I'm a newbie to posting, but not really for finding answers to most of my questions from you all. I did search for this but not sure I got the answer I'm looking for. So here goes!
I bought some fleece from hobby lobby for my grandsons quilt back, now I'm afraid to use it, cause it may pill. Have had a lot of bad luck with about 6 yards of Joann's flannel which is pilling badly and am going to use it for batting at this point.
My question is can I use the fleece for batting? It's chocolate brown, and I have 3 yards. I saw a post that it was hard to quilt when used as batting. Was this by hand or machine? I only machine quilt and I'm going to spend more money and buy anti-pill fleece for his quilt from Hancock, which is now on sale. Any one use this yet? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I've never used fleece for batting, so can't help you! Why don't you try a small sample and see how it comes out?

Don't know why I didn't think of that, I usually try something first, but I guess I'm just frustrated with this flannel. I have 3 front's done and can't get one finished because of pilled flannel. Thanks! Going to try it now.

I was wanting to do this with some lap quilts, so what is pilling?

I would say that machine quilting you should be just fine. I think it is the hand quilting that they had difficulty with. Great idea to use as batting, by the way.

Happy quilting. :D :D :D

I just used it in a dog quilt for Tinkerbelle... I had a color that wasn't what I wanted and made it work....I don't know if it would work in a closely quilted piece, but it worked fine with her quilt...

It worked! I didn't try stippling yet, but it machined quilted just like Dream Poly, which I use in a lot of table cloth and wall quilts.
Now I'm shifting gears and put the kids quilts away since I have to buy no-pill fleece or better flannel. I have started a bento box in browns a while ago and now I'm going to finish this and use the chocolate fleece for batting. If I don't like it when I finish it will go to one of the homeless guys who live in their cars at our walmart. At Christmas I take my scrap quilts and give them out to those guys.
By the way I glue basted the sample, and it worked just fine.

Yes you can use the fleece for batting.......... I like it even better and it makes a warmer quilt.
Scrap Quilter

I really get so much useful information on this board! :lol:

I would have never thought to use it for filling Thanks!

I have used flannel for batting in wall quilts and hand quilted it without any problems. My grandmother used to use "sheet blankets" for batting in lighter weight quilts also.. for those too young to know, those are like receiving blankets for adults. Fleece I'm not so sure about.

Yes my mom and dad used to make quilts for us when we were younger (mostly my dad) just scrappy ones but they would always put fleece on the inside and let me tell you we had those quilts til literally there was nothing left. They were warm and comfy.. so in short. YES you definitely can!

Anytime you use a fleece it is going to pill.
Be that you are using it for a garment or a quilt, it will eventually pill.
The length of time, I believe, before it starts to do this is in the washing and use of the fabric.
I have used fleece for two quilt backs and one pilled faster than the other but I think it is because one was used/washed more.
Doesn't matter to me.
I love flannel and fleece so I will use both for applications I deem it worthwhile.
Hope this helps.
Kirsten

I have used fleece for batting. Worked fine. I have also used it for backing and batting (2 purposes with one layer). Worked fine!! :P

Hi, I have used fleese but it is necessary to pin it in many more places than you do batting. I am not crazy about using it. I have used an old blanket and it is easier to work with. I also just machine quilt. Knowing if something will pill is a hard question to answer. I am not sure what parameters you have to have in fabric for it not to pill, and I don't know if the anti pill stuff really works. It would be interesting to find out what brand fabrics work.

Since I live in Northern Minnesota, the winters are sometimes viciously cold...I like to make my quilts as warm as possible. I have used flannel from fabric.com for the last few. They have extra wide flannel, so even for a large bed quilt, you don't need a seam in the backing. So far, I am pleased with the results.

last year i bought fleece at fabric.com. i made several throws and after many washings they still loook brand new so i guess it depends on the manufacturer if it will pill or not

I have used fleece for batting, but only in quilt as you go stuff like rag quilts. I haven't had trouble with fleece pilling. I have also used fleece in quilts that I tied or tacked with buttons. I like using it. It sure beats buying something else. Gwyn

Walgreens has some fleece blankets on sale for $1.99. I thought about buying some to use as batting... may try.. It would be a lot cheaper that regular batting and probably warmer too. What do you think? quilter 1234