Batting
 

Does anyone know which batting is the best; I tried the Walmart brand morning glory (high & low) loft and the poly-fil batting. My first quilt with the morning glory shrunk to almost the size of a napkin. (maybe not a napkin but there was a lot og shrinkage) Just want to know if there is one better?

I always use Warm and Natural which is available at Joann. And with their coupons, the price isn't so bad.

I also like Hobbs 80/20

I've used quilters Dream Poly. I get it from hancocks from Paducah. It has different thing on the cover it does. #1No prewashing.colorfast--#2washed & dried. Low/no shrinkage. I got a box of 6, not to long ago, and the cost was a little over $100.00.. I've always had luck with this batting. Don-isewman

there are lots of very nice batts on the market- unfortunately not available at walmart. always read the package- it will tell you the % of shrinkage you can expect. I love all of the batts from the dream company---dream green, dream wool (my favorite all time) dream poly, dream cotton, dream orient, dream bamboo....there are more too- all great batts (and yes- i've tried them all)
i also really like the Hobbs batts- 80/20, heirloom black, cotton & poly batts from the hobbs company (many available & on sale often at "Connecting Threads) personally i Never use warm & natual (unless a customer brings it in-wants it in their quilt) the dream wool and the Hobbs wool batts do not shrink...most of the poly batts do not shrink. cotton batts shrink any where from3% up to about 10%...always read the packaging which will tell you how much shrinkage to expect, how close you need to quilt, and how it should be cared for/laundered.

I also love the batting from Quilter's Dream...have used the cotton, the blend, and the wool...and they also have a polyester I have heard is nice but haven't used it. I also have used the Hobbs 80/20, and like that too. I am not a warm and natural lover...it is too stiff to me.

I personally like Warm and Natural batting. It is cotton and very nice. I figure that if you send so much time and money making the quilt, don't skimp on the batting. I have used it for all the quilts I made for my grandchildren and it washes very nicel. The quilt holds its shape well.

I prefer Quilters dream , but have used batting from Joann's without any problems. The best I have used from Joann's was a bambo it was really soft.

Does anyone know if polyester batting can be ironed or not? I want to join two pieces together

my favorite is Quilter Dream, I usually get Poly Select. If I am working on small project and I want puffy then I get 6oz Hobbs poly, if I want cotton blend then I get Hobbs 80/20. The 100% cotton will give you enough shrinkage to give the quilt an old fashion look that some people look for but not too much.

Quilter's Dream is lovely, lovely, lovely. I used to use W&N but after I tried QD, I never looked back.

Any of the Quilter's Dream battings are my favorites.

I've been using Hobbs Tuscany cotton and cotton/wool blend in recent years but after reading this thread, decided to give Quilters Dream a shot in my last quilt. Oh my, the hand and drape are absolutely incredible! Does anyone know where I can order Dream by the roll?

Quilters Dream is my favorite. I used to use Warm & Natural but wanted a little dimension to my fmq, so tried Quilters Dream and was very happy with it. I like Poly Select or a Cotton Select. I also have used Polyfil 80/20 which I like also.

There really isn't one. It is up yo your preference and budget. I have used Hobbs 80/20 since it first came out. I didn't like W&N because it actually HAD bits of tree bark in the batting. It also has a flat look to it and I prefer a little puffiness that Hobbs has to show my quilting abilities. There is also Dream cotton batting which may be a little pricey but soft as butter.

I just ordered 2, 96 wide - 9 yard bolts of Pellon cotton batting, from Walmart, $40.00 each. It had a good rating and said to expect 3-5 percent shrinkage. I sure hope it is OK, because I ordered a lot!

I buy the 80/20 blend by Pellon from Walmart and am happy with it. It's little less than the cotton and a LOT less than the name brands but I can't tell the difference once it's in the quilt.

Cari

Walmart has Fairfield 80/20 cotton that I can't tell any difference from Warm and Natural. Also you can get W&N on the bolt at Walmart. I use Hobbs wool for most of my quilts, 80/20 for utility and donation quilts. When Connecting Threads have a sale on Hobbs batting I stock up. Usually about three times a year there will be a 30% sale. Sometimes I use two layers of batting and I mix the wool with the 80/20. I don't like 100% cotton batting.

I prefer the Warm Company's Soft & Bright polyester. I don't lie shrinkage.

This awesome quilter has a blog devoted to trying every type of batting she can get her hands on. She is up to 96 of them. http://quiltersbattinguniversity.blogspot.com/

I like the Hobbs 80/20, but have used a couple different ones from Joanns. Have only used 80/20, never tried polyester, but want to try it.

I join batting pieces together by sewing with a zigzag stitch. Just hold the edges together and sew. Once it is in the quilt and quilted I cannot tell where the join is.

Quilters Dream is my favorite batting. As someone else said, it feels butter soft. I've used several of the different lofts and also their polyester in one quilt, for a specific reason. Even that one quilted up so nicely. I usually get it from my LQS, but they don't carry their full line. So I have ordered it from Amazon. Try experimenting with different bats until you find what suits you. There are so many out there.

To join the pieces of batting simply butt them together side by side and run a huge zig zag where they meet to join the edges together. No ironing required.

I use Hobbs Warm 'n Natural or Warm n' White, Hobbs or Quilters Dream wool, and Bamboo. It all depends on the purpose of the quilt.

JoAnns is a good place for Warm products. In fact, I lucked out a few months ago, I looked up the sale price on JoAnns.com (different entity than the stores) for Warm n Natural bolt (96 inch)and did the price match at the store. The online was way cheaper and tax worked out cheaper than shipping. I also lucked out going in when they were having a 50% batting by the yard sale and they had an almost full roll of 124" (someone had bought 3 yards of the 30 yd roll). I had never seen a 124" roll before and I like to make King size quilts.

I love Quilter's Dream cotton or Wool for special quilts or ones I am keeping for myself. I use the Pellon Nature's Touch because it is inexpensive but decent quality for dragger quilts.

To join two pieces of batting in a quilt, I've found its better to overlap the two edges being joined by three or four inches . . .then cutting an S curve all the way down, rather than butt two straight edges. It prevents a crease from forming with future use, as the quilt would tend to naturally crease in that straight joint.

I posted earlier how much I loved the Quilter's Dream after trying my first batch of cotton in a quilt. However, I used the Quilter's Dream Orient with bamboo and it beards BADLY. So bad, I'll donate the second bag I ordered and am returning to my trusted Hobbs Tuscany. Never again . . .

ClairVoyant, is it possible your bearding was caused by using a dull needle? Just asking because that's what happened to me once, and I understand a dull needle can cause bearding with almost any batting. I change needles with every large quilt now, use several different battings, and that has never happened again.

Warm and Natural - you can get white on line at JoAnn's store with coupons. Or our local JoAnn store has specials or coupons and then the creme color can be gotten for really good buys. Also, it has 10" quilting maximum. Last time I bought at Jo Ann's on line, it was on sale with free shipping.