My grandmother mainly used old blankets for the batting of her quilts. Knowing that I started shopping in my linen closet. One of the things I found was an old matteress cover - full or queen sized - elastic around most of it. If I cut the elastic off I have quite a large piece. Thoughts on using this for the batting of some largish lap quilts?

go for it - will make a nice warm quilt

I made one with a matress pad for batting. I worked great, nice and warm but a little heavy. My oldest son loves it.

Yes, use it. I love quilts but probably because of my back hills raising, I am more comfortable with a warm, heavy quilt. A mattress pad works nicely that way. And it's probably already been washed a few times so no shrinkage.

Go for it. Quilting use to be about using what you had.

I have an opinion -- it's only an opinion -- so throw my opinion away if you want. The mattress pad will work for a simple quilt which does not have hours and hours of work, and you have not invested in pricey fabrics to make a beautiful quilt top. If the quilt is utilitarian in nature, and will be drug through dirt or sand on a beach, or grass stained in the park -- yes, go for it. Use the mattress pad for the batting. And it will service you for years! But...but...if you are investing in making a thing of beauty with gorgeously chosen fabrics, and skill in piecing, and it can possibly become a family heirloom....draw the line here. Don't use the mattress pad instead of batting at this point, and cheapen your project. So, the question is really: "What is the purpose of the quilt?" That's just an opinion.

i recycled a mattress pad and made an emergency blanket for my car. Just cut off what I didn't want and sandwiched the blanket.

got a chance to practice machine quilting too.


that blanket is nice and warm.

Happy New Year!!!

chris

Use what you got, thats the name of the game.

Go for it :D:D:D

I agree. If it was a quilt I planned on throwing in the back of the car for picnicing or an emergency quilt I would consider it. But not for something that I spent a whole lot of money on the fabric and a whole lot of time making.

I would be more likely to use a good wool blanket for batting than a mattress pad.

Kathy - I totally agree. I am trying to use something different in each project I do so that I'll KNOW what I'm doing somewhere down the road. The quilt tops that need batting right now are made from strips I bought off Ebay. I got one pattern from a book and made up the other one from things I've seen on this board. Very little invested in either materials or time. I don't even know the purpose for these yet. They may end up in cars or yards or may be donated somewhere that's not too picky!

I truly appreciate your opinions and was thrilled to hear a dissenting, well-thought out, opinion. Gave me something to thing about and to learn from.

For this time I'm going with using what I have. I'm putting sheets on the back - makes a total investment in these quilts less than $20 each incuding everything - even the thread. Just perfect for my learning level at this point!

I also plan to FMQ these - gulp - so far a pocket on a bag is the only place I've tried this!

I love how you went "shopping" in your linen closet. Great idea!!!!!!!!!! :D

thats what our grandparents did recycle

I'll bet more quilts were made with new fabric than you'd think. Our grandmothers and older sewed their own clothes and had scraps left from clothes making. They would have turned that into quilts.

A lot of times you'll find an older quilt inside of a new one though.

Scissor, that's a good point! I bet they did also.
Haha, just caught my pun :D