blanket as batting
 

I'm making a picnic quilt. I wanted something really "non-shiftable" for the batting, as I assume it will be washed regularly and I don't want to spend a lot of time quilting it. I bought a blanket at the thrift store (100% acrylic and doesn't seem to stretch) to use. Now, I'm having second thoughts.
Have you tried it?
bkay

I have quilts made from long ago by my MIL where she used another quilt as batting. I was surprised to discover it after many, many years of use. She used whatever was at hand. I have never done it no but I'm tempted to use my husband's old navy wool blanket as batting.

In the old days they did use old blankets as batting. They lasted probably longer than the new modern battings.

I've used wool blankets before on the inside of a quilt and more than once covered an old quilt with a new top and back, or sometimes just one or the other.

I don't see any real problems, you do want it to drape nicely and not be all stiff but other than that -- go for it!

My great grandmother used old Calvary blankets in quilts. But she didn't quilt per se' she just covered the wool blankets because they were scratchy. She was a seamstress.

bkay, I haven't but it sounds like a good idea to me. A picnic quilt would surely get washed a lot.

My first quilt had a white blanket (acrylic/cotton) inside because I didn't know about packaged batting. It's Very Warm but also way heavier than the cotton batts I use now. I think you should go for it, especially for a picnic quilt.

hugs,
charlotte

I have my husband's old Navy blanket. This gives me the idea to make a quilt for the top and a fabric back. I can use it to cover myself in the winter when sitting in my recliner. It will keep me warm.

Back when my kids were very young and I was self-teaching myself to sew, money was tight & I didn't know anything about batting I used old blankets. Works great and lasts forever. Depending on the feet you want, choose either a heavy or light blanket.

I've used blankets as "batting", the last one I used was a full size wool blanket, it's very heavy.

I use a white baby blanket found in Moms cedar chest for table runner batting. It’s so dense and works great. Done 2, still have enough for 1-2 more.

Back in my early days of quilting I used blankets for batting and sheets for backings many times. They were quilts that have seen beaches many times and are still holding up. Good idea for such a utility quilt. I wouldn't use a blanket for a bed quilt or wall hanging or many other quilts. For a quilt that will be used this way a blanket should be just finre.

I can remember watching my grandmother make quilts and she used old blankets as the batting. In earlier day I think they used anything available. Go for it!

My absolute favorite quilt to snuggle under is flannel with an old wool army blanket for batting. The quilt washes beautifully, was easy to machine quilt and is not too heavy - for me anyway. I don't see why other types of blankets wouldn't work.

I remember my mother taking a quilt apart to repair it and re-tie it. When she opened up the sandwich there was no batting, just an old wool blanket. She said when she was growing up that was what was used for batting quite often. This one outlasted the outside of the quilt!

A quilt is a covering and a blanket is a covering. Why not put one inside the other? I have a couple old wool blankets that I have put inside quilts that I want to be extra warm and heavier. A blanket inside does not need the quantity of quilting that batting does so the quilt has a softer feel to it.

I made a yard blanket from an old wool blanket and old jeans. It makes a very tough quilt for the car trunk.

I have never done it, so I really can't say. I think it depends on the blanket itself. Some show wear and tear after only a few years, while other last for a very long time.

I used a "sheet blanket" in one of the first quilts I made. In years to come, I was disappointed that I did that only because of the quilt that I wished it was. As far as being usable, it was great. Another suggestion for batting is to recycle a mattress pad. It gives a bit of loft but it dries easily. If the quilt you are making can become wet such as at a beach or picnic, consider that you want it to dry pretty quickly and not get moldy/mildewy. It may get picked up while wet and forgotten for a time!

Wow! What a good idea. I have one stuck in the top of the closet because it won't stay on the bed and is "too good to toss". It's almost new. My little dog took a liking to that blanket I bought at the thrift shop for the picnic quilt. She parks herself on it every chance she gets. Also, I've been kind of stuck on how to make the backing for that picnic quilt, so it's still on the wall. I don't have the perfect amount of fabric, so I'm going to have to work with two fabrics and piece the back.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to use that mattress pad. Fuzzy has her favorite blanket for a little longer.
bkay