How do you pre-shrink batting
 

I'm pretty new to quilting and I'm always reading that you should preshrink batting before using it, but I don't know how. Do you just toss it in the washing machine? Doesn't that bunch it up? If you do, what water temp? I can't imagine hand washing queen-size batting -- seems too big to handle. Or is there a secret to it?

Sorry for the stupid questions, but I'm confused.

I never pre-shrink my batting. I use Warm & Natural, 100%. I do pre-shrink my fabric for a variety of reasons but not batting. I like the crinkled look of the quilts and not pre-shrinking the batting (and using 100%) helps with this process. There was another thread here on the board quite a while ago about this very subject. You could do a search to see the responses there. If I remember correctly some folks had issues pre-shrinking batting. It's best to read your package label.

I've never heard of pre-shrinking the batting. Don't think I would dare try that. I also like the look of the crinkled quilt.
Looks a little less "new".

Preshrinking batting is personal preference. Some of us want the 'old quilt' look right away (actually a lot of us) and never preshrink.

However, if you are doing a lot of fine quilting (lines close together) or a wall quilt, you may want to preshrink or you'll lose the fine stitching. Make sure the batting CAN be preshrunk (look at the the manufacturer's instructions). Shrinking occurs in the dryer, not the washer. I put the batting into the washer, and run the spin cycle. No agitation occurs. It's usually plenty damp by the time it is done. Use the delicate cycle. Then, put into the dryer on low and dry. Everybody has different settings. I usually do 20 minutes on low or medium.

I most commonly preshrink Warm and Natural.

It is not necessary to pre-shrink batting; it depends on the end look you want.

It is never necessary to pre-shrink polyester batting because polyester doesn't shrink.

I prefer using cotton batting. My favorite batting for machine quilting is Mountain Mist Blue Ribbon 100% cotton batting. Trying to preshrink this particular batting would be disastrous because it is not needlepunched, does not have any scrim to hold it together, and also does not have any kind of bonding agent applied to the surface to hold it together. Merely soaking this batting in water would result in disintegrating wads of cotton.

Someone who wants to preshrink cotton batting (typically because they want a very flat look to the quilt) would need to use a cotton batting that is bonded, needlepunched, and/or needlepunched through scrim. Even with these battings, you never want to agitate. The usual method is to soak in the washing machine, never allowing agitation (turn off the machine). You can hand agitate by pushing down on the batting with your hands, if necessary. When batting is saturated, advance to "spin" cycle to get rid of excess water. Dry in dryer. Water temperature isn't that important; most of the shrinkage occurs in the dryer.

Depends entirely on the finished look and feel you want. I like cotton batting but I don't always want the crinkled look so sometimes I preshrink my battings. Do NOT let it agitate!!! You'll end up with a giant cotton ball! I use hot water and let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes and I use a stick to push it down in the water. After it has sat I turn the machine to the last spin and spin the water out. I use regular heat in the dryer. I'll pull it out of the dryer a couple of times and move the middle of the ball to the outside so it dries evenly. It doesn't take very long at all for a bat to dry so you need to rearrange it about every 10 minutes or so. Also make sure it's a batting that can be preshrunk. Not all of them can be.

I knew I came to the right place with this question. Many thanks to everyone who responded. I fell much more educated now.

This is a great question. A few days ago I bought a loose piece of batting at an estate sale -- that is, not in a package. It has an unfamiliar feel to it, and I can't identify the brand, but I think it is cotton. I cut off a little corner and hand washed it just to make sure it didn't fall apart. It was ok.

So, I am ready to wash it and see what happens. If a batting shrinks, I want it to happen before I use it.

Also, I have been told that although fabrics are treated with pesticides for their trip across the ocean to us, batting does not have pesticides added in the manufacturing. I am not sure if that is true or not, but I think I will feel more comfortable using a clean piece of batting that I found unpackaged at an estate sale.

I paid $1.50 for this 2 yard piece of batting, so I am willing to put a little effort into it.

Dayle

i never pre-shrink a batting- i purchase the batting that is right for my project- the shrinkage in most batts is so minimal- and dependant on so many things---
but no---never just toss a batt into a washing machine- that is not quilted and bound- what would come out would be a pretty traumatic sight!
read the packaging when you buy a batt- and pick the one that works for your project- there are even wool batts on the market that do not shrink as much as a cotton batt (like mountain mist)
shrinkage depends on the amount of quilting done on the quilt also

I live in Australia and the local store sells Legacy brand wadding, i am so confused i know that using it with scrim in it is best, but do i go, polyester, cotton, bamboo, or blend. I need help as i am about to start a quilt.

Idle Di