I have found that there are many kinds of batting. I learned with polyester in quilt class, but I like the cotton (warm and natural). What kind of batting do you use, and are there different types appropriate depending on the project?

I don't like the polyester myself. It gums up my needle and it's harder for me to quilt. I generally use Warm & White, which I love. I did quilt on Dream Green last week and that was really nice to use as well. But that's alot harder for me to find. I like the idea that it's helping the environment as well.

I'm interested in the responses on this. I almost always use Warm & White. I used bamboo\cotton for the first time recently and loved it, but I think it was expensive. I went to a class once and the instructor recomended Hobbs 80\20, but I haven't used it yet.
Can't wait to see what information we get on this!

I used Warm & Natural in two quilts. They were about as stiff as boards. I have used both the Quilter's Dream cotton and the poly. I like their poly and love their cotton. I buy Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 by the case and love it. I like the way the Hobbs shows definition in the quilting. I'm going to use a bamboo batting in a quilt before long.

I like the feel of warm and natural or warm and white but I don't overquilt mine (which imho is what makes them stiff). Recently, I started working with Hobbs 80/20. Haven't done a full quilt with it yet, so the jury is still out.

It depends on what I am making. Soft and fluffy baby quilts, the highest loft poly I can find. If the needle gums up push it through a sliver of bath soap. Heirloom type quilts any quality cotton. Bags and purses anything I have left over. For me there is no right or wrong all purpose batting.

I like warm and natural and 80/20.

I like warm and natural or Hobbs 80/20.

The two quilts I used Warm & Natural in were tied.

Hobbs 80/20
Legacy 80/20
Warm and Natural
All three quilt nicely in my opinion

I'm currently trying cotton/bamboo for the first time on a quilt with a dark brown backing and it's a disaster: the quilt is covered with fluff from the batting and it's coming through to the surface when I pull the threads through. Not happy.

Hobbs wool

Fairfield - bamboo/organic cotton 50/50- I preshrink this and it still shrinks a little more when washed. Available at Joanns and Hancock. It's a little more expensive so I stock up when it's 50% off.

Quilters Dream Poly- the charcoal color for dark quilts I don't want to risk any bearding on.

Hobbs 80/20 has changed. I don't use it as much anymore.

I use Hobbs exclusivly if I am providing the batting....

Hobbs 80/20 or Hobbs wool. Both quilt very nicely and wash well after the quilting is done.

I am a longarmer and I use different batts for different projects.

Table Runners Warm & Natural or Warm & White

Kid's Quilts Polyester Medium Loft

Bed Size Quilts Hobbs 80/20 or Medium Loft Polyester

With the rising costs of cotton, I may become a poly girl!

I use different battings for different projects. I love Dream Green and Dream Poly for wall hangings, table toppers and such decorative items, they are especially great for wall hangings because they keep their shape and don't drape/stretch like cotton.

That being said, I love dream cotton for bed and lap quilts, anything touching my body, I want it to be all natural fibers, personL preference.

Warm and natural seem to be popular, I psersonally find it a lot more stiff because of the scrim, but do use it for little projects.

I recently used wool in my queen size Bargello for my bed, and oh my, the feel and the price!!! :mrgreen:

Thanks for all of your responses. Now where do you buy the Hobbs 80/20 (and is that 80%cotton, 20% poly) and where do get dream cotton? Never heard of either of these. I have used some 80/20, but I don't remember the brand name.

