1. what do you do with the thin strips of batting you cut off the quilts once your binding is sewed on?

2. I just read that you shouldn't stretch your back as you tape it to the table as it distorts it. I pull mine as taut as possible working from the opposite middles to the corners, so that the back will be perfectly smooth. And you also shouldn't pull on your batting and top. I smooth both pieces out to the edges to get out any wrinkles ....apparently this also distorts the whole thing. I am now using spray basting instead of pinning and it is sooo much easier. Am I doing it wrong?

3. And my last question is ....what can I do with my great little quilts from the doll quilt swaps...I do not have a sewing room...sob!

Thanks sooo much for any help you can offer....Hugs SG

I save my thin strips for a scrappy quilt I will be making someday. :lol: I pull by backing and top just like you described and it works for me.

I use strips of batting in quilts when I strip quilt. I also use them in smaller projects like pot holders, wall hangings, etc.

There's a slight difference between stretching to make sure there's no wrinkles and stretching to the point of distortion. As long as what you're doing is working for you then it's okay.

Hang them on a wall, use them for gifts, donate them to a children's home, or put a doll or stuffed animal in them and donate them to a hospital.

I agree, I think the key is just to stretch the backing, batting and top as much as needed, not exaggerated.

I keep the little strips of batting to use for stuffing, larger ones for small projects.

I am going to hang all of my doll quilts on the wall of my sewing room, and a couple in other rooms :D:D:D

If you took your quilts to a long arm quilter, the backs are stretched, but not to the point of distortion. Should work for whatever size project that you have in mind.

Gee thanks everyone for the prompt answers. It does work for me and since some of you agreed I will keep making them that way....good idea about donating the swap quilts along with a little doll or bear.

Thank you all again ...hugs swimer girl

I can answer one. I put my doll quilt in my front entry. Penny

You can hang doll quilts in groups too... like a photograph wall, but with doll quilts. This would work well in a hallway.

Thin strips of batting are great for purse/tote straps too!

I do the same with my backing and it comes out great. Whatever works for you!

I have saved my 'tiny' pieces of batting for some very special pieced pin cushions I saw in a quilting mag and thought they would make great little gifts!

Gal

a few of the people here have requested scrap batting for stuffing projects. i have sent one out already, and saving for another shipment later in the month.

There's a woman that is asking for donations of batting for rescue kitties. Here's the link: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-37217-1.htm Also, you could stuff doll, pillows, sew them back together and use on a larger project.

Don't over stretch, just enough to keep wrinkles out.

One thing that comes to mind is a pediatric ward at a hospital. Boys and girls alike would love these. My son when he was 3-5 made one for his Build-A-Bear! Or with the economy the way it is maybe a homeless shelter. I realize that its a depressing thought, but I'm sure it would be a great pick me upper! :-D

When you have enough doll quilts you could sew them all together to make a large quilt or throw, Don't ask me how you would do this but there must be a way!

I save some leftover battings to add onto batting that isn't long enough or wide enough. That way I don't have to open a new bag to cut some of that to use.
I smooth my backing out smooth and clamp it to my glass topped dining table, then the batting, then the top. It never distorts anything. I also find if I fold the backing carefully when I take it from the dryer, I don't have to iron it. Do what ever works for you. You'll be able to tell if everything is distorted, that you don't want, anything else is okay.

I save some leftover battings to add onto batting that isn't long enough or wide enough. That way I don't have to open a new bag to cut some of that to use.
I smooth my backing out smooth and clamp it to my glass topped dining table, then the batting, then the top. It never distorts anything. I also find if I fold the backing carefully when I take it from the dryer, I don't have to iron it. Do what ever works for you. You'll be able to tell if everything is distorted, that you don't want, anything else is okay.

If those batting strips are wide enough, I've been using them to cut covers for my Swiffer duster - they pick up a lot of dust and I have a lot of hardwood floors. That's an idea I got from somebody's post on here a few months ago.

Stretching til the back fabric is taught is good. When you don't smooth it out you get puckers.

I do exactly what you described and it works well.

As for the pieces of batting - Quilt as you go projects!

And even if they're not wide enough for a Swiffer, they are still great for hand dusting electronics, baseboards, and knick-knacks.

that is what I plan to do, that way everyone that comes in see's the art work, I love it. I am so proud of the quilt I received, and I did not even make it :D Penny

I save my scrap batting, never know when you have to piece a lot of little pieces to make a quilt. Penny

What kind of batting do you use???

