-shirts are black and the quilt will have grey sashing and borders, but the only black battings I've been able to find (so far) are polyester. Are there any sites that offer black batting in cotton or maybe even a cotton blend?
Thanks,
Sherryl
Candlequilter
10-09-2010, 06:16 AM
#14
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,703
Originally Posted by littlehud
I would love to see a pic of the quilt. It sounds cool.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-63742-1.htm
10-09-2010, 06:44 AM
#15
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Wilbur, WA
Posts: 757
Since the quilt is going to Alabama (and it's hot) I'd suggest a wool batting. Wool breathes and is perfect for southern or summer quilts. It wouldn't need to be black. Just be warned: when wet it will smell like a wet....sheep.
As for the batting size - check with the quilter. We all have our individual requirements. I prefer 4" extra all the way around for both the back and batting. That said, most of my customers buy the batting from me, and I just cut what I need off the roll.
As for the batting size - check with the quilter. We all have our individual requirements. I prefer 4" extra all the way around for both the back and batting. That said, most of my customers buy the batting from me, and I just cut what I need off the roll.
10-09-2010, 08:09 AM
#16
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,703
Originally Posted by Shelley
Since the quilt is going to Alabama (and it's hot) I'd suggest a wool batting. Wool breathes and is perfect for southern or summer quilts. It wouldn't need to be black. Just be warned: when wet it will smell like a wet....sheep.
As for the batting size - check with the quilter. We all have our individual requirements. I prefer 4" extra all the way around for both the back and batting. That said, most of my customers buy the batting from me, and I just cut what I need off the roll.
As for the batting size - check with the quilter. We all have our individual requirements. I prefer 4" extra all the way around for both the back and batting. That said, most of my customers buy the batting from me, and I just cut what I need off the roll.
10-09-2010, 05:10 PM
#19
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,570
I would talk to the longarmer before going any further. There's been a lot of discussion in the longarm groups that I belong to about T-shirt quilts. Some longarmers don't do them at all, while others specialize in them. Be sure that the person you go to has some experience with them. This person can also tell you about the type of batting that works best, how much bigger it must be, etc. I don't do longarming for others, but on my own quilts I want 3-4 inches extra batting and backing on each side so I can test my stitch length and tension off the quilt. (I add a piece of scrap top fabric to do this.) I need a little extra top and bottom, but not as much as on the sides. However - what you think of the sides may turn out to be the top and bottom on the longarm, depending on the size of the quilt and the size of the quilting frame.
10-09-2010, 05:19 PM
#20
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Odessa, Washington
Posts: 1,872
Hobbs has black cotton batting (just google Hobbs batting). You can pre-shrink the batting - it should have directions on the batt package for that.
As a long-arm quilter, I ask for 8" wider and longer then the quilt top for both the batting and the backing. So if your quilt top measured 60" square, I would likethe backing and batting to be 68" square. The quilt backing and batting have a way of creeping during the quilting process. I have had a quilt lose as much as 3" in width and length due to the intensity of the quilting shrinking it.
Do find a long-armer who specializes in doing t-shirt quilts. Some of us have never done them and you don't want us to learn on your quilt. If you would like a recommendation of somewhere to ask about the quilting, just PM me and I'll give you a website - not me or mine, nor am I affiliated in any way, just know they specialize in t-shirt quilts.
Hope that helps and we'd like to see a picture of this when you are finished!
As a long-arm quilter, I ask for 8" wider and longer then the quilt top for both the batting and the backing. So if your quilt top measured 60" square, I would likethe backing and batting to be 68" square. The quilt backing and batting have a way of creeping during the quilting process. I have had a quilt lose as much as 3" in width and length due to the intensity of the quilting shrinking it.
Do find a long-armer who specializes in doing t-shirt quilts. Some of us have never done them and you don't want us to learn on your quilt. If you would like a recommendation of somewhere to ask about the quilting, just PM me and I'll give you a website - not me or mine, nor am I affiliated in any way, just know they specialize in t-shirt quilts.
Hope that helps and we'd like to see a picture of this when you are finished!
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