I'm making a quilt for someone who has requested that it be a "warm" quilt....meaning to keep warm. I usually put one layer of Warm and Natural or White....she said this is not enough to keep her warm. Suggestions.??? What do you do?

I made one with an old fleece blanket for batting, that thing is toasty warm. Otherwise, I'm thinking wool.

I recently did one with a cotton batt and a poly batt, it was ALMOST more than my machine could take but it looks wonderful, next time I'll use 2 layers of cotton.

I'd use flannel for the backing - that will add a lot of warmth!

Kathy, did you quilt it on your regular sewing machine or a LA?

Fleece or a blanket would be very warm :D:D:D

I did one for my late MIL that had the high loft batting with a flannel backing but we just tied it. I agree with the earlier post about using polar fleece as the batting--that stuff is really warm.

I'm thinking maybe layer two batts - one Warm and Natural and a layer of Hobbs' Wool.

You could use two layers of batting and a flannel backing.

I go for wool., If you can afford it. It's very price at my local quilt shop. But this a.m. I got a joann sale flyer and there is a 50% off coupon,One cut is considered one item . so figure our how much batting you need and one cut is 50% off. hope that helps.

I'm currently making a quilt with Hobb's wool batting and flannel back. Seriously warm and cuddly, and very light. It's a lot lighter than even a single layer of cotton batt, let alone two. And wool is a wonderful heat insulator.

I make my quilts with one layer of batting between the top and bottom of the quilt.

Somebody recently was telling about making a quilt with batting that "was 1 and 1/2 times warmer than down." I misplaced that one, I wanted it for myself because I'm always cold in the house. Might even line a jacket with it, should I find it.

I really want to make one with wool batting. Is it still machine washable with the wool?

If you use fleece, do you wash it differently? I took some classes on fleece, several years ago, and they explained the way fleece is made. Which is with recycled plastic and polyester; that's why the fabric wasn't around until we started recycling, but with the plastic combed into the polyester, they told us to only use powder detergent as a liquid detergent or fabric softener liquid will just create a film and continue to build up. This is also a problem if using fleece for young children that still have accidents--the odor will stay until powder has kind of cleaned the fibers. Does anyone know if this information is different? I've never used it for batting or backing because I didn't know how it would clean.

I've been wondering the same thing about wool.
Also the idea of fleece is great! I have a bunch taking up space that I can now have a use for. Thanks!

That's interesting. I've never heard that, and always wash everything with liquid detergent, no problems. :)

We've made a few quilts with doubled polester batting...they were TOO warm...they burned me up..but my DD and FIL loved them

We've made a few quilts with doubled polyester batting...they were TOO warm...they burned me up..but my DD and FIL loved them

wool or poly...

I used old wool blankets you can find at yard sales, thrift stores..etc...even with moth holes, they make nice WARM batting...

Poly is known for its heat holding ability because unlike cotton, poly does not breathe....so once it is WARM..it stays that way!

you are correct on the soap to use...no liquids....

as for the kids quilts, it all depends on how fast you can wash it....BUT, fleece is not a friendly fabric...not even to our enviroment!

I use warm and natural batting and fleece as the backing for all of our bed quilts. I just throw them in the washing machine with my regular detergent, and I never prewash my material. I have never had a problem and I have done at least 20 quilts this way. And I only use liquid detergent, I have a front loader, and never have a problem with odors staying. I do have to add that I only hand quilt my quilts. I have never tried them on the machine, so I dont know how that would go. But some of them have been envelope style so I have been sewing the batting, top and fleece thru the machine and it went thru ok, just thick.

Re wool washing, the Hobbs wool package says that machine-washing on gentle cycle is ok. But drying in the dryer not recommended because the dryer heat can cause shrinkage.

I agree - flannel on the back is nice and warm. Another option for batting is wool batting. Hancock Fabrics as well as other stores I am sure carry it.

Will the wool batting shrink when you wash the quilt?

