Two batting questions
 

In my everlasting shopping trip on the computer, I came across Pacafil batting, they have alpaca and wool (there is another thread on this board about it), but also alpaca and COTTON! I love the sound of that, has anyone used it?

Also, I'm just running out of the batting I use in baby quilts. It is washable (polyester) and very thick and springy, a friend gave it to me so I don't know what it is. I know that the quilt pattern suggests Mountain Mist Fat Batt, but I have not seen any Mountain Mist products at the local quilt shops. Does anyone have any suggestions? I could mail order batting if necessary.

Thanking you in advance.

Joann's carries Mountain Mist

Mountain Mist probably isn't carried in quilt shops -- Walmart probably has it too.

I have experience with alpaca knitting yarn. It's very soft and warm. I imagine the same would be true for batting.

I've knit with Alpaca as well, love the stuff.

With regard to the Alpaca blend battings though, check it carefully to see if there are any special laundry requirements. Specifically ... can you DRY it. Some of the wool battings cannot be dried, but the better ones (Hobb's I know for sure) can be machine washed and dried.

ahh ... found a link to one online store that sells Alpaca batt. It does give care instructions ... hand wash, line dry. Perhaps there are others that can be machine washed/dried.

Is there an equivalent batting to the Fat Batt? The nearest Walmart. And Joann's are very far from here.

What would be the benefit of an alpaca/cotton blend? Unless there is some significant advantage over other batts, I would be leery of buying any wool batt that is not either Hobbs or Quilter's Dream -- which are manufactured specifically to not beard, shrink drastically, or distort with normal modern day washing methods. Before manufacturing of wool battings became more sophisticated, quilters had to completely encase a wool batt in cheesecloth before layering -- to retard bearding. There are still wool battings on the market that require this kind of treatment.

JoAnne Fabrics online carries Mountain Mist Fat Batt. Our local JoAnne's carries Mountain Mist batting; not sure if they have the Fat Batt, though. I have used Hobbs Poly-Down, which is a thick but soft polyester batting, and really like it. I think it would be a good alternative to MM Fat Batt.

I wouldn't buy any batt that requires line drying. Hanging a wet quilt on a line is very hard on it and you're likely to get broken seams.

Line drying is somewhat misleading in that it includes laying quilts out flat to dry. I agree with not buying batts that require line drying, though, because all it takes is ***one*** time through a regular washer and dryer (by the recipient of the quilt, or by a well-meaning family member who is trying to help out) to ruin the quilt.

I have purchased Mountain Mist on Amazon and Overstock.com.