I need information about quilt batting
 

This is my first time on the Quilting board, so I am holding my breath hoping I am OK starting a new thread on the subject of quilt batting.

I am new to quilting. All I know has been learned from a great teacher; the INTERNET! I have no friends that quilt, so I don't know where to get information about batting. So far I have used blankets from the Goodwill, washed and clean of course.

Now I think I want to start buying new batting probably from Joann's, as that is the only place I shop for my fabric and notions.

I would love your suggestions and anything else you want to throw in as far as advise goes; especially quilting, but a good way to lose weight too. :(

(I don't know anything about "tags" as it says I can add 5 tags. Maybe some advise about tags would help too.):shock:

here's a nice summary of the different types:
http://www.createforless.com/buying-...right-one.aspx
Choosing your batting depends on how heavy you want it to be, how much loft you want, how closely you want to quilt, whether you want it to be washable, etc. Also keep in mind that if you use white fabric you want to use white batting so it doesn't show through and dull the look of the fabric. The web sites for the various batting manufacturers also describe their uses, etc. My quilting instructor mostly recommends Hobbs 80/20 (80%cotton,20%polyester) as a good basic batting.

I like the Warm and Natural batting at Joann. It is 100% cotton & makes a nice cozy, warm quilt. I've used the poly & poly-cotton blend batting there for non-quilt quilted projects (fabric book, home decor, bibs) but the cotton is much nicer to work with and seems a bit sturdier. It says no need to pre-wash, but I do soak it in the machine (stop the machine before it starts agitation) or the bathtub and hang dry before I start quilting with it. The other nice thing about the Warm & Natural is that you can quilt up to 10" apart so that gives you a lot of options. Since I make baby quilts, I use the warm & natural even with white fabric since a lot of parents don't want the added chemicals in their baby's quilt. Honestly, I've auditioned both & the difference really isn't noticeable if you have a decent weight of white fabric. If it's not for a show, go with whichever one you like.

PS -- Tags help with searching on the website. If you start typing a tag like "machine quilting" or "batting" or such, if that tag exists, it will show up in a drop-down menu. If no drop-down menu appears, that means you can't use that tag. They're totally optional, so don't feel badly if you can't figure them out.

Hi Rosasharon, Welcome to the QB. You will get lots of varying opinions on batting, like fabric and thread it all boils down to what function you want and personal preference.

You probably should try expanding your purchase point to something other than JoAnn as they are really only a fair price point if you have a coupon or they are having a 50% off sale on it and their selection is limited. I have seen the same W&N (warm and natural cotton) priced regular for almost half of what JAF charges at quiltshops because JAF adjusts the price for coupons.

Here is a good link to a blogger that did a great comparison chart for batting

http://thecuriousquilter.wordpress.c...lection-chart/

You can also use the advanced search function here on the QB and search topic titles only for batting you will find loads of topics about this very subject.

I love Hobbs it is 80 cotton and 20 poly, and I get it at Hobby Lobby. I got a King size yesterday for 20 dollars which is a great deal. I love the cotton because it gives quilts an old fashioned feel and look

Drats, we have no Hobby Lobby, and I LOVE that store! I will save your information for the future when I can find a Hobby Lobby to drive to. (I'll make a day trip with DH, as we are both retired.) Thanks so much, and I am sure others will appreciate this information as well.

Just wanted to say :wave:, RosaSharon! I'm reading along to learn more about batting with you-oh, and to see if any weight loss tips show up, too:)

I am also a fan of Warm & Natural or Warm & White 100% cotton batting. But it is a low loft, fairly dense batting. It really depends upon your project, personal preference, your budget and availability. I have used mountain mist polyester batting for fluffy charity quilts too and it is inexpensive. Others love wool or bamboo batting but it is expensive. If you are a "greenie", look at Quilters dream green batting made from recycled water bottles and is wonderful. I also encourage you to compare prices locally and online as I have found some great deals on Amazon and Overstock.com in addition to local stores with coupons. Just try several and you will figure out what you like best!

Quilter's Dream is absolutely wonderful. I used to be a W&N girl until I tried Quilter's Dream. Haven't looked back since. :)

So sorry you only have Joann's in your area! Not even a tiny, hidden, gem of a quilt shop, hidden somewhere in your region?

I will check all of these ideas out. Thanks! I love Amazon.com so I will definately check there. :)

Peggi, I will Google Quilters Dream and see if I can buy it online. Thanks for the tip, and I am sure others will appreciate it too.

