Batting Question
 

Hello Quilters - looking for a solution to a situation - I want a quilt with weight but not warmth... regular battings do not provide the weight, and I don't know what to try... ideas????

I use Warm and Natural, or Warm and White cotton batting. It is a flat batting that doesn't add a lot of thickness to your quilt. It gives the feel of an old fashioned quilt.

I'm not so sure you can get the weight without it being somewhat warm.

Are you looking for something like a weighted blanket? I'm not sure you can achieve that with batting without it being very warm

I think you should focus on the pattern and fabric. For example, a denim quilt with many seam allowances would be heavy.

You can make denim quilts without batting. I know of a few patterns if you're interested.

String quilts are heavy. Most any pattern with lots and lots of seams in the blocks will be heavy.

I, too, mostly use Warm & Natural. It is a heavy batting but I don't find it adds a lot more warmth as it's 100% cotton and, therefore, breaths. I also like a heavy blanket and this seems to fit the bill nicely, at least for me.

I made a weighted blanket for my nephew's son. He found a source of plastic beads that can be washed and bought the weight recommended. We measured the volume of the beads and then calculated the amount of beads we wanted in each "pocket". I double stitched channels into the quilt top, then poured the beads into all the channels and carefully stitched the pockets up as we worked across the channels. It took a while and I am glad my nephew helped with the handling of the quilt. I managed to miss most of the plastic beads as I stitched but did stitch one of them into the seam. I was surprised my old Viking D1 nailed that bead without blinking!

I had thought of doing this, but I find the current (commercial) weighted blanket has a lot of warmth associated with it... I'm concerned the plastic beads would do the same... but thanks for the idea... I may do one this way yet...

I don't find Warm and Natural provides enough weight.... but thanks for suggesting...

This might be the best idea proposed so far. I would love to hear what patterns you'd suggest, thanks!

The way I make my denim quilts, is by sewing the squares, rectangles, strips or octagons together. Then the seam allowances become the front of the quilt. You insert a (heavy) fabric under the seam allowances, then zig-zag the raw edges down. I'll send you a link by pm.

I really do like your denim rectangles. I love the color of fabrics you used in it. I have made a few denim quilts myself. I wish I could see a close up of how you turned and sewed at the corners/intersections. Very pretty quilts.

Here are a couple more pictures of my denim quilts. They're constructed in small sections, so you don't have to work with the whole quilt at once.

I understand Cathedral Window quilts are heavy. It's on my to do list, but haven't made one yet. Since I live in the San Diego area of CA I don't want really warm quilts in the spring, summer, and fall. So I have started using wool batting. It breathes better than cotton and hangs like a cotton batting - maybe better. It's washable and very little shrinkage compared to cotton.

I love all your denim quilts
 

I am interested in your method as well. Each and every denim quilt you have shown is amazing.
Do you quilt as you go?

The quilt that I backed with minky fabric was heavy. Just the bag that had the yardage was heavy. I did not use batting.

quiltedsunshine, your denim quilts are wonderful! That first one is really clever.

Love this idea!

I have noticed that my Bonnie Hunter quilts are heavier than most as there is so many seams and thread in them.

Use as heavy of batting as you can find. Quilt the heck out of it. It he vas beenn my experience that tightly quilted quilts are very heavy.