I need guidance. I have a few ( ok, a lot..lol) of questions on some projects I am trying to get done as christmas gifts and I THANK any of you more experienced quilters for any help...

Project One: I am am making a really special friend a throw quilt..I have spent a lot of time picking fabrics etc.. I do know that she gets cold easily..And loves "cuddely soft" blankets..
My question is about batting and backing. My first quilt that I just finished making is rather stiff and not to cuddly/soft feeling even after washing...I had used a poly 20%/cotton blend, med loft batting..I used reg fabric ( that felt soft in the store) as my backing... It also does not keep me very warm.
I have heard a lot about a brand I think is called "warm and natural" 100% cotton. I do know cotton breathes = keeps you warm when its cold yet cool when it's warm?.. I have also heard some bad things about using 100% cotton batting (separating etc..) However, this brand seems to keep popping up...*Your thoughts?
As for the soft cuddly feel. Anyone have suggestions on this?.. My first thought was to use flannel or fleece as backing..However, the quilt will not be bold/bright in color..The fabrics have a more elegant feel to them..I don't want to ruin that effect..But, would if I had to choose soft over pretty lol
*And what is the difference between flannel vrs fleece?..Does one pick up lint worse than the other. etc?
*I've also thought about using an Egyptian cotton sheet for the backing..Has anyone done this?
Project Two: A Wall Hanging for my son..*** Do you need to use batting for a wall hanging?..
*I will also be using 2" fusible grid as my design wall...If a yard of the fusible grid is not large enough...How do you connect more yrdge to make it larger without ruining the grid pattern? Sewing, ironing?
Project Three: Thankfully, will be easy..Hubby just wants a camo quilt ( he camps a lot = thinks hes rambo lol) He wants only one pattern/fabric on the front(cotton camo design)- the back( solid colored flannel). I was like, why not just buy a camo blanket? lol..But, I think he just wants something I make..However, he does love snoopy so I bought a snoopy applique to sneak into a corner lol.
*I am having a hard time finding the old army camo design( new one looks digital) in cotton or flannel..I did find five yrds (cotton) on ebay for 8$/yrd ( good price?)..*Anyone have a good resource for this? My joanns only had two designs, one the green was lime instead of army green.The other was cartoonish looking, ugh.
Thanks for any help guys! (smile)

I would recommend wool batting for your friend's quilt. It's not as stiff as warm and natural. It's natural, it breathes, easy to quilt.

I wouldn't recommend an egyptian cotton sheet for your backing. It's kind of stiff until it's washed many times. A good quality 100% cotton or flannel from a good quilt shop would be better. Just my opinion.

I know some of the quilt police wouldn't agree but I use flannel on the back of throw quilts or lap ones. It kind of keeps them from sliding off as well as being cuddly. I also prefer poly batting for those same quilts. It allows the quilt to be thin yet warm and not heavy. Fleece is harder to work with as it stretchs and pills when laundered.

Sewinglady, Interesting, I'd not heard of using wool batting..Any certain brand? loft? And very good to know about the egyption cotton..I'd have thought it would have been just the opposite..Thank you

Mpspeedy, also good to know about the fleece! And as far as the quilt police..I am not a traditionalist...Eventually I will become a mixed media quilter lmao..If it's durable, It's doable lol..Thanks

Why not use fleece for your hubby blanket, I made my grandson a fleece on, Jets on one side and the Yankees on the other and sewed the two toghether, he loves it, soft and cuddly. no need for batting.

I've used fleece for batting with a regular cotton sheet for backing - it is super warm. flannel would be softer and more cuddly for backing, I have seen minkee or fleece used as backing too, which would also be a really cuddly backing, but its hard to keep straight. I think, more than batting, how much you quilt it would determine how stiff it is...but I'm a newbie too, so I could be wrong lol. An advantage to fleece as batting is that it doesn't need as much quilting because it won't fall apart with washing.

