Pros and Cons of Using Two Layers of Batting
 

I would like opinions from those who have used two layers of batting. Was it more difficult to quilt? Why did you use two layers instead of one? Did you like the result of two layers? Why, why not? What types of batting did you use? Was the quilt "soft" or "stiff"? I am considering using two layers for the puffiness effect but I also want a soft, drapable quilt The quilt top in question is a "French Roses". Any suggestions appreciated.

I have used two layers of warm and natural white. It quilted easily - I did not notice any difference there. It is much heavier and a bit stiffer in terms of drape. The reason I tried it was that I wanted the quilt to be much warmer than a single layer of warm and natural would have been. I would not choose to do it this way again because of the stiffness. I quilted it with a medium to large meander so the quilting is not the reason for the stiffness. Also, there is not any extra puffiness on my quilt. I would go with a extra high loft batting with no tight quilting if you want puffiness and soft drape.

Did the quilt soften up any with washing?

I wouldn't force two layers of batting on my older Bernina. Depends if you have the type of machine that can handle the thickness.

I think long armers are using two completely different types of batting (and I've seen a lot of mixes) to get better destination to their quilting stitches.

Longarm quilters sometimes use (2) layered battings { often a cotton and a wool} to show- highlight their quilting. Using 2 battings really enhances the stitching - ( will also help any mistake jump right out at you!) If you just want loft buy one batting with higher loft.... There are many options. If you are a terrific quilter wanting to showcase your stitches for a show by all means layer a couple batts... If you have a longarm....much more difficult to quilt with a domestic sewing machine.

I,m so glad to read this post because I did this last week and will never try to free motion
again using two layers again. I did mostly straight lines with a walking foot, which was no
problem. Then I tried to do feathers on the borders and should have stopped when I saw
how they looked, (awful). When I finished, I was so disappointed about the way it looked.
I knew that since this was a gift, I had to rip it out. It took me ten hours to do it and vowed
NEVER to try this again on two layers. I guess the saying "live and learn" very much applies
in this situation.
Oh and I used warm and natural batting.

I used two layers of warm and natural in my fireplace covering quilt. Our fireplace isn't used, and gets pretty drafty. I did echo, diagonal, and SITD, and a little free motion, and had no problem doing it on my Singer. It's about 36 x 42. It's a little stiffer, but that's what I wanted.

I longarm quilt and use two layers of batting quite often. I usually mix with a "denser" bat on the bottom, like W&N or Hobbs 80/20 QD cotton and once I did a wool army blanket. The top batting I use the loftier batt. I have used wool on top and also Hobbs polydown. I would not attempt doing this on a sit down set up be it a domestic or one of the larger harp sit downs like an HQ16. I just can't imagine trying to manipulate that kind of weight and bulk around. On a rack I don't have to worry about weight, bulk or shifting of all the layers.

Pros: Great definition to the quilting. Really makes it show. Quilt is super warm.

Cons: Quilt is much heavier weight wise.

Drape I have found really varies with the size of the quilt. Most bed size quilts I have done with two layers still drape on the bed very nicely and are not stiff, but this is really a matter of opinion. What one person thinks is stiff another person may not. I have found that smaller pieces like wall hangings are stiffer but given that the size is smaller what is there to drape? The stiffest was the one I did with a wool army blanket. That quilt lays on top of my bed in winter and I have it hanging the rest of the year. It is super warm but is also not real cuddly but that is ok with me because the quit is still very beautiful and very functional.

When I have a LA do my quilts I ask for double batting. For some reason the LAs in my area buy the thinnest batting. I provide my own batting. I prefer 80/20 with wool batting on top. The weight isn't that much heavier and I think the quilting looks much better.

I just finished 3 utility quilts made from random 10" squares and scraps on backside. Inside I used a double layer of high loft poly batting. I straight line quilted with a walking foot on my Janome 6600, just "x" in each square as I didn't want to lose the effectiveness of the double batting. Recipients love em as they are extra warm, but not heavy at all.

