I read on a website today that there was a right side and a wrong side to quilt batting, but they didn't explain how to tell which side was which! I normally use Warm & Natural in my quilts and I've noticed there is a "soft" side and a sort of "patterned" side to this batting. I usually place the "soft" side to the quilt top and the "patterned" side to the quilt backing. Any other thoughts?

I have never payed any attention to my batting... I just lay it out in the sandwich...
Did they say why it would make a difference? Sometimes I quilt with the back on top...if I want to follow the design on the backing...

I just noticed the difference in the two side of Warm & Natural. I wondered the same thing.

On warm and natural the theory is you should put it pepper side up. I only found that out recently and had never known before there was a right or wrong side.

I wonder if it really makes a difference since it is covered with fabric and the stitching goes through all three layers. I have not noticed any difference in my hand quilting and have never paid a lot of attention.

thanks, I never knew that.

I honestly don't think it matters much, or at least it doesn't seem to make a difference when hand quilting. And it doesn't seem to change the feel of the quilts once they are sandwiched together and quilted.

With Warm & Natural, did they say why you should put the pepper side up? What type of difference is it supposed to make?

I use warm and natural for my hand quilting, and have never paid any attention to the right or wrong side lol

What a great question! I've noticed the difference in sides but never knew which went where. I tend to put the smoother (non-peppered) side toward the quilt top. Love the pepper description! That describes it nicely for us newbies. I learn something here every day! Thanks!

With Warm & Natural, did they say why you should put the pepper side up? What type of difference is it supposed to make?[/quote]

Nope - on the instruction video for my Tin Lizzie, they said always pepper side up. No reason given.

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!

I use mosty white or off white backings on my quilts and noticed the bumpy side shows through sometimes...so I started putting it up facing quilt top...If backing is printed or dark it would not matter..

Ditto! :-D

some batting has needle punch and they say put that side up it makes it easier for your needle to go thru i never pay attention either until i saw it on a video that is all i know for what it is worth

[quote=hulahoop1]I was on the allpeoplequilt.com site this morning when I should have been working (don't tell!)

LOL. The only time I really get on the board is when I'm at work, but only when I'm not busy. My boss is a quilter too, but I don't think she'd like me spending so much time here. We always have show and tell on our finished projects, and that is fun.

I am fairly new to quilting w/ batting [i am old fashion, I learned to do w/ old blankets] so I thank you for sharing-learning so much from all you....interesting that the experts say make sure that the wrong side of the batting is up but don't say how to tell....I like to keep everything simple so as so many of you have said...it hasn't mattered all this time so why worry now.

It is my understanding that you can tell the right from wrong side of batting by taking a close look at the needle punching marks. When the batting is punched it leaves an indentation on one side (the right side) and little "fuzzies" poke out on the other side. Your machine needle will go through the batting easier if you have it poke through the same as when the batting is manufactured.

I played with the warm and natural after reading this :wink:
One side is much smoother than the other...
I found the peppered side did not lay as smooth on the backing, which could cause more puckering. Under the quilt top, it wasn't as noticeable. This was even more noticeable after I ironed on it...
So for me, the peppered side will go on top :D:D:D

Live and learn.

Thanks for asking the question. :-)

I'm a bit confused--is there so much difference you notice when under a quilt? If so, I've been oblivious for years. What else should we know to make a quilt the right way?

I was told by the lady that installed my HQ16 to put the schem (sp) side down. It's sort of like having a thin skin. I try to do this, but sometimes forget to notice. So the needle will go through easier(?)

When I quilted with my dm I put the cleaner side up against the top of the quilt and after getting my HQ16 read that the side with the stuff? dirty side is up, so that is how I now load the batting every time, using WN.
With warm and white I did run into a problem with pokies one time, could have been the fabric (is was a customers). I turned the batting over and never had the pokies again; so with the warm and white the patterned side goes up against the top.

I think unless you are hand quilting or have a problem with bearding (when the batting pokes out the needle holes and shows against the fabric) it doesn't really matter. It doesn't make any difference in how the quilt feels once it is complete.

:oops: I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never used any other batting but the one from WalMart. I use the traditional-type poly. I've just got to step out of the box and get some of that Warm and Natural or the Warm and White. This is an interesting thread.