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-   -   What do you do with the 'beards' that come out at stitch points (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/what-do-you-do-beards-come-out-stitch-points-t33193.html)

Kascie 01-04-2010 09:34 PM

The quilt shop owner talked me to using bamboo filling for my wall hanging. I am finished it but there are little white 'beards' where my needle didn't bring the thread through properly.

I was not going to wash the quilt but perhaps you ladies know that this is the only way possible to loosen the beards. I tried it on air fluff in the dryer but to no avail. :roll: This is my first posting ....hope to get to know you all. PS: am so desperate I might have to twease each stitch of the quilt!!!!

jljack 01-04-2010 09:59 PM

Hi Kascie!!! Sorry for your problem. I have never had that problem with needled cotton batting (Warm & Natural or W&White). I don't know a fix for it!! Sorry. Someone will, though, so hang in. Happy to see you post.

amma 01-04-2010 10:39 PM

Maybe try spraying the top and backing enough to saturate the fabric and toss it back into the dryer....

Prism99 01-04-2010 10:41 PM

The only solution I know of for bearding is to cut off the beards, usually with an embroidery cutter or those little battery-operated cutters that are sold for cutting "pills" off sweaters.

cutebuns 01-04-2010 10:47 PM

I would go back to her and ask her how to fix it, it is a known problem with the bamboo batting, though it tends to be less with the long arms, they do a blend of cotton/bamboo that is said to not have the same problem,

Oklahoma Suzie 01-05-2010 03:27 AM


Originally Posted by cutebuns
I would go back to her and ask her how to fix it, it is a known problem with the bamboo batting, though it tends to be less with the long arms, they do a blend of cotton/bamboo that is said to not have the same problem,

Great info, thanks.

jbud2 01-05-2010 12:51 PM

I had a 'bearding' problem when a white batting came thru a dark panel. I had to cut all those little beards off! Thats' when I found out there were black battings! Sorry I can't help you ~

Marcella 01-05-2010 02:25 PM

1 Attachment(s)
This may not be what caused your problem, but did you happen to press your seam allowances open? On one of my first quilt I so carefully pressed all my seam allowances very neatly open, which allowed lots of white polyester beards to sneak through on my nice dark "Roman Stripe, Amish Quilt in a Day". It turns out keeping the batting inside is one of the reasons we press seam allowances to one side.

This is not a solution for your current beard issues, of course, but for the future (I'm assuming you are a new quilter and apologize if I'm telling you something you already know!) I sought advice when I saw what was happening to my baby and all my guru could tell me at the time was that if I used my quilt and washed it that eventually it would stop happening, and it has. I took this picture recently ago and the colors are somewhat faded from sunlight and from washing, but no more beards! :-)

Marjpf 01-05-2010 02:36 PM

Found out this weekend that Joann's Fabrics is going to discontinue the warm and natural (boo) and start carrying the cotton bamboo blend. Now that I've seen this, that doesn't sound good for us!

Marcella 01-05-2010 02:50 PM


Originally Posted by Marjpf
Found out this weekend that Joann's Fabrics is going to discontinue the warm and natural (boo) and start carrying the cotton bamboo blend. Now that I've seen this, that doesn't sound good for us!

Maybe the cotton in the blend will be the key. I have bought one of the blended Nature-Fil from Fairfield, but haven't used it yet. I'm a big fan of cotton these days.

Hey, Kascie! you could try poking the fibers back inside with a toothpick or a blunt sort of tapestry needle.If you're not going to wash it they should stay where you put 'em, eh? Good luck!

jljack 01-05-2010 02:55 PM


Originally Posted by Marjpf
Found out this weekend that Joann's Fabrics is going to discontinue the warm and natural (boo) and start carrying the cotton bamboo blend. Now that I've seen this, that doesn't sound good for us!

Well, all of us who use only W&N can always buy it on their website, or at another local fabric store. I don't know what they are thinking!!! Almost all the quilters I know only use cotton (a few only use silk!!). Thanks for the info, but I'm not happy to hear it. I won't have to buy any for a while, though, because my DH and I bought a 40 yd bolt of W&N last time Joanne's had it on sale at 50% off.

Marjpf 01-05-2010 02:59 PM

Can we all "borrow" your DH next time there is a sale?

cutebuns 01-05-2010 05:27 PM

From talking to the one lady at the LQS that told me about the issues with the bamboo and others here on the board, the blend doesn't have the same issues as the bamboo alone,

I imagine after it is around a little longer that it will be less for the bamboo as it is renewed a lot faster than the cotton, one reason that people use the cotton is that it is an all natural fiber, I am interested in seeing where it is heading.

BellaBoo 01-05-2010 08:44 PM

I think I'll keep bamboo in my backyard where it looks great.
:-D

Your needle size may be too big. This happens to me when I use a large size needle.

MistyMarie 01-05-2010 08:49 PM

I haven't bought batting in quite awhile, as I have lots still to use, so I am wondering how the bamboo/cotton does with shrinkage compared to the W&N and how it compares in cost.

Joan in AK 01-05-2010 09:26 PM

I just got Bonnie Hunter's book Scraps & Shirtails from the library today. Her site is Quiltville. She has a couple of pages in the front of the book on batting. She gives a positive recommendation for Nature-Fil by Fairfield that is 50% bamboo and 50% organic cotton. Here's what she says,"...breathable, very soft drape, can be quilted up to 8-inch intervals, is ideal for machine quilting, and is naturally antibacterial." I didn't know Joann's was going to do that, and I don't know what kind they will carry, but it could be a good thing.

Ronda K Beyer 01-05-2010 10:34 PM

They are called pokies and are a combo of fabric, batting and thread, the only way to get rid of them is to wash your quilt..... It is not just the batting, so don't discount this type of batting...

Pickles 01-05-2010 10:39 PM

Thanks Joan for that info, it sounds then like it might work out then for if Bonnie Hunter uses it are a brand similar it couldn't be all that bad then, I'd be willing to try it based on her saying that.

BellaBoo 01-05-2010 11:20 PM

Anything Bonnie Hunter says is good for a quilt is good for a quilt. I'll certainly try that brand.

Kascie 01-06-2010 09:17 PM

I did not mean to slam bamboo filling when I asked about the beards on my quilt. It is just that I am a new quilter
and couldn't figure out what I did wrong. I am going to take advice and wash my quilt and I probably will use the same filler again.Kascie


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