Susann, There are some great helpful ideas here. Glad you found my question. :thumbup:

I will check out the web-site. Thanks so much for this information. :)

I usually use Hobbs wool and 80/20. I buy it when Connecting Threads has a sale. I recently tried the Fairfield 80/20 batting sold at Walmart. It's a nice lightweight batting. I'll buy it again.

Bree, this is very good information. Thanks for taking time to explain. Also about the tags ---I probably won't be using them, but who knows? Once I wasn't interested in quilting either, and now, age 70, I am obsessed!:D

I try to get my battings from connectingthreads.com, if I have time to wait for them to ship. They often will have a 30% off sale on all of their Hobbs battings....a great time to stock up! I love Hobbs battings....all of them....lol

Onebyone, I actually never thought of Walmart, and it is close by. Thanks. Good information.:rolleyes:

IQ2 -- I have wanted to send a reply to everyone who helped me here, but my replies seem to go all over the place -- I will absolutely check out the URL you sent. Thanks for the great information. :)

Feline fan, I love them too! Cats and quilts seem to go together :thumbup:

Thanks, and you are the second person to suggest I go somewhere else besides Joann's. The other lady told me their fabric is scratchy. I did notice that some of it is, and as for their coupons -- they say 50% off regular price, but I get there, and every thing is discounted already 30%, so my coupon doesn't qualify. They are very tricky that way.

Thanks for your information! :o

I wanted to thank each one of you who gave me such great information, but I am still learning the reply system. I hope I didn't miss anyone, and if I did, I appreciate each one who took their valuable time from quilting to answer my call. RosaSharon

W&N will give your quilt a flatter antique look and is a bit heavier as far as weight is concern but it is available at JAF. I have always preferred Hobbs 80/20 because it is lighter and also has a bit of fluff to it showing your machine quilting skills.

Amazon has good prices on Quilters Dream and you can get free shipping if you spend 35$. I use Quilters Dream almost exclusively. Usually the cotton but I used their polyester once for a particular quilt and it worked well too.

Maniac, I am leaning towards a batting with a little polyester. I am from the polyester generation where clothes wore like iron, you couldn't wear them out. They didn't shrink. Never needed ironing. Most women didn't even own an ironing board any longer. Your suggestion of 80/20 sounds good. Thanks:thumbup:

Rosa,
Sounds like you maybe found a good option with amazon. I was gonna suggest the Quilters Dream Washable Wool, but you definitely won't be finding that at Joann.
Wanted to add that in addition to the coupons you can find on the Joann website, you can also print or download to a smartphone Joann coupons from http://www.retailmenot.com. Make sure to select the "in store" tab if you're using your smartphone. I never shop Joann without at least a 40% off coupon. Last week I had some 50% off coupons from the JAF website. So nice. My LQS's prices are WAY higher than Joann's, plus all the fabrics are Civil War reproductions with a dozen or so 30's reproductions thrown in there, so don't feel too badly that you don't have that option. There's no guarantee it would save you any money.

I love the feel and look of polyester but I regret doing more than one quilt using that batting - I live in Houston and usually we only get a few cold cold days (like in the 30s and below) with the exception of this past winter. they are way too hot for down here. :-( I have to leave the heat off and let the townhome get 50 or below to really enjoy sleeping under them!

my faves so far are Warm and Natural or Warm and White...Cream Rose and White Rose(not sure who makes these but got at Hobby Lobby and Joanns), a friend who longams usually puts hobbs 80/20 if I don't supply my own batting. there's another brand we scored discounted last day of festival year before last that I'm getting around to trying soon as well as a few others I picked up to try. I really wish I'd kept a record of what I've used in what. warm and white/natural have a more generous quilting allowance according to the instructions

These are good things to think about. I didn't realize polyester was so warm. Thanks.

I, too, use the W&N from JoAnns. I like 100% natural fibers - cotton; wool; silk; whatever - in my quilts. You will get more loft with a poly or poly-blend batt. Depends on your personal preferences. Quilter's Dream 100% cotton is a very nice batting as well. Does have a very nice 'drape' to it - more so than W&N. When I exhaust the roll of W&N I'll be trying the QD myself. My friend uses it all the time and it does make for an, initially, softer quilt. The W&N is stiff to work with but does soften up over time and repeated washings. Also holds up very well.

