Do You Double Batt?
 

I have been researching batting products lately (mostly QD and Hobbs Tuscany vs Heirloom) and have run across references to double batting a quilt sandwich, often with a wool batt on top and a second batt of cotton or cotton blend, most often used in context of competition quilts. I am not a competition quilter but I am concerned with fold-line creases, loft (I like a medium loft, not the thin, flat look and feel), and drapability. If you double batt, what do you see as the advantages and disadvantages? TIA.

I double batt quite often but I quilt on a longarm. I think it would present a lot of challenges to quilt a double batted quilt on any stationary machine (including extended throats) but even more so on a domestic. You are already dealing with a lot of bulk with single batting. I imagine it would present challenges in making the sandwich as well. Maybe someone who quilts on a sitdown machine can chime in with their views.

On a stand up longarm I have never had any issues. Combinations I have used are wool over 80/20 or W&N, Hobbs Polydown over 80/20 and this quilt was double batted poly. https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...e-t274066.html. And this quilt had trapunto treatment and double wool so under the applique of the goddess is 3 layers of wool batting. https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...t-t297585.html. And this quilt I did a layer of Hobbs Polydown over an old wool army blanket. https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...t-t221823.html

Double batting does effect the quilt's drape. It also makes for a very warm quilt and depending on what combination of battings you use can also be very heavy. The batik one with poly over the wool army blanket is super heavy and I can only use it as a bed quilt in the very dead of winter, like those -30 nights. For use on a bed, I feel the lack of "scrunchability" (lack of drape) does not have any impact. The quilt still hangs nicely over the side of the bed but if you want a quilt to cocoon into and scrunch up all around you, I would not double batt.
Double batting really emphasizes quilting motifs, provided you quilt closely enough in the background. It often gives a trapunto look and that is why many show quilters do it, myself included.

I prefer a thicker acrylic batt most of the time and I have double batted before, now I'm better about knowing what I want and what I buy so haven't done it for awhile. Then again, I've been out of Alaska for a few decades as well and am not making quilts for houses with no central heating any more either! There are times when I want the look and feel (and weight) of warm & natural type batts, but mostly I really prefer those fluffy acrylic batts.

In my opinion with the thicker/double batts you don't really get good results with a lot of quilting. You want more of a comforter level of quilting, 3-4" maybe down to 1" channels but nothing really smaller than that or you get basically a stiff mattress pad. Tying down or using buttons can be very effective with a super thick batt.

I have put in extra batting before more recently, basically stuffing large applique pieces within my blocks and then quilting down the whole thing (typically not quilting in the stuffed pieces) with a single batt. That's worked just fine in both working with the fabric, washing, and the use of the quilts.

In one of my recent thrift store finds, the original piecer had put together the top with a double thickness of rather thick batting. It was, in my opinion, way too thick and would not have made a good baby blanket, single thickness would have been fine. They gave up on the project because the flannel they used for the back was really too narrow and unfortunately an inch or so short... but I got enough batting for two crib sized quilts and the top (I made a different back and will long arm it down), and one of the ladies in my small group took the flannel backing. So that's a lot of projects out of a $1.99 purchase.

I have never heard of acrylic batting. Are you sure you don't mean polyester? I just did a google search for acrylic batting, as I am always curious about a batting I haven't previously been aware of, and found nothing.

One other thing I wanted to mention is that both polyester and wool batting will quilt down very flat with heavy quilting. That is why they give such excellent relief in the unquilted areas, even with double batting. I have also found that the added weight of a denser batting like cotton, 80/20 or bamboo will make a double batted wallhanging hang nicer. If you double batt with the denser batting on the top, you negate the effect. I learned that the hard way with this quilt: https://www.quiltingboard.com/pictur...l-t270708.html

Yes, should have said poly :)

I add a second layer of batting for EMB quilts. There is one layer added in each block when stitching the EMB design. Then I have the quilter add a second layer when quilting. It gives a nice puff to the quilt.

I love double batts with low loft poly..ooh and flannel backing. It drapes nicely and shows off any quilting. My DH said that he would like a Hobbs 80/20 double batt on his new quilt, so I'll be giving it a try there too. I envision that it will have a nice loft like the Hobbs typically does, but a tad "squishier" ;-).

A few times when poly batting was very thin in some places I have double batted. It is a bit harder to quilt on my DSM. So I buy project fleece batting for my donation quilts. It is a lot like W&N.

Hobbs 80/20 is just too thin for me when I've got a cotton top and backing. So I double batt for cotton backings. I doubled my batting with a minky backing, and it was very heavy. But it will sure keep someone warm. I feel like the Winline Simply Soft 80/20 is more consistent than the Hobbs 80/20. I'm OK with a single layer of Winline 80/20.

