Does polyester batting really "beard" that much?
 

Does polyester batting really "beard" that much. I keep considering buying polyester, but I always go back to Warm & Natural. Yet, polyester is so soft and light....

So...if you use polyester, can you advise me? Does it really beard a lot?

Thanks,
Dina

In my experience the higher quality polys do not beard. I regularly use Hobbs Poly down and I have also used Quilters Dream poly. The QD I used on a handquilted project and some fibers migrated through with the quilting thread, mostly when I had just put a newly threaded needle that had a bit too much bees wax on it.

The quality of your fabric will also help to prevent bearding. I high LQS quality, densely woven fabric will also impede fiber migration.

I have a couple of quilts from years ago that bearded too much for my liking. But I know things have improved. You could give it a try on one to see how you like it....jmho. :)

My first quilt used polyester batting - it bearded like crazy, putting white pills all over the top. I used cotton for years because of that.

Then I used Mountain Mist Lite. It's thin, but no bearding. I've also been very happy with Hobbs Polydown. It's a little thicker so it defines the stitching better, and it doesn't beard either. If you're hand quilting I'd recommend either product.

Janet

I have lately used Hobbs Poly Down with no bearding issues. I am guessing that is probably related to the older poly battings and or the really cheap ones.

I have had poly beard on a quilt a few decades ago. I would just be careful that you don't press your seams open. Perfect migration for poly batting. :)

I use Mountain Mist exclusively and have never had a bearding problem.

Guess I have been extremely lucky because I have never had batting beard. Maybe because I was using Mountain Mist - I have even used a double layer. I don't care for 100% cotton - but now use the 80/20 or 50/50.

I use a lot of poly batting--no particular brand (I buy it by the roll)--and I've never had any bearding at all.

Thanks for all the responses. I haven't used polyester batting for 4 years....(but then I have only been quilting four years :) )...and I think I will experiment with it. I changed because all the "expert quilters" told me I should only use Warm & Natural...so that is what I have done. It is only lately that I have wondered why, and "bearding" was what came into my head.

Thanks again.

Dina

I like Fairfield Traditional poly batting. For even thinner batting I use Thermore by Hobbs.

I've made over 350 quilts with it and just bought a rollof 50 yrds. I love it n, never a problem and great for hand quilting

I've used Mountain Mist polyester (the fluffy kind in a package) in quilts that are over 15 years old and used. No bearding whatsoever.

I use poly batting too, usually low loft and never had any bearding.

Polyester batting has come a long way over the years. Bonding of the poly fibers has nearly eliminated the issue of bearding. I have used all kinds of poly battings over the last decade or more , the bonded fibers have never bearded. Some poly battings have a thin poly tissue like layer over the both sides of the batting. I use tow layers of batting on almost all of my quilts one layer cotton and one inexpensive Mountain Mist ... none have ever bearded.

I use polyester batting when I want a warm lap quilt, which is what I mostly make. It conforms to the body and traps air (for warmth), and is not heavy like cotton batting. No matter how cheap it was, I have never had bearding. It is a totally different choice from when you would want cotton batting.

I use Hobbs Polydown by the 30 yard roll and it does not beard. Our guild also uses it for our Community Quilts. It's lightweight and of uniform thickness throughout (no thick or thin places) quilts easily and washes, dries and wears well. I really have nothing negative to say about this batting and my LA'er has absolutely no problems with it either. It's also affordable, about $150 including tax in Canada.

The ONLY time I've had bearding turned out to be because there was a little bit of a burr on my needle. Otherwise, zero bearding. I mostly use Quilter's Dream.