I think it's warm. I did dome quilts with fleece backing and no batting and my father preferred those when how was going through chemo. Poly quilts seem soft and fluffy and aren't heavy I love how they feel but I get too hot except when the temps are colder and I don't use the heat so much. Houston is usually humid and the cotton quilts seem to breathe better for me. Just not as cuddly. I keep meaning to try the dream stuff mentioned

I like the Quilters Dream battings - they make cotton, poly (in white and in black), green recycled poly (yay!) and wool battings - I've used them all and they are all my favorites. I like them better than Warm & Natural/Warm & White, or Hobbs.

Fabric.com carries them, although unfortunately they don't seem to be carrying the black battings anymore. (booo!)

Warm and Natural makes several weights of battings. I used the denser one in my winter quilt, and a lighter weight one in my summer bed coverlet. I just like the way it quilts up, and my show quilts come out nice and flat but with good quilting definition. Quilter's Dream is the same, not just one option. I hate poly loft batting, it may look lightweight, but it is a b*tch to sew through and it is hot because it doesn't breathe the way cotton does.

craftnut --There are lots of women here who don't like the polyester batting. I am glad I asked this question, because I probably would have fallen for it. I am leaning towards a poly/cotton blend to prevent shrinkage -- but I am holding out for a little while longer to research it a little more. Thanks for your input.

RosaSharon, it's not necessary to reply to everyone individually on a forum like this one. The thread itself is reward enough for everyone interested in the topic.

In my opinion, Hobbs 80/20 is a very good batting to start with for a new quilter. It is just a great multi-purpose all-around great batting that holds up well over time. I don't like Warm and Natural as much. The needlepunching through scrim results in a very stable batting (quilting lines can be 10" apart!); however, the disadvantages are that the batting is relatively dense and heavy compared to other battings. The quilt is heavier and has a stiffer drape. Although the batting does soften up eventually, it takes a lot of time and a lot of washings.

I also want to mention that not all 80/20 battings are the same. Hobbs brand 80/20 is the best of the best, IMO, and is often on sale at Connecting Threads online. I don't think you would be unhappy starting out with this batting.

Prism -- whew, thanks for saying I don't have to reply to everyone. You have helped me make up my mind -- it will be 80/20 for me. I was leaning towards that because poly doesn't shrink. Have you ever used Quilters Dream? Lots of people love it.

I use warm and natural. I would be willing to try some of the others that have been mentioned. Have to use up what I have first. I do not have any complaints about w&n!!

Just a comment about shrinkage; many like a little shrinkage to give the quilt that crinkly look. If you don't want that, as I don't, you can easily preshrink the batting. I put mine in a sink of warm/hot water for an hour, let it drain and press out excess water then put in the dryer on a delicate tumble setting to dry. Works great on 100% cotton batting.

I've been quilting for many years and only use Quilter's Dream. It is made in the USA, is all natural, and
comes in so many varieties and loft. You can not go wrong. After putting in the time and effort to create
a quilt, you should not scrimp on the batting. Good luck.

This is a somewhat misleading statement. The Warm Company which makes Warm and Natural makes several different types of batting but Warm and Natural only comes in one weight and one weight only. Please visit their website to familiarize yourself. http://www.warmcompany.com/products.html

It is not a fun batting to hand quilt but many swear by it, I think because they have not tried other products for hand quilting. I like it OK when machine quilting but have found other products I like better. I use many different battings and I have no problems with Hobbs Polydown polyester batting. It gives beautiful loft and definition to the quilting and is most definitely not a b**tch to sew through. In my experience the needle glides through like butter in both hand and machine quilting. My summer quilt contains a very low loft poly batting. I have no idea what brand, I made the quilt eons ago and it is all hand quilted. It is lightweight and very cool. Have you ever tried Quilters Dream polyester? It is unlike any other poly on the market and can easily be mistaken for a cotton blend, the hand and drape is very nice. And when it comes to kids quilts that will be "loved to death" with lots of dragging and untold amounts of laundering a poly batting could definitely put less stress on the quilt because it does not get as heavy when wet and dries very quickly.

So unless you have tried every poly on the market, please don't paint all poly battings with the same brush. Some are indeed very VERY nice and they are an affordable alternative to other fibers. Rosasharon, please don't write of poly because of other peoples opinions. You need to find what YOU like to work with.