What batting do you prefer and why?
 

Hi - Just wanted to get some opinions. I've used the Quilter's Dream wool batting in my last few queen size quilts. I like the drape and lightweight feel; however, I do not like the bearding. So, this time I was thinking of switching it up. Plus, I'm making for a wedding gift and don't know if they might be allergic to wool. I don't like the QD Request because it's so thin. I like a quilt to feel like a quilt and to keep you warm. Has anyone used QD Deluxe Cotton? Or, do you prefer an 80/20 and which one? All opinions are appreciated!

Thank you!
LaDonna

I've tried almost every type of batting out there. I choose the one that the quilt calls for and who it's for. Probably the one best for heft and warmth and showing off quilting stitches would be an 80/20 cotton/poly, but there are so many different types of batt it's hard to say which I prefer.

The Hobbs Tuscany wool/cotton blend is lovely. It is cushier than plain cotton and has a better loft because of the wool. It also dried really nicely after pre-soaking.

I use a variety, too - I stash batting when it's on sale so I keep a few different cotton and poly batts on hand. I like most of QD's battings, but I also tend to like a thinner batt. QD does have a "Select" line that is thicker than the Request line. I've only used Hobbs 80/20 once and unfortunately I really didn't like it, it felt icky to me. It was fine once it was in the quilt though.

On the wool that you got bearding - are you longarming it? I've used their wool batt once and really liked pretty much everything about it, but I tied that particular quilt. I had intended to get more next time I spotted a sale, but not if it beards on a DSM!

I also love Hobbs Tuscany wool/cotton. Very nice loft. I get mine from Connecting Threads when they have their 30% off sale.

My favorite batting is Soft n' Bright by The Warm Company, which is a polyester batting. I use the 1/8" or 1/4" on almost all my quilts. It drapes beautifully!

Sewnoma - Yes, I am long-arming it (or I'm paying someone else to do it each time). I do really like the wool, but I'm kind of a perfectionist and I see the little strands of wool coming through (bearding). I called Quilter's Dream, and they told me to spray with a non-static spray, which I did. Thank you for your reply.

Thank you for your reply and also Joe'smom about the Tuscany Cotton/Wool blend. I am going to read about it. This is a modern quilt, so I don't think I need too much puckering, even though personally I really like that look.

I like the Tuscany Cotton/Wool blend. But, one of the nicest feeling quilts I have ever made was with silk batting. I think it was a Hobbs product. I made it into a king sized quilt. I really look forward to use this batting again.

Once I switched to QD, I never looked back. I Love the stuff. I've never had an issue with QD bearding, sorry.

Peggi - Is this the QD Wool that you have never had a problem with? If so, do you wash your fabric first before quilting? Just curious. Thanks.

I remember this thread about a bearding problem with QD wool batting:
https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f...m-t222212.html

It seems to me that there are fewer reports of bearding with Hobbs wool batting. I do think with wool batting you have to be careful to use a closely woven backing fabric, and you also need to be sure the needle has no burrs.

I like different batts for different quilts. Hobbs 80/20 is my sort of all-purpose go-to batting when I don't have a special purpose. It is easy to quilt and provides nice loft and softness. It is also not too heavy.

I used Warm and Natural in several quilts before I decided it adds too much weight to large quilts. It also has a stiff drape that doesn't soften up until it has been through the wash multiple times (it *does* soften up eventually). I will still consider it for lap size quilts and smaller. I just don't like the weight it adds to a large quilt (I'm getting weaker as I get older) and also don't like its initial stiff drape. People who like the weight of heavy quilts are more likely to like W&N.

I like the softness and light weight of Hobbs polyester Dream Puff batting a lot. However, I found it more difficult to machine quilt on my frame than the lower loft Hobbs 80/20. If I can master quilting it, I will use it more often. One advantage of poly battings is that that the quilt dries much faster. I really like the soft feel of it in a quilt and, of course, it doesn't add a lot of weight.

I had the opportunity to handle a quilt with silk batting. It is luxuriously soft and light in weight. I love that! It is more "limp" than other battings and is expensive, so I would use it only for very special quilts that will be used to cuddle in. Wool batting would be better for a quilt that, say, would be hung over a bannister for show.

Comparing Hobbs 80/20 to an all-cotton needlepunched batting, there is a major difference in loft. You will get better quilting stitch definition in the 80/20 because of the loft. 100% cotton batting will always be flatter, with less stitch definition and loft.

I love cotton batting b/c I love the look for hand quilting.
There are so many good ones out there. I've been practicing my FMQ skills (?) and I'm using Fusiboo on practice pieces but I don't know how it washes etc.
I'd love to try wool on my Shakespeare in the Park that's almost done.

That's a good point! My DH really loves heavy quilts; the wool batting I used, I actually double-batted with a layer of W&N to add more heft, I knew it would be too light for his taste. It's a king size quilt...it's pretty heavy! And very cozy. :)

I like cotton mostly. I got a roll of Pellon cotton batting at Tuesday Morning a while back and since I am not a prolific quilter I still have about a quarter roll. It works fine for me.

I have tried many battings over the years. I recently tried Pellon Legacy 80/20 blend and I love it. I do longarm quilting and most of my customers use poly batting but I use the blend for all of my quilts.

I mostly use high loft polyester batting. I love it, warmth without the weight.

Hi,
just wanted to reply to your post about batting, my favorite is bamboo batting, expensive, but hypoallergenic,
washes well, drapes well, and not as heavy as cotton, also very warm.
Katz

I only use Warm and Natural. It has never let me down.

This is interesting.

