Batting for a newbie to FMQ
 

I've just started to teach myself to FMQ. Is there a type/brand of batting that's best to learn on? I want to make sure I'm not making this harder for myself. :)

Thanks

I use whatever I have a leftover piece of. At this point I don't know that anything would make it easier for me!

since you are practicing, try what ever is on sale- or you have a coupon for & make yourself notes about how you like the different ones or don't like them & the why's...then when you are ready to quilt big special quilts you will know which batting you like to work with- what you have the best luck with. be sure & read the packaging -- it will tell you how close you need to quilt- some batting needs to be quilted every 2"-4" some allow up to 10" between quilting lines- 2" quilting is pretty dense- 10" quilting allows pretty open-easy designs- follow the recommendations so the batting does not pull apart make empty spaces & balled up clumps of batting when the quilt is laundered or with use. a batting like warm & natural has scrim (a net like material that the fibers are punched into making it a very stable batting - do you have scraps left over from your table runner/placemats project? scraps are great to practice on- and you can butt them up- to each other & stitch a wide zigzag to join them & make them bigger. many of us piece batting even for big quilts since it is common to have long pieces left over after quilting a quilt. there is also a fusible tape that can be used to join batting - but a zigzag is pretty easy (& doesn't cost more than a little thread

I agree with this.

I was making a couple of bed pillows to match a quilt I just finished and went to my batting stash and pulled out some Hobbs Fusible Cotton/poly blend I hadn't tried yet. It was on sale when I bought it and thought the fusible would be a great idea. It felt a little weird and sticky coming out of the bag but For the size of my project...18" square pillow top, it worked beautifully for quickly basting the sandwich together. Which if you are doing quilt sandwiches for practice or small projects like table runners , placements etc, it would be awesome. I did find, however, that it did not stay stuck together until I was done quilting on the piece and had to re-iron it to attach it again, so don't think I'd use it on a big quilt. Just a bit of information to add to your file. ��

I like a thin cotton or cotton poly blend. Warm and natural has an even loft , which for me makes it easier.

I am using warm and natural. Make some sandwiches, spray baste them (too lazy for any other method) and then have at it. I think getting down the physical aspects of FMQ - moving the fabric, speed and all of that stuff is easier to focus on if you aren't dealing with batting issues at the same time. That is what is working for me.

Being new to quilting myself, I have been building my stash of different types of batting (when it goes on sale) - I plan to make a sampler quilt for myself - each square being a different type of batting - so I can have a reference of what each sort of batting looks like and behaves and whether I like it or not (will be taking lots of notes).