Our JoAnn shop sells 1/8" and 1/4" thick 80/20 and all cotton batting....so i'm thinking if you only had 1/8" on hand you could double it --- and it wouldn't be any different than sewing the 1/4" batting to start with.

I have quilted two layers of batting: hobbs 80/20 two layers turned out very nice! Hobbs 80/20 with 6 0z polyester bat on top. very nice. quilted heavy leaves it a little stiff perfect for a wall hanging but not for a cuddle quilt!
Did one with one layer of a high loft poly bat was really puffy and very drapey and cuddly.
These were done on a long arm.
I did a quilt using one layer only of Hobbs Tuscany wool and it was beautiful. soft and draped very nice. This was done using my sewing machine.
Hope this helps.

I only use two layers on the bits that I want to do machine trapunto on. It is an easy way to get the extra puffiness that one wants. Would rather put two thin quilts on rather than one thick one as it is more versatile that way.

I think multiple layers of batting would produce stiffer quilt, one with less drape. If you want more puffiness, use a batting with a higher loft and less quilting. A tied quilt will give you a softer quilt.

I think I would just use one layer of batting and make two quilts. Then you can adjust the weight by using one or both quilts, unless you live in a very cold climate.

I use a wool batting from LQS, not sure of the brand. It machine washes and dries beautifully and makes the quilt soft and fluffy, also warm in winter and cool in summer. The last quilt I outsourced for quilting, the longarmer used a very thin wool batting, as well as dense quilting; it turned out stiff like a tarp. I tried to soften it by washing and air drying in my dryer, but the batting dissolved, leaving the quilt a wrinkled mess. I was so disappointed. Now I do my own quilting on my Juki 2010Q. It's not perfect, but I am learning so much and having fun.

It depends on what batting you use regarding drape and weight. I made my niece a full size quilt and used Quilter's Dream Orient (which is a blend with silk, bamboo, tercel? I think) and 2nd layer wool. It was the first quilt I ever showed in a Quilt Show and I splurged on the batting. It is very warm but light and drapes nicely. The quilt folded and fit into a bag with a handle to carry on the plane and she was amazed at how light it was.

I've done two layers of batting because I wanted the extra warmth and I like the extra heaviness when I'm curled up in the quilts. I used the Hobbs 100% cotton batting, no scrim, and I don't find the two layers too thick or stiff. They are a little stiffer than a single layer, but the single layer ones are positively flimsy (I don't do dense quilting).

The quilts were all stitched in the ditch, every 3 or 4 inches. My machine handled it just fine (regular sewing machine) - it's still much thinner than hemming jeans and things like that, and my machine handles hemming jeans without balking. The extra weight makes it harder to manipulate under the machine while quilting it, but for me that was the only downside.

Wow - I've been thinking of layering too, now I will rethink what type of project to try it on!

I used Hobbs 80/20 and Polydown on a quilt. It came out very heavy and a bit too stiff, although I've only washed it once, so it might soften up over time. It doesn't feel that thick, just heavy.
On my last quilt I used Quilters Dream Puff which was such a pleasure to quilt, and the quilt seems so soft and warm. They claim it is warmer than down. That's what I would recommend instead of a double layer.

I used one layer of wool and one layer of bamboo in a king size quilt I just finished. It is fairly light and definitely drapes very nicely.

If I wanted more warmth before using two layers of batting I would use minky on the back which would add warmth and it drapes really nice! just one more idea.

I found the exact same thing. It was a baby quilt, and it turned out too stiff to be used that way. I did give it as a gift, but I think the new parents either used it as a wall hanging or a floor quilt. I won't do that again unless I [U]want it stiffer. I used Warm and natural as well.

Interesting thread. I've never heard of using more than one batting on anything besides potholders. Of course, I live in California, so even one batting can sometimes be too hot.