I like warm & natural for machine quilting and poly blend for hand quilting. My favorite is wool for both when I can get it on sale :D

i started a 'batting-journal' to figure out what battings i like best for different projects. when ever i see a new batt i have not tried before i get one. I cut a 4"x6" rectangle from the batt and add it to my journal. I write the name of the batt, where it came from. the price. the properties, the care instructions, and how far apart you are supposed to quilt it. After i use the batt i add what i used it for, how i liked it, how it behaved during quilting, anything else i want to remember about it...and i add pictures if i feel the need. that way if i see a batt i am not sure about i can check to see if it is one i tried once and hated...or if it was one that was really nice to work with.
I love wool batts best but they are expensive and not always appropriate. i usually use poly or poly/cotton blend batts for kids and utility quilts that will take alot of abuse and get laundered alot. for quilts that may still be used regularly but wont be really abused i like a good cotton if i don't want to put out the extra $$ for wool or silk. I also like the bamboo blend batts. i like to try new ones as they become available. the new "green-batt's " hold up well to much abuse and are good for kids quilts. they are usually inexpensive and they are made out of recycled materials. they wash up well ...the only down side i found with them was.....they are green,,,, so not so great if you have a quilt with a lot of white....anyway--- try them all as you are able...and make a journal it may prove to be a valuable tool.

Used poly once and had such a problem with bearding, that I will never use it again. Love warm/white and warm/natural. Bought some cotton/poly mix which I absolutely detested. It was terribly "linty"...everything it touched was covered in lint. Also thought it felt very thin. No brand unfortunately but I am now a loyal w&n fan! Also only buy it when I have a great coupon for it (usually at Joanne's).

I almost always buy the warm and natural or warm and white now. Also buy it at Joann's when it's on sale or I have a coupon.

I use Warm & White~

I used to buy Hobbs 80/20, but my Joanns doesn't carry it anymore. Batting was on sale this week, so I bought Mayfield Quilter's 80/20. I really like it! This will be my new batting of choice from now on.

I like the warm and natural because I hand quilt and it is so much easier to work with.

Quilters Dream 100 pct cotton.

I am a hand quilter and I like the Hobbs 80/20 and the Legacy 80/20, but also battings made of 100% cotton - Tuscany, Legacy or Quilters Dream.
I prefer an antique look with a nice drape, so cotton or cotton blend is a good choice for me.

Warm and Natural, Warm and White or Hobbs 80/20

I like bamboo, but only when I have a coupon. Mostly I use warm n natural. But, I just got some wool batting the my longarm instructor suggested. She said its all she uses. It has a really nice feel and shrinkage is the about the same as warm n natural.

It depends on the project. My quilts use Warm and White or Warm and Natural. When I make a bag or a jacket I use fusible. It makes life a lot easier. I am making a string quilt right now that I am using the fusible.

Mostly use warn & natural, on occassions have used 80/20 for a thiner batting in table runners & etc.

Have been following the thread on Machine Trapunto and she uses a poly batting and lots of stipple around the design. I would think you would want a high loft poly batting but then wonder if it would be difficult to quilt or beard when finished. Would want to avoid either. Anyone know for sure?

Crazy quilts don't require any batting. I have used it for Christmas stockings, but that is all!

I usually use Warm & Natural, and never have a problem with the quilt feeling stiff. On comfort quilts I'm often given polyester, and on one of my own quilts I used a wool batt. I don't like the feel of the polyester that I've received and would much rather use wool or cotton or a blend.

I use Fairfield 80/20 which works well with heavy quilting and is lightweight enough in my climate. Poly is OK for baby quilts but I've yet to find a basting spray that works with it (please tell me what kind to use, guys!)

That is what I use

Since all my quilts stay within the family or with close friends I sometimes use very thick felt. If stays flat and doesn't bunch up like batting does to me.

I use warm and natural and flannel for my quilts but for any other projects like table runners etc I use polyester batting.

I used the Warm and Natural -- and I, too, thought it was pretty stiff, maybe though because I had quite a bit of quilting on that particular quilt. Has anyone else had a problem though with the Poly batting, coming "THROUGH" the fabric when laundered. Ooohhh....I don't like that. Which of the poly-type, is best, I wonder.

Cotton seems to work best for machine quilting, it has to be quilted close together. It's also warmer if you're actually using the quilt for sleeping. It doesn't move as much as polyester.

Cotton seems to work best for machine quilting, it has to be quilted close together. It's also warmer if you're actually using the quilt for sleeping. It doesn't move as much as polyester.