My favorite quilt is a double-batt of thick poly, flannel top and back, tied rather than quilted. I look forward to pulling it out soon.

Teresa, please post back to this thread after you finish hubby's new quilt. I am tempted to do a double Hobbs 80/20 myself but am hoping to hear from someone who has already attempted it before I do...Thank you for sharing.

I've used wool or poly(med loft)over Hobbs 80/20 when I want significant relief to show the texture of the quilting and find it works well and I like the look. I also quilt on a long arm which makes it easier to do. I does make the quilt heavier. I also use it when doing an embroidery block or applique block quilts where I want the applique or embroidery to really "pop". On a large wall hanging done for a competitive show, I used double med.loft poly on a wholecloth to avoid the worry about creasing. But generally do not like poly for bed quilts.

Feline F.--your quilting is wonderful and I love the Trapunto effect you have achieved with double batting. Thank you so much for your informative post and links. As someone else on this Q-board said, my quilting is less about showcasing and more about concealing. I could NEVER achieve your level of quilting mastering, I am strictly a SID, echo, and limited ruler-work quilter and hope that my quilting doesn't detract terribly from my (beautiful to me) quilt tops. I really appreciate your comments, especially as they address quilting on a domestic machine. I sew on a Bernina 8 series, so I have lots of harp space, but I exclusively make bed-sized quilts and avoid dense, decorative quilting, choosing more along the lines of what Iceclossom's descriptions of comforter-level quilting (3 to 4 inches down to 1-inch max channels).
Thank you again. You have given me a lot to think about.

Thank you so much for the feedback and Winline suggestion. I think I will now try double Hobbs 80/20 for my grandson's birth-date quilt. ;->)

I double batt under panels like Tree of Life, Horses, etc, to emphasize the features. I have double batted a polyester baby quilt to make it softer for tummy time. That was a little harder to quilt.

I double batt using cotton on the bottom and then top with wool if I want some motifs to stand out. Works out fine with my domestic machines.

Rob

I have been considering double batting a Judy Neimeyer quilt that I am making so I really appreciate this thread and all the comments. Lots to consider for the process.

My husband loves a puffy quilt, it's warmer. I have put double batting, or single batting with a fleece back. I do a tack stitch on my DSM just close enough per the batting's directions, and that allows the rest of the quilt to be full and warm. I have tied double batted and fleece backed quilts, but boy, that's been years! a tacking stitch on my machine works as well, and you don't have to worry about the ties coming undone down the road.

I've double batted on occasion. But most of the time I work with only one. I quilt on my domestic and find one works better for me. That being said I am not an accomplished quilter. SITD, echo, outlining and a little free motion added in because I'm still learning after all these years.
I absolutely love the art and graft that is displayed here. Such wonderful stitching to feast my eyes on. Love, love, love it.

I double batt for Christmas panels just the center of the panel!

I double batt for wall hangings. A thin batt next to the backing and usually wool next to the top.

Will do. I'm hoping to quilt it this fall.

I need help. I live in Australia and am going to make a quilt for my friends child. I am using cotton blend batting. Do I need to use double thickness batting or is one thickness suitable. I have a normal sewing machine.

Idle Di

I have done it only once. On that occasion I wanted to give the project extra strength/support.
Many people I know double batt because they feel the quilting stands out and looks better.

For those that double batt, is it difficult to baste with safety pins because of the added thickness? I've never double batted before. I have quilted with denim, batting (1 layer) and fleece backing and that wasn't too bad. Thanks.

Idle Di, how nice of you to make the project for your friend's baby. Without seeing the batting I'd say trust your gut but keep in mind that baby quilts get washed and dried a lot. I'd probably risk a little thinner rather than a little thicker. It's hard for many of us finding the batting thickness we like both working with and the end results

For ClaudiaM, when we first started safety pin basting before they were in the quilt notion section and used the big diaper sized pins, those could go through anything including a top I made with a thick batt, corduroy, and a satin sheet backing -- but they could also punch holes in fabric with the thickness of the pins, or worse yet snag on a corner of furniture and actually tear a bit .

My modern pins, the ones I like are brass and have the little curve in them, would be too small I think. They are challenging/"just right" for some of my thicker battings as it is.

I have not double batted before. I confess it scares me a bit. Since I am mostly doing FMQ on my DSM it is not likely I would be able to manage it well. Reading everything here makes me want to consider it if/when I do get my Grace fram up and moving again, or if I decide to have someone LA a quilt for me.