go for it work from back you will be HAPPY when all is done

I took one apart a long time ago. As I remember it was not too tedious. Sometimes those forced slow down moments can be meditative almost. Put on a good movie or some lovely music and go for it!

If you love the quilt, it's worth it to try to save it....I would try to take to old batting out of it .......:)

I've done it. It's a booger but if you love the quilt - - do it. You're right about time consuming. Just work on it when you feel like it and be very careful where the stitches are small. I pull up on the top thread and swipe my ripper between the two threads so the top works through the back loop and just cut every once in a while. Good luck.

Thank you all for your responses. I will skin it!

Regarding the longarmer: She and I did discuss this, and she offered to quilt my next project free of charge.

I don't really blame her. She has quilted many of my quilts and I have been very happy with her work. This was the first quilt I asked for wool batting, and I didn't know there were different kinds, some washable, some not. We didn't have that conversation at all, I asked for wool and she said she had wool in stock, and I said okay. Another factor was that the quilting, while absolutely stunning, was much more dense than I asked for, and the thing felt like a tarp, very stiff. (This was also a function of the particular type of wool she used. She couldn't remember the brand, as it was her last package.) At that point I should have just used it as a wall quilt - a queen-sized wall quilt. It was gorgeous!

But, since this was for my daughter and I wanted cuddly, not stiff, I did wash it against her advice. So, my bad, lesson learned.

I will skin it. The back was pieced with the same fabrics and I would hate to lose it, but if necessary I will prepare a new back, buy the quality (washable) batting from my LQS, and take it back to her to quilt it again.

Y'all have a great weekend!

It sounds like she was using a lesser quality batting, perhaps. I highly recommend Quilter's Dream wool batting. It has a lovely, soft drape and is very cuddly. The quilt on our bed is wool and I have washed it several times. My husband commented that it's quite warm. (That was sort of a complaint, but I ignored it. He sleeps hot and always tosses the covers off anyway. :thumbup:)

I think it is the longarmer's problem. She should make this right for you.....at the VERY least refund your $$$$.

I got the quilt back from my daughter in anticipation of skinning it. Upon close inspection, I see that the batting is coming through the top, bearding is what it's called I think. I'm wondering if I put it through the wash a couple more times, all the wool will dissolve. If it did, I think I could live with the quilt. So much quilting to take out otherwise. What do you think?

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not happy with one I just butchered so you take it apart and sacrafice the backing?

I wonder if you could take one of those sweater shavers (not sure what they are really called but they "shave" off sweater pills) to remove that batting that has come through the top? Did it come through the back also? If the shaver removes the batting I might try washing it again to see what happens.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000F...&pi=SY200_QL40

I use these for big ripping jobs. I made a lap quilt that I loved, then put 2 layers of flannel for batting. It was soooo heavy, I hated it. So I took out the binding and all of the quilting in about 15 minutes with one of these. No rips or tears. But be careful, I have cut the fabric when taking hems out of flat sheets with these. I keep one by my machine at home and another in my travel sewing bag. You can also find them in larde farm stores.