I would use a thin batting for a wall hanging - it gives it body for quilting, and will help to keep its shape when hanging.

I don't know where you can find camo print...but good luck! $8/yd sounds about normal to me...I like that you're sneaking snoopy in there, lol, maybe you can appliqué a camo jacket on him or something, hubby will never notice him! :lol:

early, hubbys camo quilt will definitely have flannel on front and or back for sure... I have no intention of using batting on his..So I totally agree..

Deema,fleece for batting, hmmm interesting..And I too wondered if a quilt became more stiff in comparison to the amount of quilting done..I quilted it about every 3-4" as I had read to do with the poly cotton batting blend...That's another reason I was interested in hearing about the "warm n natural cotton batting...I know with that you can quilt up to 10" apart..
Too funny about appliquing the snoopy in camo lol A double applique? I'm not sure Im up to that yet lol.... Girl, I had looked alll over ebay etc for fabric or an applique of snoopy in the army with no luck..Red baron is it lol...I ended up getting one of him all sprawled out sleeping..

first...batting, warm and natural is a good batting but there are lots of others. the thing you have to watch when choosing your batting is ... ON THE PACKAGE IT WILL TELL YOU THIS BATTING SHOULD BE QUILTED __________ THIS FAR APART...not all are created equal, some you need to quilt every 2" some you have 10" ... the density of your quilting will effect how (stiff) your finished quilt will be...less is better when you want soft...(the separation of batting occurs when it should have been quilted every 2" and is quilted every 8" instead...you have to quilt as heavily as your batting requires to have good lasting results)
difference between flannel & fleece? FLEECE IS POLYESTER. cotton flannel is cotton...low quality flannel will (pill), good quality flannel will hold up to many washings. both are soft and great to work with. for warmth i use wool battings. dream wool does not shrink, has great loft, breaths, is nice and warm.
i have made quilts with cotton pieced tops, wool batting and a luscious soft flannel back... beautiful!!!
i also have one with a curly/minkee back that people love. there are some very elegant looking wonderful minkee's out there...they are very expensive.
about the egyptian cotton...it will stay nice and (crisp) like a good quality cotton sheet fresh off the line.
i use a low-loft (inexpensive) batting in wall hangings, helps with definition when quilting. lots of people use fusable batting for wallhangings.if you do not want to use batting just a layer of flannel works well too; just make sure it's been pre-washed, flannel shrinks alot at first.

about the fusable grid (I LOVE THIS STUFF!) when i had to join 2 pieces i cut each piece with the grid lines, cutting off about 1/2" of one side of the squares, cut the next one with an extra l1/2" so they would line up correctly, then i ran a line of paper tape down it (on the non-fusable side); after i fused the fabric squares to the grid the tape did not matter anymore, but i just left it.
good luck with your projects


:thumbup:

For your friend's quilt you could use polar fleece. It is very soft & warm and the quilt is light in weight. I use it for little kids quilts and have no problems with quilting it.
I keep the quilting simple and to a minimum ( no stippling or such) I wasn't sure the first time I used it but it was a dream to use. For a pretty quilt could you buy cream or a pale color.
We can get those colors here in Australia so I expect you could get them in your corner of the world.
For the camo try an army disposal store. You never know what you may find.

wow ck, thank you for all that info..So much clearer now!I am cut/pasting and saving everyone of you lol And Thank You for the grid info especially- so excited about working with it!

I just found camo flannel online for 4.98 a yrd..I can't tell the quality of it but, its the right print and price..However, as you said, I have heard that flannel shrinks badly and to wash it 3-4 times before quilting..Do you or anyone have a rough estimate on how much yardage I'd need for a generous twin size quilt?

hmm I just looked its 100% cotton flannel - double napped flannel (brushed on both sides)..I have no idea if this is good or bad..But, I know I'll be cleaning my sewing maching a lot by the sounds of it lol

I'll definitely be checking into the polar fleece as well...Thanks