Warmth compromise?
 

What is the general feeling about the heavily-quilted tops? Is it possible that the three layers are pierced so many times that it affects the warmth of the quilt? Does all the thread used make up the difference? Not really a problem for me as I hand quilt but I think the heavily quilted tops can be gorgeous.

Well I have a few heavily quilted quilts and they are just as warm as the less quilted ones. They are however not as soft as the less quilted quilts.

the warmth factor i think is based more on the batting/fabrics used-
some batts are much warmer than others- loft and fiber content would dictate whether or not the quilt will be warm- or more (a lightweight-warm weather) quilt. very thin cotton batts offer the least amount of warmth...lofty wool batts the most- regardless of the amount of quilting also, heavy cottons, flannels, homespuns, wools are warmer than thin cotton calico's. it is all dependant on the (whole package)

One can never have too much quilting!!! LOL!!!

they can be gorgeous, indeed. but what makes a quilt warm is the spaces between the layers that trap the heat. when it's heavily quilted, there are not very many spaces left.

I usually think that a heavily quilted quilt is more for looks that practical warmth. In fact I would be the one that would take it off the bed before I went to sleep and put it back on in the morning. For warmth and comfort I prefer a VERY soft, cuddly, almost a comforter/blanket type quilt, quilted loosely or far apart. Something that will bunch up under my chin and around my ears when it is chilly.

I didn't know this. But, it sounds reasonable. Its a good thing to remember. I just have always found the heavily quilted quilts to sometimes be stiff. I like mine fluffy and soft!!

Me, too! Love a nice cozy quilt!

I agree, in fact I have one at the quilters now, it's a queen, so I told her a loose panto. She said she is blowing it up to 200% on the computer. Too much thread takes away the comfy factor

I really like the soft and cuddly quilts. I prefer to make them because I want my quilts to be used until they wear out.

I like mine soft and cuddly. My grandson wants me to make him a quilt but he wants it "fluffy."

What makes insulation work, in the walls and ceiling or in the quilt sandwich, is air. Trapped air retains heat/excludes cold. Six inches of fiberglass insulation is effective loosely installed but if compressed, air is excluded and R-value falls. It is the same with quilt batting--compression by close quilting reduces insulation value.

Oh my, I think I just had my science lesson for the day! Who knew quilting is math and science!

I disagree. Some of them look so over done. Sometimes less IS better.

Do most people rely on quilts for warmth-------------or beauty?

I like the quilt to be warm and cozy - not hard and uncomfortable. Heavy quilting I like to see on wallhangings. Something where it won't matter if it's stiff.

I like this answer! I don't know from actually using a heavily quilted quilt, but your reply has always been my thought as well. Plus, I don't like heavily quilted quilts because I feel it takes away the beauty of the piecing and makes the quilting the most important. To me it is not. There is always 'too much' in every aspect of life, and so it is with quilting

I think the batting choices , and fabric choices play a larger role in warmth than the quilting.

I love my quilts to be puffy.
I machine piece, but hand quilt.
J J

So true; it's "Insulation Theory 101". I love to FMQ and usually struggle to find a balance between "fluffy" and "enough FMQ" to satisfy me.

I like the soft cuddly quilts also. I like the look quilting gives but sometimes quilting every inch takes away from the piecing.

ooooohhh...wrong...I have seen some that are so quilted they become see-thru...Irena Bluhm had some beautiful quilts in a local show this year..but you could see through them all they were quilted so much...and STIFF as boards...

I am not fond of all that quilting...it LOOKS great...but that is about it...it is like a thread painting..not a QUILT you can snuggle with!

That is a good question to present to the various batting mfg to see what their answer is.....I think I'll do that!!!

For me personally, I like to sleep under a warm, fluffy quilt. But sometimes I want a quilt on the bed that is just for looks. For beauty only, not to sleep under, not for Checotah (Great Dane) to sleep on, purely for the look of the quilt.

My Fall throw I just finished is heavily quilted with a leaf stipple pattern and I wish I wouldn't have done that now. It looks really pretty but it's stiff and doesn't "cuddle" well at all. Won't make that mistake again! Less quilting for me next time.