I made a quilt for my son and he said he wishes it was a little warmer. I think I used a poly batting. I was wondering if there is a warmer batt or should I double up? FayZ

I am unable to answer your question - we live in Texas, but as a newbie will be watching responses for those in the know. Thanks for asking,

There is a batting out there called Thermore made by Hobbs. It is just about the same as the old Thinsulate batting that used to be sold. Very warm and lightweight. Just can't use fabric softener when its washed. I use it very frequently. It really comes in handy here in Buffalo in the winter!

Also...I use it with anti-pill fleece for the backing. When I make quilts like this, people tell me its the only covering they need at night when its cold.

We use warm and natural here in IN. It is very warm and light weight. IMO.

I love using W n N when I can afford it, I made a lovely warm quilt with it and also backed it with a lovely flannel, it turned out so cosy.

I would say unless you are MQ'ing, do not double up your batting. I use W&N 100% cotton batting and I've had nothing but positive comments about how warm the quilt it is. I made the mistake of doubling this and hand quilting on my first quilt. Doable but painful. And probably not necessary based on later experience.

Warm and Natural is warmer than Poly, or you can use wool is you want it warmer. If you wamt to double the batting, I would use a cotton batting like warm and natural along with a wool batting.

Can you tell me why you can't use fabric softner, love the smell of April Fresh.

Just like with Thinsulate and down, warmth depends on the air in between as insulation. Fabric softener coats the fibers, and they don't "fluff up" as much, so less air, less insulation, and less warmth.
Edited to add: I love the smell of Downy, too. To scent something, I put a little bit on a washcloth, get it wet, wring it out, and toss in the dryer for a couple of minutes with the dried quilt/garment. You get the scent, but it doesn't go through all layers, leaving the insulation intact.

I love W&N and get it at Joann's when it is either 50% off (plus use my 10% off card on top of that), or wait until I have a 50% off coupon. Makes it more affordable then. Since I use it mostly living here (I always used poly in the tropics), I bought a roll when it was 50% off and used my 10% - so a 60% savings warrented the whole roll. I still have enough left to make one more queen quilt-which I am next, so I better be on the watch for another 50% off sale!

My late Momma taught me to use little white vinegar instead of fabric softener.

Wool is also a great batting. It's warm but breathes.

I tried some but it says not to wash it and I did, oops did not like it all, maybe I did something wrong, never tried it again.

Ditto!

I haven't made anything big with wool batting, but it should be warm. I personally have found that cotton feels cold on my hip. I have to put another blanket over my hip when I am using a quilt with a cotton batt vs. the all synthetic quilted throw I bought. I don't know why I feel it so much, but the cotton is like it is ventilted or something.

I use the wool a lot. I wash & dry it the first time then after that I only wash it & I hang it up to dry. It has to be quilted with in 3 ". It is very warm, yet in the summer it seemed to be cooler. I prewash my fabric but not my batting; that gives me the puffy look that I like. I hope this helps.

I like having a thin quilt, in winter when you need more warmth, add a blanket under the quilt. Or two.

The reason your Momma taught you to use a little white vinegar is because it will take any excess soap out of the quilt (which attracts dirt) and also act to soften the fibers a bit, like a fabric softener, but not quite as much.

The reason you should never use a fabric softener on any quilt is that it will attract dirt to the quilt, and you will have to wash it more often. Not good for quilts. (This information comes from a book on restoring Heirloom Quilts.)

Also, my mother always used white vinegar on her quilts. I just never knew the reason why, except my Grandmother and Great Grandmother always did the same! So there's your folklore!

Thank's!

Can you use thinsolate as a batting?

Thanks, I always just did what my Momma told me. I never knew the reasoning behind it.

I recently purchased a wool batting but have not used it yet. It was at Hancock's and it's very soft. I've heard it's a dream to quilt with so I'm looking forward to using it in a quilt. I believe it's by Hobbs. It was sold by the yard and I used a 50% off coupon.

Vanessa in Oklahoma
www.pineneedles.wordpress.com

I'm not sure that quilts, in and of themselves, are supposed to be that warm. Originally, they were layered as the weather called for.

That's what we still do to this day in our house. There are no blankets in this house, only quilts...and we layer them as needed to create the warmth or remove them as necessary as the weather warms up.

You can tell him to add a blanket between the quilt and the top sheet. That would help.

Having been a member of this Board for almost a year now, I've learned that I'm a total outlier on this topic, but I still recommend using fleece as a batting if you want a really warm quilt.

I made a quilt for my elderly mother when she just couldn't get warm last winter. She hates the feel of fleece, but it was the warmest fabric I could think of. So I pieced an all-cotton top and backing for the quilt, then used generic white fleece (purchased with a coupon) as the batting. I did simple SID quilting (fleece doesn't need much) and the result was a lovely WARM quilt that Mom really used.