All of my beautiful doll quilts are hanging in the hall right outside my sewing room. We live in a very old house and this hall was "remodeled" by hubby (before I knew him) with paneling (yuck). Anyway, the house will be torn down in a few years to make way for a bigger highway so I'm not concerned about "hurting" the walls in any way. I use push pins and rearrange them at will :D

I use the thin strips to fit on my duster. the kind you buy pads for....W & N really picks up the dust LOL

OMG -- Am gonna have to try this for sure as I have plenty of dust as well as left over batting strips :lol: :lol:

I use leftover batting as the (how shall I say this) ---I wind it around my finger so that the thimble is more snug. My favorite thimble is one that Jim bought me. It is just a teensy bit large so I use the batting to make up the difference.

I have almost always pulled my backs tight to tape down. In the beginning, I did not and had to redo them.

A quilt appraiser taught me this: use the strips of batting for storing quilts. When I am folding the quilt, I put batting strips where the fold is. This makes a rounded fold rather than one that gets squashed down and makes a crease in the quilt.

You only need to bat the first few folds, after that the quilt is thick enough that the folds won't squash down.

I have quite a few quilts that are folded and this is a great method. I also take them out every few months and fold them differently (with batting) to even-out the pressure on the fabric.

If the leftover batting is way too small to use, I put it out (torn up) for the birds in the spring. I use 100 percent natural cotton batting and they LOVE it.

I don't save batting strips, I'd be kneed deep in them because I'd never use them. I don't lay out my quilt for basting anymore. I use Sharon Schamber's board method or I put it in a no basting quilt frame and baste it that way. I would certainly show off the doll quilts!

I save reasonably large pieces of batting. I use them to practice FMQ and also to check if things are set up right before working on my project. By that I mean, I make a small quilt sandwich and stitch a line or so to see if the tension is right, etc. And invariably, I'm doing a small project and want to have a small piece of batting. And they can also be used as stuffing in some projects.

As for stretching the back, I did that the first time I did FMQ and everything worked fine. But then I read the same tip, and so never did it again. I didn't notice a difference, except that it was easier to make the quilt sandwich if I didn't bother pulling the thing taut.

[quote=Pam S]If those batting strips are wide enough, I've been using them to cut covers for my Swiffer duster - they pick up a lot of dust and I have a lot of hardwood floors. That's an idea I got from somebody's post on here a few months ago.

Great idea, Pam S. We live in a very dusty area so I have dust laying on my hardwood floors all the time. Thanks.

That's a wonderful idea! Thanks so much!
[quote=Windy Canyon]

Great idea about using on the Swiffer. I too have hardwood floors in a very dusty place...Bakersfield is in the middle of agriculture and mountains, and we are very dusty!!

And I also save the strips to use for purse/tote handles.

I never pull too tight.

Recently I cut up a whole bunch of batting scraps and then made a muslin cover to enclose them for the inside of a floor pillow. I then used scraps to make a scrappy cover. I intend to make some more and give them to the grandchildren for t.v. watching.

I like to cut my long, unuseable strips of batting into 5" squares to make those nice coasters for wine glasses. I also make them in packs of 4 or 8 to give as gifts. Shut-ins love them with some tea bags and a couple of cups for entertaining visitors.

Usually when I cut those strips of batting there is fabric attached to it cuz I use basting spray. I use them to practice my FMQ to check on the tension etc., check if I like a certain decorative stitch and make any adjustments b4 I go to my project.

Or I save them and stitch them together for other projects.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

1. I save decent sized pieces of batting to use for smaller projects like hot pads, pot holders and table runners. I save some smaller size ones to fill handmade pin cushions with...I call them pin pillows.

2. I try to pull my backs as tight as possible without stretching them. I then smooth out as I go, keeping it taut, otherwise it will pucker. I think you are making your backings fine.

3. As far as the doll quilts go, I would use your little tiny leftover pieces of batting and make small stuffed animals to go with your doll quilts. My son was in Children's hospital for quite some time and he got a little stuffed bear that he loves dearly. Being a mom with a child in the hospital, it was so nice to think of a stranger thinking of my sick baby. A little something for him was so special. The auxillary club provided little things for siblings too. Someone had embroidered "I'm with the patient" on the chest of many of these animals so their siblings could get something too.....just a thought.

If you have several, put a doll or stuffed animal in them and
donate them to an orphanage. We do that here with the
Moosehart Orphanage.

I've been saving strips of batting for purse straps and for practicing my machine quilting on, along with long strips of muslin. As for the doll quilts, I would frame them and display them on a table or shelf along with some dolls. Send us a picture.