Opinion, please
 

Need an opinion and most especially from hand quilters. I have recently completed a top from hand pieced GMF blocks that were in my mother's stash. Now to make the sandwich. I usually use poly batting because I like the poof. In her collection of possibilities is a cotton (not 80/20) batting. I have never used cotton but realize it would fit the era of the blocks. I'll be hand quilting this. Opinion--cotton or poly batting?

I only ever use cotton batting. It hand quilts beautifully.

If you like poof and have been happy with poly batting, you might not be as pleased with the flatness of cotton. I guess it depends which is more important to you -- poof or being consistent with the era of the top. Wool also has nice poof to it, if that would be more era-appropriate.

If you are new to hand quilting, make sure whatever cotton batting you choose doesn't have scrim in it. Just makes hand quilting harder for me.

I would probably go with a cotton, but make sure it is not one of those that requires quilting closer than you would be happy doing.

I really like wool batting..it has nice loft ,is soft, and easy to hand quilt.

As a hand quilter, I have quilted most of the available battings. My first preference is wool. I like natural fibers, so don't often quilt poly. Wool gives the loft of poly, is easy to needle and breathes, making it more comfortable to sleep under, unlike poly which doesn't breathe. The most difficult batting for me to hand quilt is 100% cotton. If I want to use cotton, I use the 80/20 cotton poly which needles quite nicely. To me the two most important things to consider are ease of needling and the look you want.

Agree with Glendan. Wool or Hobbs 80/20 cotton.

I do like Dream Cotton. I am completing my first in the Select weight(usually have used Request, their lightest weight batting). Dream Cotton has minimal shrinking. Surprisingly, I also like the 80/20 Hobbs. I've always preferred cotton and can't stand 100% poly batting. After I finish, I always wash my quilts and that gives them the crinkly soft look. I used to use Warm and Natural, but those quilts tend to get heavy. They are warm.

Poly will flatten to nothing, over a few years. The Cotton, when it does it's little bit of shrinking in the wash, will give lasting definition to the quilt top.

I've only used 100% when hand quilting. Unlike many others here, I use Warm & Natural - which does have a scrim - but do not find it overly difficult to quilt. Then again, if I ever used something else, I'd probably feel differently. I, too, prefer all natural quilts as they do breathe better. I find them warmer in winter and cooler in summer. I also like the 'crinkle' look that 100% cotton battings give after washing.

I'm not a hand quilter, but when I ask the hand quilters to sit in on the beginning quilt classes and mentor, they always say no scrim!, and that wool or a lower loft poly work best.

Cotton or wool though wool is my favorite for hand quilting. Costs a little more BUT I always buy the king size and can usually get at least 2 out of it. There for half price!! (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!) I, also, lap quilt, no hoop and whatever needle is in the pincushion.

I only use a wool batting if I am hand quilting - much easier to slide the needle through then either cotton or poly.

I, too, only use cotton batting.

I just read on this site yesterday that poly doesn't breathe and that isn't good. I like 80/20 and I like Dream Cotton. I just ordered some wool batting and I like it too. I haven't ever had much poof hand quilting. I use to use Warm and Natural but now that I have tried 80/20 and wool I like those two much better. Dream Cotton is good too.

The cotton batting may be thin but it is super heavy. I'm doing a quilt now with cotton batting and I am shocked by the weight. I do believe it will be so warm this winter though. To me poly is not warm.

Warm and Natural is heavy. I do think Dream Cotton is lighter. I was definitely surprised at how much lighter my quilt that has 80/20 Hobbs in it is.

but then - it's only my opinion...This could be a science fair project!! Take 3 different types/brands of batting and see how much they weigh!

:D

I always understood cotton batting to be the best choice. Am also hand quilting GMF garden with 1930's reproduction fabric - ongoing project for years now :)

I have tried many but I always come back to Dream cotton-Blue Request:
https://www.amazon.com/Quilters-Drea...equest+batting

I bought some wool batting....that will be my last experiment trying to leave Dream cotton. I love the way it crinkles up after washing/drying to give that old fashioned vintage look. (it is not puffy).