The warmest quilts I've made have Thinsulate batting and anti-pill fleece backing. They are toasty warm and very light-weight. I don't think you can buy Thinsulate batts any more, but Hobbs has a product called Thermore which behaves almost the same way. No shrinkage from either of these, but you have to tell the recipient not to launder with any kind of fabric softener (liquid or sheets).

It really doesn't surprise me to hear this about the liquid vs. powder detergents and the fleece. It's the same for dishwashers - liquids coat the inside mechanisms in ways we cannot see until our dishwasher breaks. My appliance repairman told me to use only powders, preferably Cascade Complete - and not to use much - only 2 Tbls. He was right - it's so much better. Even in the new front-loader I just bought, the instructions say it's best to use powders, but you can use either, and only use 2 Tbls (and if clothes don't look clean, reduce to 1 Tbls). Interesting....nothing to do with warm quilting here, but interesting :)

Living in TX and loving quilts, I can only add that for summer quilts we use a thin poly, and for winter we use cotton, cotton/poly (80/20), or wool. The poly is much cooler than the cotton. So, there you have it, from a 100+ degree state and a woman who has many personal summers ;)

Debbie in Austin
Debbie in Austin

i heard that if you fabric softener it would make the fleece
hav(pills) on it? hope that's the right word!!

The way it was explained to me (by a manufacturer rep from 3M -- thinsulate people) is that those poly fibers are woven in such a way as to use air to insulate. If you use fabric softener, it coats the fibers and they aren't able to expand as needed and won't work for insulation. He said the same applies to fleece. And, cotton towels --- aren't as absorbent when washed w/ fabric softener as without.

Wow ,I never heard anything about using powderd detergent before. This site is just so informative.

the warmest quilt I ever made, and I still use it, but only in the winter...was filled with an old fleece blanket that I was recycling. Man that thing will toast your toes and the tiny holes made by the needle and thread just seem to seal up on their own. Now I recycle fleece blankets into all the baby blankets I can. Machine quilts up nice too and no shifting with use so it can tied. The other thing is not to quit it too closely. You need some air pockets to trap warmth. Puffy is good for getting a warm quilt.

the military now has warnings at the commissary that you can not use liquid detergent or ANY fabric softener on the new BDU uniforms, as it coats the fibers and makes the uniforms easily detectable under certain lights....it also caused them to deteriorate faster!

My husband says that when his grandmother was alive and made her quilts she made them thick and warm and did them by hand quilting them on a frame I think from the ceiling. He isn't sure with what she had used. Even though we live in Ga. now he wants his quilt to be thick like the way she made it.

Agree! Wool is nice and toasty!

Quilter's Dream Puff and flannel for the backing!

The warmest quits I have made were for my two boys and they specifically asked for batting and fleece. So that is how they were 80/20 and fleece for the backing. They turned out great and very warm.
I am hoping to try the Dream Wool in one to see how it is too. Would love to hear how people like it?

I googled: batting that is warmer than down. There were several sites. I cut and pasted the following info. Wonder if anyone has tried this and if it is managable to quilt on home machine. Quilters Dream Batting, Puff, Super Queen Size
Quilters Dream's "Puff" batting has exceptional insulation qualities. Light as a feather, yet 1-1/2 times warmer than down, and 2 times warmer than most high-loft polyesters. Loft is between 1/3 and 1/2 inch, yet very light-weight. Volume, definition and warmth without the weight. Fibers are carded, cross-lapped, & thermally bonded. Great for hand-quilting, machine-quilting, or tying. Confidently stitch up to 10" apart. No pre-washing necessary. Normally 0% shrinkage. Your pre-washing and selection of fabrics and thread will also affect shrinkage.

This listing is for a packaged Puff batting in Super-Queen size, which measures 120 inches by 93 inches.
Limited Quantity Available: 1 in stock

Price: $21.00

I used Dream Wool for a quilt and it's noticeably warmer than the Dream Cotton and other cotton batts I've used.

Thank you.

Wool is out for me then. I don't have a place to hang a quilt to dry.