What is the best way to piece warm and natural batting together. Do you butt it together and zig zag or just put it in the quilt and be sure to anchor it good when quilting. Have lots of larger pieces but not quite big enough. Thanks. Vicki

Most of us just butt it together and use a zigzag stitch. I haven't had any problems in doing this.

there are several ways - I overlap the pieces slightly then run a rotary cutter down thru the doubled portion - when I throw away the scrappy edges that have been cut away, I then have two perfectly matched cut edges, and I butt them up against each other and use the widest zig=zag to stitch them together...no double thicknesses of batting to deal with in the final product..and I don't have to tug and push the edges to match.

When butting pieces of batting together with a zigzag or serpentine stitch, "encourage" it under the needle....gently push TOWARD the needle rather than pulling under/behind the needle to prevent natural stretching. Handle it gently for best results!

Jan in VA

There is a new product on the market to connect batting pieces together. It is called "Heat Press Batting Together"
and is probably available at your LQS. If not available there you can go to this website:
www.heatpressbattingtogether.com
I have used this to piece batting together for larger items like quilts and also for table toppers and runners and placemats and have been very satisfied with the results.
Judy in CO

I have not heard of this product but will be looking for it...no matter how hard I try, when I piece batting it never lays as flat as I want it to. Ok with small projects, but for larger ones, I want my batting flat. Thanks for the info.

I butt and zigzg some overlap and make curvy cuts and stich them together to help not crate any bumps or lumps.

I do the same!

Am I the only one who uses a running stitch by hand to attach them? It lays flat, you'd never know I pieced it unless you took the whole quilt apart and it seems to be doing great. I saw to do this in a book. Guess I'm really behind the times! LOL! Doesn't the zig zagging make that seam area too thin?

Never thought of this, and I like it!

So I assume you mean you layer one piece over the next piece of batting and then sew them together?

Jan in VA

Oh! I used some Heat Press Batting Tape and it works great! I also used this stuff to patch some vintage blocks that were really weak. Here is a link: http://www.heatpressbattingtogether.com/

My friend The Batty Lady sells this online but I've not checked her prices.

Butt together and zig zag has always worked well for me.

I used to overlap the two pieces slightly, then use a rotary cutter to make a wavy line through them, then use needle and thread to whip the two pieces together - no overlap. However, last time I butted the two pieces together and used the thinnest fusible interfacing to join them. I cut the interfacing into 1.5" strips, laid it on the batting where the two pieces came together, laid a strip of cotton on top of that, and pressed with a hot iron. I did it on my cutting table, since it is much longer than my ironing board. I have that batting in a quilt on the longarm now, and the seam is hanging tight and close. I will use this method again next time. (This is for cotton batting, not for poly.)

I actually have done both

Use your Walking Foot, butt edges together.

Just what I do, but I use the 3-step zig zag. Works great.

I use my velvet foot aka joining foot to piece the batting together.
This foot has a wall in the middle of the foot. You place the batting one piece on either side of the wall. Use a large zig zag stitch to piece.
The wall keeps the batting from overlapping and a ridge will not appear.
I use this all the time for my quilts and charity quilts.

I just longarmed a quilt where the owner had pieced the warm and natural with a zig zag.....just PLEASE use thread that matches the warm and natural!!!! They used GREEN thread on part of it...I didn't realize it until it was too later. I white piece on the front shows the green thread behind!!!!! ARRRRGH

I found some fusible lightweight interfacing at Joanne's and cut it with the rotary cutter in 1 1/2 inch strips to use for piecing batting, should work on Warm and Natural too. Much cheaper than the precut tape. Or is you have some from sewing, use it up this way.

Carol J.

Thanks for this hint, I to have used the precut roll of fusible and thought it was expensive, this sounds super!

Like Dunster, I use lightweight fusible interfacing, usually cutting the strips about 2 inches wide. I've done this MANY times and have never had a problem with it.

NOW...why didn't I think of that!!! Great idea!!!

I overlap the two pieces and cut them with rotary cutter to be sure I have a straight line. I then use a large needle and stitch them together. I sew straight across the two pieces, then bring the needle back to the right side and do a side-ways stitch and keep going like a ladder. I found when I zig-zagged, it indented the batting and I could feel it under the top layer of the quilt.

I use all methods - just which ever one I feel like at the time. the only method that "shows" is overlapping. However no matter which method I used, I always quilt a little closer than normal - just to be doubly sure they won't fall apart. Do the same with poly batting too.

I do this, too. I think it is a stitch I learned back when I was doing a little tailoring just for fun. It's really just a big zig-zag but it is loose enough that it doesn't compress the batting. It doesn't have to be close together--just holding the two pieces together until you can get them into the quilt and it will be secured by the quilting.

I secure mine by hand, too. Butt the edges together first. I think it is a stitch I learned back when I was doing a little tailoring just for fun. It's really just a big zig-zag but it is loose enough that it doesn't compress the batting. It doesn't have to be close together--just holding the two pieces together until you can get them into the quilt and it will be secured by the quilting.

I found something cool at the Pacific International Quilt Festival. Its a white band about 2 1/2 inches wide; you butt the batting together, and iron it on to meld the two pieces of batting. Its wonderful to be able to use odd strips of batting. I can't think of the name, but it should be easy to find on the internet.

Re Warm and Natural: I read here about the new product but I had some HeatnBond LITE (not heavy) and tried it, also sewed through it and it worked great. Just a thought you might like.

I use a foot with a metal guide on the bottom. I butt the edges together and then with the aid of the guide I can zz really fast and they go together perfectly.

No, you are not the only one. Whenever I need to piece batting, I butt it together and use hand stitching to hold it. I have never had the seam to be felt nor seen when the quilting is done.

I usually even up my edges and piece them with a running stitch. I recently bought "Heat Press Batting together" from connecting threads http://www.connectingthreads.com/too..._L600502.html. I haven't used it yet but after reading about the fusible interface, the interface would be more cost effective and easier to get than ordering online. Thanks for the information. I love these helpful hints!

exactly I do that all the time this am in fact works wonderful

Thats the way I find works best for me. I have never had a problem.

Yep!! This is what I do! Soooo easy!

I use fusible interfacing cut into 1" strips, Butt the two even sides of batting together and lay the interfacing stick side down and press. I turn it over and repeat. I've used this method for a number of years and it has worked for me. :-)

I have recently connected pieces together.

I used the edge joining foot on my machine and that allows you to put the edges on each side of the bar on the foot so you don't get overlapped edges.

I used a fairly large zig zag stitch. Watch out for stretching--it happens very easily.

Chris

I have used this new product, it works great! I have not been very successful in butting the edges together and zigzagging them.

with cotton batting I butt together and zig zag as others have said. The only one I whipstitch by hand is the polyester batting.

I overlap them about an inch or two, then cut down the middle of the overlap, so that I'm sure the edges want to fit without any gaps or stretching of the batting.

i do both zig zag or butt i only butt if it is a fairly large piece and i know i will be quilting that part heavy