I searched this and found a couple of threads about using fleece for batting. I'm not sure if it's recommended or would be advised against. I have quite a bit of fleece, that I will probably never use. I'd love to find a use for it, especially as I don't have any regular batting right now.

Any opinions?

Thanks

I would like to know this too

I am planning too, I can get it a lot cheaper than batting :D:D:D

Would like to see the answer to this question also. I have more fleece than batting also.

The only idea that comes to mind is that you would want to preshrink your cottons first, because the fleece will not shrink the same. I have used it as a backing on a baby quilt without any problems. The panel was shrunk first. Good Luck:)

What if the quilt top is already put together? Can I still wash it before it's sandwiched, quilted, and bound?

This sounds like a great idea if it will work. Batting, even at JoAnn's has gone up so much, even with the coupon. Fleece, I think would be alot cheaper... I will watch this thread.

Have never tried it for batting but when I was young we lived in the south in the country and my mother used old thin blankets for her quilt batting.

What fleece are you all referring to?

I've used: 1 finished top + 1 piece of polar fleece = 1 quilt.
Works great (for me).

OK. You use polar fleece instead of batting and then no backing is needed? Isn't there also a white fleece that is sold like batting? It is thin and on hugh rolls like batting.

oops. Sorry. I was going to post but then realized I'd misread the topic.

i use fleece in place of batting often. i have also used it in place of batting in the center of rag quilt blocks

Has anyone used it sandwiched like W&N? Is it too hot or too heavy? Does it hold up? Is it easy to quilt? With the price of batting sky high, alternatives are looking very attractive!

You can use anything you want for quilt filling, but if you want to use a filling that won't shrink, make sure all your cottons were prewashed/preshrunk or you quilt all over very closely so they cannot shrink.

When I first read your post I thought you meant the white fleece batting. But if you mean polar fleece the only thing I would be concerned about is the color of the polar fleece showing through unless you can get white.

I would certainly wash and dry the fleece before use. A friend gave me a two sided fleece blanket - with fringe on the 4 sides - not quilted at all - and the first time I washed it - it went WONKY - the top and the back were different prints.

I have used fleece with no batting and had good success. I spray basted the fleece to the top and then did my quilting. Turned out lovely, soft and light.

I still have some Levi jackets that are too cold for real winter weather. I put some fleece in one (Real sheep skin from one of my late DH's jacket) and some regular Joann's fleece in another for less cold weather. It works nicely. I washed it first and dried it in hot, didn't seem to shrink.

Like several others, I've used fleece as batting sandwiched between two layers of cotton fabrics. Because I've washed and dried all the fabrics in advance, I've not encountered any problems.

That said, I've used non-pill fleece. Not sure if the results would have been as good if I'd used the cheap stuff.

I use fleece all the time as batting, pairing with it 505 spray since the fleece is usually stretchy in one direction. The 505 works to help with stabilizing the fleece. I've also used fleece instead of pellon in alot of bags and totes. Sometimes I will use the fleece in place of batting or pellon just on the lining of the bag, it just depends on the look and "stiffness" factor I'm looking to get with the tote. If I'm making a hobo bag or slouchy bags or make-up cases the fleece is fine, but if I'm making a bow tuck (that I like to have a more sturdy shape) I bypass the fleece and go with the more expensive pellon. Hope that helps.

I have used fleece to back my quilts but when I do, I don't use a batting. I usually use an off white or white.
Also these are usually utility quilts.

I made a quilt last year using fleece for batting. The quilt is very heavy and will be nice and warm. I like to do my own machine quilting - nothing fancy - just meandering and maybe a few names stitched in to it. I had a very difficult time doing a simple stippling. My thread kept breaking after about a foot of stitching. I was too stubborn to stop and just do a stitch in the ditch. When I finished making a mess of my quilt, I then ripped out all the stippling and just did stitch in the ditch. I then washed it to be able to get all the needle marks out of it. I would suggest you try a small sample before committing to the whole quilt.

I dion't much care what the rules are. If I have fleece and I have a personal sized quilt, a kids quilt or a baby quilt-----------I USE THE FLEECE. But I generally use it for the backing. Of course, the quilts I use it on are going to be the daily use and drag around the house variety. If it were a "show" quilt, I'd wait until I had batting.

I used fleece on a backing for my 14 year old grandson and he loves it because it is so warm. I tied it and since I have arthritis in my hands it was very hard for me to get the thread through all three layers.

We use fleece for backing for wheelchair lap robes. They're warm, easy to wash and best of all, they don't slide off your lap. Our nursing home people love them. Also have used fleece for Linus quilt backings.

I use it a lot as batting and backing (just the top and fleece) since it doesn't require the every-four-inches-qulting or whatever, that the batting requires. It washes well and lasts longer than the top. My son's favorite "quilts" are those that are just a great fabric on top and fleece on the back, edges finished by turning the cotton over the fleece edge to self bind, and a few lines of quilting to hold the top to the fleece. QUILT DONE IN RECORD TIME!!!!!!!

The cheap stuff works just fine, too. I've never used it as batting, just backing in quilts with a top and fleece backing.

I used it for batting on my second ever quilt. I used microfiber fabric to make 18 inch squares (what was I thinking?) King size. Three layers, top and bottom microfiber (very stretchy) - fleece for batting. I wrestled it through my dinky mechanical Brother to stitch in the ditch. It was very doable and the quilt came out great. Very warm. It lays heavy on the body. My recepients like that, might not be for everybody. They took it to the commercial laundry and whatever they did to it there didn't harm it. Have not used it with cotton.

I've used it...it works fine but the quilt will not have great drape. Kinda stiff but it works for utility quilts. Just not graceful. Also, it's usually 60" wide and that is a plus. It quilts fine, "not too hot, not too cold. Just right," to quote Goldilocks.

I use polar fleece often for my quilts for my seniors cover ups, top and one layer only.Have been doing it for a couple of years no problems reported I do wash first before quilting.

I have used fleece as a backing with no batting. It worked wonderfully. Quilted just fine and is so snuggley.

I have used the pellon fleece for batting many times and have never had any problems with it.

I sometimes used thin flannel in between. I live in Texas and it does not get so cold here. Therefore the flannel is perfect and is not so expensive.

Some just use it as the backing and batting combined. It does stretch so good basting is a must.

I made a flannel quilt with batting and flannel backing. for a baby. It is so heavy, wish I would have put either fleece or just flannel as a backing and no batting!!!

thank you to all who talked about the fleece. I haven't tried it but certainly will try it now. especially on baby quilts.

I've also had experience with different pieces of fleece shrinking at different rates.

It does make for a wonky result.

WASH it first--learned that the hard way!

Yes you can wash it but if you have pieced edges and no borders I would stay stitch around the quilt to save fraying.

Are you talking about "fleece" or "flannel"?