Austinite

Batting is very personal. I first went with the absolute cheapest when I started for obvious reasons and it would just fall apart when I washed the quilt, I'd end up with big balls of batting here and there. Then I tried W&N, mostly cause it was one that JAF carried at the time and it was lovely to work with but super hot for my climate so I tried a few more things (other cotton battings, cotton and poly blends, I did try one silk and it was lovely but very expensive) and somehow I landed on Soft & Bright which is a low loft 100% poly made by the Warm Company. It quilts beautifully and it works well with my climate and it dries really quickly in the dryer and it works for my budget. I have no idea how many rolls I've gone thru over the years LOL, I get them on either Walmart or Amazon.

If you can afford it, you could get a crib or twin sized of various brands and try them on projects and see which one you like best!

quiltingshorttimer

I like Hobbs 80/20 for most quilts
I love Hobbs all Cotton Supreme as it's great loft and so soft--but little pricey and I always end up with fuzzies on me.
I would use Hobbs washable wool on everything if I could afford it! I often use 80/20 and washable wool if wanting a double bat to show the quilting
for poly, which I will use on kids quilts (not baby quilts due to flamability) or others that will get lots of washing but also want more loft than Hobbs 80/20 I prefer Quilters Dream poly.

mkc

This is a great topic! Thus far, I have only used Quilter's Dream Cotton, and my quilts have been for us. Now I have a couple of quilts in progress for family members and am researching batting so I don't have to worry about them washing the quilts. I also just got my longarm, so I've got that to factor in.

Iceblossom

Thought I'd chime in, and just discuss personal preferences and/or project needs a bit. Generally I prefer a puffier poly batting with less quilting than the current trend of densely quilted W&N (warm & natural/bright). Plus that feels very heavy and weighty to me. There are other times, however, when that is exactly the look/feel I'm wanting (that is, dense quilting or I want the weight). And then there are times when I want something very thin -- maybe even just a layer of flannel, I'm finding that when using things like fleece that I still like just a bit of something for the stitches to bite into. Typically when I make a crib quilt it is about half the loft of what I use for queen sized projects.

Most of what I do is "use" quilts, and most of those are donations. I'm not doing a lot of fancy stuff, mostly simple meanders or grids and now have a machine that has an automated serpentine stitch and will be using that a lot. Also, as someone who has allergies I'm trying to make things that will last while being washed often.

When I had access to my friend's long arm we had rolls of both W&N and a poly batting, I've used both. They both have their uses, as do specialty batts.

Peckish

I think this is another one of those topics that is heavily dependent on your personal preferences, what look/texture/weight you're going for, etc.

Quilter's Dream sent me a sample book of their battings at no charge. I've been a QD girl for several years, I *love* their wool, but it's nice to see what other products they offer.

tropit

I'm making a quilt using wool for the first time. I love it, so far. Can you wash it? I'm thinking machine wash in cold water, lay flat to dry.

Claire123

I think it depends what you're looking for. For example, do you want to emphasize piecing or quilting? If it's quilting, go with wool, if it's piecing go with a blend - cotton/poly, cotton/wool. If it's strength you need, go with Warm & Natural. If you're going to hand quilt it, go with Hobbs 80/20 or a thin Dream cotton. Other considerations, is it going to be washed many times or hung on a wall, and above all, what is your own personal taste. You may also want to consider, depending on your project, how far apart the quilting can be.
I am in the process of trying several different batting and have yet to figure out my favorite. I can tell you for sure, with everything else being equal, different battings will change the overall look and feel of the quilt.

Sheri.a

I believe it depends on the brand of wool you purchase. The quilts I make with Hobbs Wool says it is washable. I typically wash in cool water (I've also used warm) and air dry under a ceiling fan.

mkc

I'm curious about the drying process - how do you handle/support a bed-size quilt to air dry?

Battle Axe

All I can tell you is that I have owned a laundromat for 9 years now.
1. Don't dry on high heat.
2. Use the largest drum you can find. This give the quilt space to flex and release the moisture.
3. Check if often, re-position in the dryer.
4. Dry on delicate setting if the dryer has one.
5. Orvis is probably the best soap for quilts as you have no idea where these fabrics came from.
6. Good luck!!