Okay - I looked on the warm and natural web site -
http://www.warmcompany.com/faq.html
and they say there is a right side, but even they don't say why. The mystery just keeps going!

If your quilt doesn't know the difference... why should you worry? You use both sides of the finished quilt!

I don't think there is a right or wrong side of batting. It all feels the same to me...unless you are using fusable, but I don't.

I was on the allpeoplequilt.com site this morning when I should have been working (don't tell!) and was reading through the expert tips. I saw this one from Alice Berg: Finishing tip: As a beginner, I wish I’d known years ago about batting having a right and wrong side.

Well, that struck a chord! Why in the heck didn't she just say which was which? I looked all over the website and never did find the answer. So I decided to come to my friends here on the Quilting Board and spread the frustration around!

My common sense (questionable as it is sometimes) tells me that the "pepper" side (the one with plant/leaf particles) should be on the top and the soft side on the bottom because that's the side that snuggles up to the person under the quilt!

Have a great day! It's time for me to quit playing for the day and go home!

I found this and it says make sure that the wrong side of the batting is up. Doesn't say why or how you tell. Ok how long have most of us been doing this and it doesn't seem like it has really made in difference, this is when I say when all else fails punt. :lol:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5763237_cut-quilt-batting.html

I just emailed the BattyLady, this is where I purchase most of my batting for hand quilting. I will forward the email when I get an answer. I checked her site and did not find any info, but she is real good about responding to her emails.

http://www.battylady.com/

If you look closely at Warm and Natural, one side has more "stuff" on it. If I have a light backing, I turn it away from the back.

Here's what I've been told. You want the 'dirty' side up because it is needled from that side. If you have any doubt, take a needle and see if it is easier to push a needle through on one side or the other.

The other thing I've found is that if you have the wrong side up, especially with W&W or W&N is that you can sometimes get pokies of batting pushing through the back. They will slough off in time, but if your back is black, it will look awful! It's not that there is anything wrong with the batting, it's a chemical reaction between the chemicals in the fabric and the batting.

HTH!

I just received this info from the Batty Lady. Hope this helps. I guess I will look more closely from now on. :roll:


Yes - there is a right and wrong side to most battings. In the case of a
needlepunched batting the top is the side that the holes are poked. The
back has little bumps or "Slubs and Nubs". On most battings you can feel
the difference - the top will be smooth feeling and the back will have
lumps and bumps or feel not as smooth. It will not ruin your quilt if you
have the batting facing back up to top. I it does make it easier to quilt
if you have the quilt top, batting top facing the back of the top and then
the backing because you will be going the same direction as the needle was
punched through a needlepunched batting.


Let me know if you have any more questions.

--
Alicia Campbell
The Batty Lady
www.battylady.com

Never knew this, although had noticed the difference in the two surfaces - another gem from the Board!