I'm so glad you asked this question. I have the same problem and will be following to see the suggestions.

I you washed and dried it?The more mine are washed and dried the softer they feel. Though they really are never stiff...but always feels nicer once washed.

I switched from W&N to Quilter's Dream cotton and have been much happier with the softness. From your description, I don't think very dense quilting is an issue. As others have said, the backing might be an issue, or very small pieces making up your blocks.

I have a stiff quilt but it is getting softer. It has nothing to do with batting. I used spray basting and I think I used too much. It is washing out slowly. Did you do the same, the elmers glue if you use too much has the same effect.
Give the quilt a wash and try to line dry with a good blow.

Hand quilting produces a much softer quilt than machine quilting does. It's because sewing machines use more thread than by hand. The denser the quilting, the stiffer the quilt...because more thread is used.

sometimes washing helps a lot. i make my quilts to be used and washed, and have learned not to worry about them falling apart. i just finished a heavily quilted twin sized project made of linen, with a large backing piece of vintage poly bark cloth and that thing could have stood up on its own when i finished binding it.

i put it in the washing machine and laid it out to dry, and it's a lot softer and more supple that it was. because of the materials it will never be a cozy broken down cotton pile, but the person i made it for chose the fabrics based on design instead of cozy factors.

after years of looking at and studying quilts, i decided not to use poly bats thanks to bearding fears. experiment a bit and don't be afraid to wash your work. after all that thread work your quilts are unlikely to ravel!

good luck!

aileen

I had a favorite quilt seemed soooo stiff but I just used it and washed it at some point and put in the dryer and well, duh all the tumbling made it wonderfully soft. I did a moderately close meander and was so pleased with the look. Now, I am pleased with the whole thing. I often just thought about just tossing the finished quilt in the dryer with towels or other large items and let them tumble with out washing it. It seems it would help the quilt .... relax.

I have found a batting at Joann's calle Cream Rose, that is so nice and soft. But, my guess as to this problem, if the stitching is not too close, is the batting was too heavy. Some are just more stiff than others. I think Warm and Natural is stiff, even though it is cotton and very popular with quilters.

Everything mentioned here is right on and I really can not think of another thing that could be causing this. Good luck

[QUOTE=ManiacQuilter2;6397790] When you stated high loft, I had always been taught decades ago that those types of quilts should be tied.

The softest cudliest quilts have wool batts and are tied. A softer fabric top and back helps, too.