Again, thanks to everyone for the comments. Here is a link to what I am looking at. This is from a relatively new place in the Dallas area. They will be having a booth at our quilt show and I want to look at the batting first, but this is tempting. His prices on other battings are quite good also.

http://www.americanquiltbatting.com/product-p/5p.htm

Does anyone know anything about this company....American Fiber Products? Here is a link to his whole web site.

http://www.americanquiltbatting.com/

(Our quilt show is next weekend, Oct. 3-4, in case any of you are near Wichita Falls, TX. ...another link for more info on our show www.wichitafallsquiltguild.org)

Thanks,
Dina

I use polyester battings a lot, have never had a bearding problem, in fact until I read your post I had no idea anyone had that problem with poly batts. I thought some cotton battings were the big bearding culprits. I do use dream poly, dream green, and Hobbs poly and/or Hobbs blends. Dream and Hobbs wool battings are also ones I use a lot- I've never experienced a bearding problem in 38 years of making quilts (maybe I've been lucky)

You know, maybe I had it wrong. Maybe it is cotton that beards? Hmmmmm....maybe I am just worrying about nothing....

Dina

Polyester batting used to beard a lot. It no longer does especially if you make sure you are using a sharp needle of the correct size for your thread. I looked at the batting that you are thinking of getting. I am concerned about how light it is. It says that it is 3.8 oz per yard. The batting that I use is either 9 or 12 oz per yard and for most applications I use the 12 oz batt. The 9 oz batt can seem a little light at times.

Julie

Some of mine did and some didn't, sorry but it was the low loft pricey one that did.

[QUOTE=Julie1;6903763]Polyester batting used to beard a lot. It no longer does especially if you make sure you are using a sharp needle of the correct size for your thread. I looked at the batting that you are thinking of getting. I am concerned about how light it is. It says that it is 3.8 oz per yard. The batting that I use is either 9 or 12 oz per yard and for most applications I use the 12 oz batt. The 9 oz batt can seem a little light at times.

This is good to know. Thanks!! I am off to see if I can figure out what it says about Warm & Natural. Should have done that already, huh! :)

Dina

I have always used poly batting and I have never had any bearding. I really like it.

Use a good BONDED poilyester batt. There is a coating on both sides to keep it from bearding and it works fine.

The only problem I've had with polyester batting has been inconsistent thickness (usually where it was folded for bagging). That has not been a problem with the batting I got from my MIL that was on a roll.
I've also discovered that I do prefer the batting that looks and feels more like fleece instead of "standed fluff" - much easier to use.

I always use polyester for both machine and hand quilts, I never had any problems even after repeat washings!

The batting in my 1st quilt is poly and there is almost nothing left after 20 years,it was hand quilted. I like Warm & Natural for my quilts now, all done by machine.

I have a 10 year old sampler quilt that the Amish handquilted for me. They insisted on using their own batting. It has bearded to the extent that I have to use a sweater fuzz buster on it to get rid of the pilling. Not nice. Maybe those batts are better now. I would hope so.

I too have never had any problems with bearding with the poly battings. I love it for the softness and the loft. My mom only used the poly battings and I don't remember her have the problem either. She only did hand quilting.

If the quilt is going to be long arm quilted, sometimes the poly batting can cause shredding of the thread.

If you do not use a better quality poly batting it will beard and also pulls apart with your finger while you are getting the quilt together. I have also found if you do not use a good sharp machine needle all batting will beard.

I have been using Hobbs 80/20 just because it's made & grown in Texas but with my latest quilt I am having a hard time with the quilt up to 3 1/2" apart, for this reason I need to look for something that wont beard with quilting farther apart. Would the Hobbs Polydown work better or is the distance the same as the 80/20?

Thank you all for all your excellent advice as usual, my next quilt will be going to our Middle daughter who now lives in Bulgaria, very cold winters there. I want to switch to using Polyester batting after reading all reviews but will the Poly batting be warm enough for them or should I try a cotton or wool batting? It is also important to be as to how far apart the quilting can be on the cotton or poly vs. the 80/20 I was using?

I use just about anything I can get at a reasonable price. I have never had any bearding and my quilts get used/washed to death.

I believe that polyester batting is actually warmer than cotton -- it is different, and does not quilt closely (heavily) like cotton, but it is soft and conforms to the body. I make all my lap quilts with low loft polyester.

Do you think the bearding could be related to the treads-per-inch of the backing? I don't know, just wondering.

This particular quilt beards through the top. The cottons used were all good quality, even the backing. It was a quilt to commemorate my husband's Navy career and it's disheartening to have it beard. We use it daily and just figure we'll use another blanket under it when the batt is gone.