Recently, I've been making 8 1/2x 11" mini wall hangings. For those I'd like a very thin yet stiff batting. Anyone out there have any experience with this?

I've used WW for years. Would like something softer. Info on this thread suggests Hobbs Tuscany or QD. Want it on bolts. Does anyone know of a source?

That's funny, because QD wool is my favorite batting. I use a longarm with a brand new needle, though, and don't get bearding. And everything is prewashed. The latest quilt I made has a wide backing which was prewashed. I love how warm (but not hot) and lightweight the quilt is. I also like QD Select cotton. For me, the QD Request batting is too thin. I also used a bamboo batt once, liked it. Have never used silk.

Quilt inspector approved batting
 

I tried the Hobbs Poly down for the first time. It keeps you warm and toasty. The loft is slightly higher than using Warm and white batting.

I prefer Quilters Dream select, too, for its drape and softness, but I do sometimes use Warm & Natural cotton which I don't find as drape-able. I've also used QD bamboo and the green recycled bottles batting with success.

I use Warm & Natural or White needlepunched. I prefer these to the ones with scrim.

I love Warm and Plush. It has no scrim and is thicker and fluffier than Warm and Natural, which does have scrim and always feels really stiff to me (Warm Company FAQ).

I was under the impression that the silk battings, even the silk blend battings, couldn't be machine washed? Has anyone successfully machine washed a quilt with a silk batt? I've always eyed the Tuscany Silk with envy, but I simply don't have the time to hand wash a quilt so I've never purchased it. I do have a silk comforter and it's the most beautiful comforter I own!

What a beautiful kitty!!!

I like warm & natural for the vast majority of my projects. I now have a roll of the warm & toasty. It does add weight and warmth, and I believe it shrinks a little bit more than regular W&N. I don't find either of them stiff once washed. I also love the bamboo, but since Hancocks is closed, I don't have a good and affordable source. Personally, I hate to touch any of the polyester or poly blends, so I just don't use them. I have used the Tuscany Silk and the Hobbs Wool - both very nice for special projects.

Have heard from a couple of reputable teachers (Bonnie Hunter for one) that poly batting acts like a brillo pad in the quilt and wears the fabric away from the inside....

The king-size quilt on my bed has QD wool and I didn't prewash because most of the fabrics in the top were precuts.

I used QD black poly in another quilt that was prewashed, and had no issues with it.

QD cotton and cotton/poly blends are both lovely, with a wonderful drape and soft hand. I encourage the OP to try either one for her wedding gift.

my go-to is Hobbs 80/20, either white, natural or black (if the back & top call for it--usually it's natural). I love wool bat, especially if there is applique (or a panel) that needs the faux trapunto treatment. Then I will often double bat with 80/20 and a wool. Hobbs Tuscany is my favorite.
I also used QD poly in black for a recent doubled quilt and loved the hand of it and will definitely purchase more.
I also recently bought a bamboo bat at a show and anxious to try it out.

I have used the QD wool on 2 quilts - no bearding. I did read an article once that said bearding can be due to static...kinda made some sense...

QD cotton or wool is my preferred, but i've used Hobbs 80/20 or W&N if budget is an issue.

"Have heard from a couple of reputable teachers (Bonnie Hunter for one) that poly batting acts like a brillo pad in the quilt and wears the fabric away from the inside...."

This is not true. Poly batting is used in all ready made comforters and they hold up for years with little to no problems. The main reason the fabrics ware down has ti do with use and washing and drying, not the batting.

I always have a roll of poly QD Select and a roll of Hobbs 80/20 in queen size and king size Hobbs 80/20 in bags. Most of my customers will choose QD, because this batting is not too lofty. A few of my customers will bring their own batting and I have not had any problem with any of the battings.

I find that every interesting indeed. I wonder how long before it wears the fabrics away--50 years maybe? I have some of my DH's great-grandma's quilts, made with poly batting in the '70's and so far I don't see anything other than the normal wear and tear of liturally daily use. Very interesting...

Edited to add: My mother-in-law still has the baby quilt that her grandma made her as a baby, 50+ years ago, with poly batting, and it's still doing okay. In fact, I use it on my own DD when we go over to visit.

The more I think about the brio thing, the more I doubt it.

The Quilter's Dream Select has a higher loft than the Request and it is all cotton. QD has also come out with a blend and I believe it's 80/20.

I usually use either an 80/20 from Warm & Natural or a polyester. It's what I normally use for everything. I have also used the polyester batting as that is lightweight, but holds the heat in. The cotton wicks away any moisture. If I want more loft, I double up on my batting.

For a Warm quilt, I use Quilters Dream Poly. For any other I typically use Warm and Natural. I have used some other poly blends like Hobbs and been happy with the results after years if use.

If you are making a gift, keep in mind that your giftee may toss it in washer and dryer. A thin poly like Mountain Must won't take that well.

I am enjoying Warm Blend. 50% cotton 50% poly. It drapes beautifully and the loft is really nice.

I make a lot of charity quilts and I use Hobbs 80/20. Its warm and snuggly. Sewing 4" apart on the smaller quilts is not big deal - but sometimes I don't want to do this much quilting tho ha ha

recently I discovered warm and plush batting and really, really like that. I don't use that for my charity quilts, because I have to pay a litte more for that. But its great batting, drapes beautifully and can quilt up to 6" apart

I will NEVER buy quilters dream wool again. When I used that it bearded all over - I was very very disappointed. I often wonder how its doing now that I gifted it.

I want the opposite in batting
 

I'm looking for batting that is heavy but Not warm. I just like heavy blankets (yes, I have ADHD and it is a sensory/calming thing) but am making a quilt for summer use. Suggestions???