Amazing how so many will buy quality fabric and then use the cheap batting. Batting quality is important if it's thin or thick. It was very apparent at our local quilt show which quilts had the better batting when several quilts were quilted with the same pattern.

Thanks everyone for your responses. So much to consider!

I mainly use a high loft poly batting. I have no problems quilting it on my two 9" throat machines. Warmth without the weight. I don't like a thin quilt. A puffer quilt could be tied also. I have used two layers of W&N with no problems. I usually FMQ.

Carol have you tried washing it?
I am looking for a soft drape warm batting with good loft for a bed quilt. It will have to get warm-water washed and machine dried.
Thanks
Sue

I washed it once. I need to wash it again to see what happens.

Sew glad for this topic just yesterday I had a client ask for two layers of cotton, after reading through the comments decided against it and went with a layer of hobbs 80/20 and a layer of hobbs wool batting. Sew far sew good I am liking how it looks.

A little bit yes.

Also I should let you know that I quilted it on a long arm machine not my DSM.

I agree with you - the quilts I have done with Minkee or fleece are really soft and warm. I've noticed that if I make a quilt with fleece as the back, I don't need batting because otherwise it is too hot. Not as much of a problem if it's Minkee on the back though.

I just finished a quilt with 1 1/2 layers of batting. Expert quilter, Cindy Needham calls it gourmet batting. One layer of thin cotton and half of a layer of wool. Wool will pull apart in half a sheet. I used dream wool and it kind of tore, but it didn't really matter. I called Cindy and she said Hobbs wool doesn't tear like that, so that's what I will try next. I just quilted it with straight line quilting, it was quite a lot to get in the machine but partly because I used flannel for the back.

Wow! What a great topic. I learned so much from all of you and I had never thought of double batting. Sometimes we just don't know what we need to know! Thank you!

I know this is an old thread, but I am going to try....
I have a LA and have used two layers of batting before. As others say, it makes the quilting stand out but does make it a heavier quilt with less "drapability." The quilt that I used two layers of batting on was made of flannel and backed with flannel. I put the cotton batting on the bottom and the wool batting on the top. It was for my husband who loved the warmth. He now wants THREE layers of batting for a quilt I am making him -- cotton, wool, cotton. He wants it for the warmth to use at his hunting camp in the winter. Has anyone ever tried three layers? I am sure I will have to play around with the tension some but I am concerned that the quilt will seem like a huge potholder with very little draping and may ultimately not even keep him warm! This quilt is make out of traditional quilting cotton. I fully intend to try quilting a little sample first but that won't give me the real picture of the "drapability" of the quilt -- finished size should be about 72x89 inches. It is a really nice quilt and I hate to ruin it!

Thanks so much for any insight that any of you have.

clkonch: I don't have any experience to answer you but I wonder if it would tuck in around his shoulder with 3 layers. Wool breathes. What about 2 layers of wool? I am glad you reactivated this thread because I know when I finish my flimsy for our bed that I need more than just a layer of cotton and don't quite know what to do to keep us warm enough.

You cleared the batts with your customer? I ask because I am allergic to wool, so would be quite unhappy to have a wool batt in a quilt I planned to use.

Rather than 3 layers of batting I highly recommend you check your local Army Navy store or thrift store (salvation army or goodwill) and seek out a wool army blanket. Use that as one layer and wool or Hobbs polydown or quilters dream dream puff over that. Don't quilt it too densely so you get loads of air pockets. Most pantos e2e designs will be fine for that. I guarantee you it will be super warm and heavy. Prewash the wool army blanket so you get any shrinkage out of the way and know it is ok to machine launder and dry in the future. Also pick a pattern with lots of seams like log cabin or Pineapple made with 1 1/2 strips or smaller. All those extra seam allowances will also add to weight and warmth and if you really want to go over the top back it in a high quality flannel like moda double sided flannel or minky type fleece.