What is the best type of batting to use in a quilt. I want it to be warm but feel good too?

I am really liking the wool...and I have used everything...No, the wool does not pick. Cool in the summer, warm in the winter, available in 110" wide. Drawback...it shrinks...very soft.

I used warm and natural for a while then i started buying online Hobbs 80/20. Both i guess are similar but the W&N is heavier, or at least i feel it this way. I have been told about wool batting is wonderful but haven't tried it yet.

I am sure long time quilters can give you a better advise..I'll be watching too.

Because it shrinks do you wash it before you quilt with it?
The wool batting that is...

I haven't used the wool yet...but "warm and natural" or "warm and white" is good. We have two lap quilts in our RV that we took with us to Arizona --- you know - where's it's sooooooo warm in the winter. Well, it was soooooooooooooooooo cold that year!!!! Those two lap quilts saved me!!! LOL LOL yeah, we stayed longer because of them! Also I hear the Hobb's 80/20 makes a snuggly quilt.

I'm allergic to wool .... so I use W&N, Hobbs, or Dream Cotton.

ali

Can you purchase the Hobbs 80/20 at a local Joann's?

Haven't seen Hobbs at Joann's, but have seen it at Hobby Lobby.

Haven't seen Hobbs at Joann's, but I think I've bought it at Hobby Lobby.

oops, sorry for the double post!

Probably not.
But you can order it online and onsale at:
http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item...g-Sale--m-3094

Jan in VA

I've used Warm & Natural or Warm & White, Hobbs. I like them. I've wanted to try wool, but haven't yet. I have also used clearance blankets from stores and fleece. Those are HOT quilts!

Wool....don't put it in the washing machine to pre-shrink or you will have lots of nothing. Some use the bathtube, but I just put it in the quilt and let it shrink. Then you get the crinkly quilt.

dream wool does not shrink as much as warm & natural- a great batt!

read the packages and find the batt that will (go with) your quilt-

the quilting you do is dictated by your batting- some batts have to be quilted every 2"- some allow you up to 10" between quilting lines-
some batts are good for tied quilts- some are not
some batts are great for hand quilting-some are better suited to machine quilting=
some shrink alot- some don't shrink at all
some are very flat- some are quite (lofty)
some are cotton- some are polyester- some are both=
some are wool- some are silk- some are bamboo- some are made out or recycled bottles---it is a wide world!

try them all-
read the packages and try out the one you think will work for the quilt you are making- try it out= then next time try something different-
there are tons of FABULOUS battings on the market== no point in deciding one is the only one to use.

I like Warm and Natural and Hobbs 80/20. The Hobbs used to be carried at Jo'Anns but have not seen it there for a few years.

Thanks for all your information!

Cotton batting makes it soft and warm, and polyester adds strength. I like to use the 80/20 cotton/polyester blend. It breaths, and yet is a little stronger than pure cotton. Plus I like to have it attached to a scrim. That's a lightweight backing that adds stability and strength to a quilt. You don't notice it's there. It's just good for the longevity and stability of the quilt. I've only gotten those at Nancy's Notions and it's on line. For smaller stuff, like a lap quilt, I tend to go for polyester, because it washes well and easily, and lap quilts tend to get dirty faster. You have to use decent fabric (nothing thin) with polyester or you'll end up with "bearding", where the fibers of the batting start sticking through the thin fabric. But don't worry about that for the 80/20 mix. So far I've not found it to be a problem. For the little stuff, like table runners, place mats, wall hangings, etc., I use the thinner, low loft cotton. There's a lot of variety out there. As one of the other members said, you've got to look around and see what's best for what you're making! If you want a really, really warm quilt, doubled flannel is great. If you're looking for a "summer quilt" that is very light weight, you can either sew your top right onto your backing. I've used quilts like that, and they're just fine. It's the way our Grandmothers used to do it because they didn't have batting. Ever wonder why they used to pile 7 or 10 quilts on a bed? Because they had no batting, or very little! Or use something very light weight in the middle of a Summer weight quilt, like muslin, so something similar. Look at all the choices you have!