I thank everyone for your help. I talked to my son a little while ago and he suggested I make him another one and he would layer them. I think he just wanted another quilt.smile.I was told not to use fleese because it stretches but one thing I've learned about quilters is Nothing stops a quilter from making what she wants. I will try your suggestions.

One other thing you can think about, and that's !00% wool felt. My grandmother used to make the warmest quilts, and she would use a double layer, stitched together. of wool felt for the batting. This was important because her farm house didn't have central heating, and we kids slept upstairs, in the winter, where there was no heating! But we stayed warm under her quilts. I suppose you could try just one layer. The nice thing about it is you can pre-wash, and thus pre-shrink it, unlike wool batting. It comes in other combinations of fabrics as well, such as part polyester. I've been looking for 100% cotton. Not sure there is such an animal in felt! But I can't say I've looked very hard either. Just a thought.

I would choose a wool batting

I use the Dream batting, it is warmer. and wonderful to quilt with. DEB

hmmmmnnn, maybe his comment about it not being warm enough was a subtle hint that he'd really like another quilt :-)

i recently bought a roll of hobbs 80/20 heirloom, after this roll is done I am going back to quilter's dream cotton.

A Grson always sleeps with the flannel backing next to his body.No top sheet, & he says it's so comfy & warm.He's 18 & still uses same quilt.The whole family loves flannel backing on their quilts.

I had the same thing happen with my dsd quilt and I used Warm and Natural. She stopped complaining about it being cold and said it was too warm after we washed the quilt for the first time. I still recommend that everyone does this after quilting since all batting is compressed in the package or on a roll and then again when quilting the quilt. Toss it in the washer or in the dryer only with a damp washcloth and see if that helps.

One of my boys told me the same thing. I always layer quilts b/c one never seems warm enough for me. So I gave him another one :D

Quilter's Dream wool batting is wonderful!!! Sews beautifully and is warm...here is their info about the wool batting:

Dream Wool is made with a Scoured and Super Washed Domestic & Fine Merino Wool that has been blended, carded, crosslapped & thermally bonded.* The wool is scoured and super-washed for superior cleanliness and to eliminate shrinkage. Quilters Dream's unique processing creates wool batting with exceptionally soft drape, uniformity and strength. Dream Wool is a beautifully consistent batting that is truly a 'cut above'.

May be Machine Washed and Dried without Shrinkage.
Confidently stitch up to 8 inches apart. Dreamy to Quilt. No Scrim or Resins to Resist Your Needles.
Light, Luxurious and Wonderfully Warm with a Lovely Soft Loft that Beautifully Accentuates your Quilting.
Resistant to Creases and and Naturally Resilient Dream Wool Springs Back to its Original Loft.
Quilters Dream Wool is Exceptionally Durable, Rich and Resilient Ensuring that Your Quilts will be Treasured for Generations.
Dreamy for Hand and Machine Quilting. Also Excellent for Tied Quilts.
Ideal Mid Loft for all Your Quilted Projects

Quilters Dream Wool is made with the same distinctive quality, cleanliness and consistency that has made Quilters Dream Batting the one you can always count on! Made with pride in the USA.

Quilters Dream Wool Batting is available in these sizes:
Craft 46" x 36"
Crib 60" x 46"
Throw 60" x 60"
Twin 93" x 72"
Double 96" x 93"
Queen 108" x 93"
Super Queen 121" x 93"
King 122" x 122"
Queen Folded Roll 93" x 25 linear yards and
King Folded Roll 122" x 20 linear yards

When I lived in Minnesota for a year I used an old wool comforter my mother resurrected from hiding and it was enough to keep me snuggly and warm all winter, but never overheated, even in summer. I moved to California the next year, and again used that comforter; it was still the most comfortable "blanket" I ever had. I want to try a wool batting when I get around to making a bed quilt for myself.

As for fleece, I find a blanket or throw made of polyester makes me sweaty, and cannot wear poly clothing at all. But son and DIL and granddogs all love their fleece blankies.

A flannel backing with any kind of batt always seems to feel warmer and more comfy to me. I flannel back almost all of the quilts that I will use myself.

There is a wool batting on the market that's lovely to work with.

Polyester battings are the least warm of any batting!

I love Warm and Natural. Quilts up nicely and it really is warm.

THIS is the only thing we used in Alaska. Poly does not breathe and can store bacteria! Wool is the best for warmth!

I remember reading that poly pillows were really bad for you.I didn't connect poly batt.His quilt is really old. Me thinks he should have a new one. :lol: thanks for the help.