But washing it weekly is hard on it and everything. I would not think that cotton battings are designed to be washed every week. When you think about the agitating and then the heat and tumbling in the dryer......If that's they way she's going to wash it - maybe a poly batting would be better suited.

it looks as if you used a cotton batt (without scrim) like mountain mist- or one of the others that are great for hand quilting heirloom quilts- generally 100% cotton batts like these need to be quilted every 2"...they are not good candidates for tied quilts- a batt (like warm & natural-with scrim) that can be quilted up to 10" apart and say---good for tied quilts are ok --- but it is important to follow the quilting recommendations on the packaging---i would replace the batt with a warm & natural or one of the dream batts- and quilt it to the specifications- or choose a batt for tied quilts and make sure to place the ties at least every 4" ---closer is better- further can be another future problem.

I wonder if you just didn't quilt closely enough? That is one reason why I won't work with 100% cotton batting (without scrim) because you need to quilt it so bloody close together. Sorry this happened.

look no further than "washing it every week". Quilts really aren't meant to be treated like that. Anything would wear out with that much washing.
peace

I also think the problem is that this was a traditional 100% cotton batting without scrim. This type of batting is meant to be quilted every 2". When that is done, washing every week is not a problem. I had a chance to examine one of my crib quilts 20 years after I made it, and it was washed *frequently* in the machine. The binding was worn in places, but the quilt itself was soft as a cloud; the batting simply got softer with each washing.

Tied quilts really benefit from a cotton batting that is needlepunched through scrim (such as Warm and Natural). These battings say that quilting lines can be up to 10" apart because the batting will hold its shape.

I've seen this happen to poly batting in a quilt I repaired. It was a 5 year old tied baby quilt that had been machine washed often.

That's why I stick with Quilter's Dream batting for my personal use as well as for clients.

Whyen you said she washes it every week because of the pets the bell should have gone off. A couple of years ago I purchased a kingsize pieced top from a vendor at a quilt show and had it machine quilted by a friend who is a great longarmer. I am a died in the wool handquilter but my step-daughter who was to recieve the quilt as an anniversary present is a nurse. I know that she washes all of her bedding, quilt included every week. I maybe wash my quilts several times a year and then always use the "gentle" cycle. I don't know what happened to the quilt I gave her. When I managed to get a peak in her master bedroom she had redecorated and totally changed the color scheme. For all I know the quilt is protecting the lawnmower in her garage.
I think that no quilt batting will stand up to abuse.

I soak my quilts in the washer (NO agitating) and then spin them out. Never put them in the dryer! It's a wonder there's anything left to that quilt after being abused every week like that!