I am tired of stitching batting together, but my bolt of batting is 90" wide and my quilt top is 102", so something must be done. I picked up some Pellon lightweight fusible interfacing, and I'm going to try fusing the batting pieces together. I'm using W&N batting. I will be quilting on my longarm. The plan is to cut 1.5" strips of the interfacing and apply to the batting - but that's as far as I've gotten in the thought process.

I have some questions. Should I cut off the side edges of the batting before using it? Should I put a cloth (damp or otherwise?) over the interfacing (which is laid on top of the seam in the batting) before applying the iron? Should I fuse both sides together? Anything else I should know?

This interfacing was cut off a bolt and didn't come with directions, so I would appreciate advice from anyone who has already done this. TIA

I would lay a pressing cloth or just a piece of fabric over it so it doesn't stick to your iron. I would try doing a scrap piece first keeping track of how long it takes to adhere. And also try seeing if you need interfacing on both sides or just one. Let us know how it works. I did some a long long time ago and don't remember how it worked.

Will the interfacing stick to the batting? Will it survive washing/drying?
I have not had great luck with fusible and warm and natural... so I am curious too :D:D:D

Im just wondering if you wouldnt be better off zig zaging it together on the machine. Wont the interfacing leave a stiffer section? Will it quilt out the same, or will it be noticeable? Im not sure, I would just hate to see it not turn out the way you want. Maybe try a test piece on some scraps? I hope it works out for you.

I was thinking maybe both sides? If one starts to release, the other may hold it down?

they have the interfacing on sale at Joanne's for 2.99..normally 9.99 a bolt...till tomorrow

I just zig zag mine.

Sounds like to much trouble for me... I will continue to zig zag.

I lay W&N pieces overlapping just a little bit and trim both layers. Remove the slivers & butt the big pieces together. Lay the interfacing over the joint and press. I use steam and an applique sheet (just because I have one) but you could use a scrap of muslin to keep the glue off your iron. THEN - I take it to my machine. Turn it over so that the fusible is on the bottom and zig-zag the joint. I use as wide a zig-zag as my machine does and a fairly open length. I like to reinforce the fusible - kinda like the fusible is holding everything together so you CAN sew it together.

I use this method to put ALL my scrap W&N together into a usable size, I don't like to throw it away.

ok, i guess i am missing something here. if you are zig-zagging the batting together why are you using fusable too? seems like a waste...i would think one or the other would be the way to go, if you are stitching then don't waste the fusable; but i thought the original post was from someone who did not want to sew her batting pieces anymore. the problems with fusing the edges are: bulk if you overlap the pieces; stiffness along the seam; gumming up the needle when quilting (depending on what fusable was used) pressing such large pieces and getting them to stay together until you get it quilted. if you just go with the zig-zag it is done and going to hold up without lumps/bulk/stickiness/ problems with it not holding.

I was just zig-zagging the joint, but read somewhere about also using the fusible. There is no bulk because you butt the joint, after trimming both layers, no gumming or stiffness as I use the ultra-light weight interfacing which I get at WalMart. I have my own version of a large ironing board, so managing to get the fusible ironed isn't an issue. I haven't made up anything larger than a large wall hanging using the fusible/sew method. If I am needing a queen-size batting, I will buy more batting.

By using the fusible before I sew, I have a much nicer, smoother joint and I'm not fighting with the 2 pieces of batting to play nicely together while I stitch them. I guess I don't trust just the fusible to hold, especially if an area where the fusible is doesn't get quilted enough to hold everything together. It's just what I do.

As a "motion and time study" person (remember the days when we did that in business?) I would think that zig zagging takes a lot less time than fusing. Other reasons not to fuise has been mentioned above. I would also think that the heat while fusing packs down the batting and will give a different look on that section when quilting. Having said that, try it on a crib size quilt and see how it works.

i would use 505

just remember the interfacing is'nt permanent. you need to quilt over that area or go ahead and sew it together.

Me too. I just zig zag another piece of the batting I'm using to the edge of the the other and don't overlap them - I just butt them up to each other. Very quick and then I have all of the same product in the quilt

I don't understand how this would help.

Thank you everyone for your comments/suggestions. I plan to work on it today.

when i have a small area along the side of the quilt where the batting wasn't wide enough, i spray the backing of the quilt with 505 and stick a strip of batting down the side. i don't overlap it, i just butt the edges together. hope this is clear enough

Ok, I think I understand - so you don't sew it together or fuse it together, just let the spray hold the batting in place and quilt over it? I'm quilting on a longarm, and it's a big quilt, so I don't think that method would work for me, but it does show that once the quilting is finished, the batting being stitched together is probably not necessary. I know that when I whip-stitch it the stitches are easily pulled apart (if I pull on it), but once quilted there is no problem at all.