Warmest Regards,

Quilters Dream delux if its a winter quilt.
Quilters Dream select if its a summer or wall hanging.
I know its a bit pricy but for all the work you do on the top, whats inside counts.
I've never tried wool, afraid of shrinkage but i hear nothing hand quilts better.

I like Tuskany Wool. It is sooo soft and quilts beautifully

Everyone around here seems to use warm and natural. One longarmer says it works better than other batting and doesn't roll up like others. It costs a bit more but well worth it.

Thank you so much for your reply. Lots of info!

I usually just buy it from Joann's with a coupon but the last time I bought it, I didn't look at it closely assuming it was the same as always.

I just brought it out to work on a quilt to discover it's VERY THIN!!! I'm doing a QAYG for a gift and already have half the batting cut and ready to go. When I pulled out this new stash, it's half the thickness.

Either the quality is going downhill.....or this is considered "summerweight"???

Never realized there were different thicknesses because I never had this happen before.

I use W & N. I pre-wash it in the bath because I don't like the crinkly look!

Just don't use 100% polyester.

I just bought Hobbs batting here at Michael's. I live in Canada, so I'm not sure if Michael's anywhere else carries it,but it might be worth a try.

I use washable Dream Wool all the time. My customers really like it. I have used it in my own quilts. It is light and very warm.

in reponse to the hobbs 80/20
not carried at joanns but they carry it at micheals for a reasonable price

Does anyone know if moths are a problem with the wool batting? I had heard great things about it and bought some for a project I am doing, but I saw a tute from Alex Anderson where she said she was afraid that moths would get into quilts that you hang on the wall.

Wow , thank you for all the info on batting , I sure learned alot ! I've only used warm and natural cuz I wasn't sure about all the others.

My vote goes to bamboo. Warm, easy to work with.

I have a question about batting.
My quilts are lap size and have not found a batting to fit.
Crib is too small and twin is to big, so what do you do?
I like the 80/20 warm and natural but have alot of waste cutting down twin size.
I heard you can use some kind of tape to put pieces of batting togather, do you know what kind?

Love the W and N also Dream Cotton

You can buy any size you wish, then save the leftover part for your next project. I save all my scraps. First, I measure the size, and write the dimensions on a sticky label, then fold the batting and stick the label on the fold so I can see it. When I need batting, I go through my leftovers and select the right size. Oftentimes I have to take 2 and put them together. You don't need that special tape...all you do is cut one straight edge on both pieces using your rotary cutter and ruler. Then butt them together and sew the edges using a large zigzag stitch and light-colored thread. Even if you get a gap here or there it doesn't matter since you'll be quilting over it anyway. My smallest pieces get saved for placemats. If you have long skinny pieces you can cut them to 1 or 1.5" wide and use them in place of clothesline in the rope bags and purses. Hope this helps!

The tape you are looking for is called "Heat Press Batting Together", and it comes as a roll of tape in various widths. I like the wider width. It's easy to use. Just follow the directions, but basically it's: apply it to your pieces of batting, use a warm iron for a short period to "set" it, and it's forever bonded. It doesn't come apart in the wash either. I get mine at Nancy's Notions (on line), but I'll bet you can find it at most quilting shops.

Which batting are you referring to? I thought the W&N had gotten thinner.

I made quilts for my 2 grandsons who live in the mountains in Colorado and used the Quilter's Dream Wool. I wasn't sure about it because it didn't seem that heavy, but my daughter loves it...she says it's light weight, but is very warm. I machine quilted it, but I understand that it's great for hand quilting as well.

I guess I am tooooo thrifty. I only make charity quilts and most batting is very expensive to give away. What do you use when this is the problem?

I just bought Hobbs 80/20 off the bolt at our joanns a few weeks ago. Our Joanns also carries Mountain Mist "Cream Rose" and White Rose" battings, they are similar to the Dream cotton battings, but I have never seen them at other Joann stores.

Although I haven't been quilting long enough to make charity quilts, I would think it would be good to use blankets as batting. That's what previous generations did and it worked for them. If you buy blankets at a thrift shop, just be sure to wash them well. Then it should be OK.

I always use the mountain mist "cream rose". It is very soft but I'm thinking I'd like to try something thinner. I used the Hobbs 80/20 once and didn't like it as much. Too puffy for me!

yes, thanks for the info!