What is the best kind of batting to use in your quily?
cotton, ploy, what?

depends on the quilt, who it is for and how much I want to spend :-)

I like Hobbs 80/20 really well. If it is a really special quilt, I'll spring for wool.

I like all cotton or combo Bright and White from Joann's

In a perfect world where money isn't a concern I love Hobbs 80/20 (80% cotton, 20% poly). More often my budget prefers Warm and Natural or Warm and White...on sale or with a coupon from Jo Anns. Lol* ;) Low loft cotton is currently the trend in quilting, but I like poly for machine trapunto effects. ;)

My favorite batting is Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon 100% cotton, but this is a very traditional batting and not for everyone. I like it because it gets softer with every washing. Antique quilts were made with this type of batting -- no needlepunching, no scrim, no polyester. I hand quilted this exactly once; there are better battings for hand quilting, believe me! It is great for machine quilting, though.

My second favorite is Hobbs 80/20. It is a little puffier than the MMBR and is good for hand quilting as well as machine quilting.

I used to use Warm & Natural, but the needlepunching through scrim gives it a slightly stiffer drape that I don't like.

I only use Warm and Natural.

Would you use a poly for a nursing home quilt? I'm guessing it would be washed in hot water.
Thanks!

i like warm & natural because i can buy it by the yard and get less waste depending on the project.

This is another one of those "it depends" questions. I like warm and natural or warm and white. Have tried Hobbs 80/20 and it is OK. I still need to do a whole quilt with the Hobbs to form a more informed opinion.

There are so many options, I think you need to try a few and see what works best for you. Also, it is sometimes desirable to change the batting up depending on the purpose of the quilt, whether it will be hand-quilted or machine quilted, whether it is used in the frozen NOrth or the balmy South.......

Like I said: It depends.....

depends on the quilt...i love wool batts and use them in the 'big- very special quilts..they are expensive. I use cotton alot...just like to work with it too...and i use poly usually for the "utility" quilts...kids quilts ; quilts that will be used and abused and washed/dried alot....the cotton and wool batts wash up wonderfully too but i like the poly for kids quilts it seems to hold up very well and takes a beating.
and for the really really special quilts the silk blend is OMG wonderful!

Where do I find all these different batting? I do not have a JoAnn my LGS don't carry much(I'll check tomorrow) the only place I have to buy it is wally world.

I wouldn't. Cotton would hold up a lot better. Close quilting would help too (2" or 3" apart).

Check prices online also. Most of the time you can get batting cheaper from joanns than at walmart. Do a search for joann coupons and you should be able to find 40 of 50% off coupons.

I buy remnant white and natural fleece whenever I see them and use those as batting.

Thanks, Prism!