Piecing batting
 

Do any of you have a quick and simple method of piecing together batting? I have rather large pieces that I trimmed from my quilt after being machine quilted. It seems such a waste not to use them.

If you overlay the pieces at the edges and then trim through both layers, you will have a matching seam. On a straight line you can use batting seam tape. On a straight or a serpentine seam you can use a wide zig-zag stitch to join the pieces.

I buy the batting tape that is made specifically for this. The tape is ironed over where you want to join the batting pieces, no batting overlap required.

I tried butting the pieces up to each other then zig-zagging them together, but found I didn't do it well enough. Always had a bump where the two pieces were joined. Some people do use this technique and have great results, probably because they have more patience than I do and have done it often.

As long as your sides are straight you can sew them together with a zigzag stitch. I use a different stitch to join mine but don't know what it is called. It looks like triangles laying between two parallel lines. Some people have also used a fusible tape and just iron it together. Once it is sandwiched and quilted you won't be able to tell it is pieced.

Darren

I sometimes cut fuseable interfacing into strips and iron them together carfully as to not scorch the batting. I used to sew them togther, but, I found the extra stitches inside to be bulky and you could feel them in there once the quilt was finished. I suppose if the quilt is a utilitarian one it would not matter.

I've done this (stitching together using a zig-zag seam after trimming through two layers) with success... and I consider myself still a beginner... this is not difficult to do and with minimal practice, one can achieve excellent results... good luck! It IS a waste to throw all that batting away!!!

First, I make sure my batting edges are straight. Then, I use an overcast stitch just
to hold them together when I take it to the sewing machine. Then I use a 3 step
zig-zag stitch on my Janome. It holds the batting well without puckers.

i simply butt the edges together & do a wide zigzag to piece batting scraps together- works well for me- there is an iron on tape on the market specifically for joining batting but i could not justify the expense when zigzaging is just as easy & nothing special to buy.

I use my edge joining foot (I think that is what it is called. Has a "blade"down the center of the foot.) I guide the blade down between the pieces of batting and sew with a wide zig-zag

I use poly batting and have made several quilt battings by sewing leftover strips together. I do it by hand and sew a ladder stitch or a large zig zag stitch.

I but the two edges together and use a wide zig zag stitch.. and a bit longer stitch length. It amazing how much usable batting you can recover from trimmings.

Tried this yesterday-quilting a quilt on my longarm frame, using pieces of batting up, I laid a piece over the first, cut along the second piece edge, then using my Elmers washable glue stick, applied glue to the backing piece, enough to cover both edges of batting, pressed them together at edge, let dry overnight. This morning they are stuck tight, no gaps, no sewing, think i'll use this method again. Best of all, the glue will wash out!!

Thanks, I will give it a try on a smaller wall hanging before I try a large quilt. I appreciate your feed back.

Another way to join pieces of batting is flatlocking (done on the serger). The pieces lay nice and flat. I like the batting tape, too.

I lay the pieces on top of each other and trim. Keeping the pieces together as I had cut them, pin and sew using a blind hem stitch. Open it up and smooth out the seam with your finger. I find it easier to handle large pieces without having gaps in the stitching. I did a small piece the other day for a table runner butting them up together and using zigzag, but I had to go over several areas where it pulled apart. I have much better luck with the blind hem way.

I also use the zig zag stitch. It works well. My problem is that I simply have no patience for sewing batting together so I just keep it smushed in big tubs. I've been piling up quilt tops in anticipation of getting a long arm though so I probably should put together batting pieces at least for my first few attempts at quilting on the long arm.

One more thing I probably should do but probably won't....

I use the batting tape these days but before that I used computer paper, unwaxed lunch paper or any paper I could cut into long strips.

If want a good join. Over lap for a small amount. Then cut down in the overlap this will make sure both edges match. I leave in place after cutting carefully remove the surplus from the top and use the binding tap or you can hand whip stitch. Once joined turn over and remove other surplus but I keep these pieces as they are great for stuffing tops etc.