Warmer? Thicker?
 

I want to make a quilt that is very warm, if I use wool batting and Warm and Natural batting,will that be too warm?
Also if I were to use both battings would it be terribly thick? Would I have to tie it instead of quilt it?
I took up quilting about two years ago and learned practically everything I know from all the great members. I thank your advance for any help you can give me.

many of the (big winners) beautifully machine quilted quilts are quilted with wool & w/n battings together- you can certainly do that- as for being too warm---i don't think so, warm & natural is a pretty 'flat' batt, wool gives some nice loft- gives quilting stitches great definition. both fibers breath- i have a quilt that has wool/cotton batting, regular cotton top, flannel back- and it is the one that we even use during the spring & fall- i add a blanket to the bed in the winter.

I always use a high loft poly batting. Warmth without the weight, it washes and dries beautifully and will outlast the fabrics. Just my opinion.

I think you could do both together but if you do the wool alone, either quilt minimally or just tie it because it is the loft that helps to give warmth. We sleep under wool in the winter and we LOVE it!!!!!

I double batt alot , but use warm and natural and poly. It does give alot more warmth with the poly. I like the layer of cotton batting with poly, because I like the weight that the cotton gives, plus I can get the antique crinkle when the cotton shrinks.

has anyone found Tinsulate by Thermore to be warmer? it's thin poly that is also used in winter clothing. i have
used it but so far haven't been able to tell if it's warmer.

Polyester batting is not warmer. I did q quilt with a wool batting over the whole quilt and and another layer of cotton on my daughter in laes side as she is always cold. No problem to quilt through but is heavy. I don't know about silk batting as it should be warm too without the weight.

Polyester batting is not warmer. I did a quilt with a wool batting over the whole quilt and and another layer of cotton on my daughter in laws side as she is always cold. No problem to quilt through but is heavy. I don't know about silk batting as it should be warm too without the weight.

Lori, when machine quilting a double bat like this, what layer do you place on top? Does the poly make it harder to machine quilt? Thanks! Laura

You could do wool on the bottom and a poly or warm and natural on top. The wool will make it nice and warm and Longarmers like it because it shows definition really well. I'm not sure how hard it would be to quilt on a dsm but longarm era do it frequently. I agree that if you want it fluffy to quilt sparingly.

I am just putting the binding on a client quilt done with Quilters Dream Cotton Select on the bottom and QD wool on the top. I was very pleased with the stitch definition. It was a big quilt 108 x 86. We chose a pattern that would look good from any direction because the 108" neded to go on the rollers from left to right to achieve a large pattern that would not stitch out all the loft we were trying to achieve in the 24" throat space I have available. All that batting and fabric uses up a lot of room on the take up roller. Client and I concurred natural fibers would provide the best warmth and comfort.

I use warm and natural you could use 2 or 3 layers together. It would give thickness and warmth.

use polar fleece for the backing...I so it all the time and they are really cosy

Thanks for asking this question, I've wondered about this too.

I'd also be interested in hearing more about Thinsulate. My MIL retired from 3M (the makers of Thinsulate) and still has access to their company store. She brought me 12 yards of Thinsulate, but I've been hesitant to use it in a quilt. It's about half as thick as warm and natural, but really should be warm. I may try layering it with W&N for my next winter quilt.

I have found W & N to be pretty warm all on its own

I would recommend that too as it makes such a cosy quilt that feels instantly warm and cosy when you put it over you.

i wouldn't use batting at all.I buy those cheap quilts from Walmart ( that has the satin binding on one end) and thats all I use now for batting.Heres why its cheaper than batting, it launders better than batting, it last so much longer and I've never had a problem quilting it and neither has my long-arm quilting lady.Hope this helps

The double layer does not make it harder to machine quilt! ... but the "roll" especially if its a large quilt gets to have quite abit of volume. I send my bed size quilts that I double bat to long arm pros... they have no issues with the double batting. I just won't deal with stuffing that much through my regular machine. Quite honestly its the best gift I can give myself.

I thank everyone for their advice. Getting so many ideas is what I love about this board. I am now leaning toward Dream puff all by it's self, I really like the dream battings in general and the puff is warmer than down and with minimal quilting...sounds like a winner. I have only a dsm. And so my quilting is usually just SID. But am still thinking about it.

My mother backed several quilts with Thinsulate or fleece. I LOVED them. I think she used a very lightweight batting. I do know those were warm and cozy quilts. I don't think she cared for them because she always liked a pattern fabric for the back like cotton.

No one mentioned hand quilting...guess machine quilting is assumed. But I would not double the batting if you plan to hand quilt it, unless you don't mind having larger stitches.

I think the question of whether a quilt is too warm or not depends upon the temperature of your room at night. Some of us keep central heat turned up very high in winter and some of us have space heaters which do not heat a room as warm. Only you can determine what will be warm enough or too warm for you personally.

well, this quilt will be a throw for my daughter who lives in CT. I made one for her last year with cotton batt and she says it is not warm enough in the winter... they keep their house just above freezing, I think! LOL

I just went to my LQS and told them I wanted to free motion a quilt that had a cotton top, then warm and natural, then Dream wool and a flannel back because my daughter is very cold. The owner of the shop is very cold natured and said she has a quilt with just wool batting and cotton top/bottom and is warm and cozy. I came home and took the w/n batting out and will free motion quilt today. Wish me luck!!!!

Ione, maybe you would like to consider making the top from wool instead of cotton. That makes the warmest quilts of all.

Wool batting is the way to go. I sleep with just a wool quilt and stay plenty warm and that's with the heat turned off in Oregon in December. My other quilts, I'd freeze to death.

Any clothing I put on that has any % of wool in it make me itch immediately. I would be afraid to use a wool batting for that reason. Does anyone have any experience with that scenario?

I made a wool batt quilt for my son who is wool sensitive. He's using it and loving it. Interestingly, most people who are sensitive to wool are also lactose, or milk, intolerant. Important to know for kids quilts especially. But since my son is both, i guess it's not so important to know after all. Lol.

Thanks to everyone who gave such good advice. I think that now I will make a lot of warm quilts. Using the many ideas you gave me! You can always depend on this board for help, isn't that great?!