What went wrong ?
 

A friend agreed to make us a scrappy quilt to cover while reading or watching tv. She did a great job--we did help with expenses---however it is so scratchy ! Not a fun type quilt. I have washed it several times and even did a vinegar bath wash but to no avail. It is still scratchy. What could be the cause--thread she used, batting she used, stitching too close???? For now, it just lays on back of couch, not used. Thank you !

I would think the quality of the fabric would be a big factor here. I recently made a quilt for my son and purchased some inexpensive wide backing from Joann's online without being able to touch it first. Once I received it, it was stiff. Even after washing it twice. I knew I could not use it for his quilt and then purchased other fabric that was a quality that felt better/softer.

I would have to agree with fabric quality on this. I’ve ordered fabric that had a horrible hand and was able to return it.

Keep washing it, it may soften up some, try dryer balls. Yikes! I do have a set of cheap cotton sheets that never did soften up.

It's the fabric. Some of the sizing used on fabric will never wash out. If a fabric feels stiff after washing it goes in the project bin for potholders and such.

I googled your problem and the vinegar rinse was recommended. There was also a recommendation to use baking soda in the wash water and another suggestion was to use hair conditioner instead of fabric softener. You might try washing again using only baking soda in the wash water and/or using the hair conditioner. I have not tried either method so you would be doing so at your own risk but I can see no problem with either. If you are unable to soften the material could the back be topped with a soft material so that what was next to the skin would be soft and cuddly? These are my only suggestions. I hope you find an answer. Is your friend aware of the situation?

How closely is it quilted? If it is densely quilted, that may be part of the problem. Any chance you can add a flannel or minky back to it?

Is it scratchy on both sides or only the back?

Thanks for responses---will try baking soda wash. Quilting is dense, scratchy on both side still and hard.

When I want a soft quilt, I do try and keep my quilting to a minimum allowed by the batting specs. However, some I have quilting more densely have soften a bit after several washings.

Oh my, if washing fails you can just use it for show on the back of your sofa.... so sorry that happened. The maker should know this but how to tell her or him is the question.

While dense quilting will make a quilt stiffer and batting may affect how it drapes, I don't think either would make it scratchy.

Is the thread used for quilting a monofilament? If not, I would also say it's the fabric. Regardless, after being washed a few times, I doubt it will improve much at this point. :(

What is the fiber content. Cotton or something else? Wool or wool batt can be scratchy. If it’s a natural fiber, not poly, it’ll take other solvents beside water and soap. Try alcohol or acetone (fingernail polish remover). If wool, could try lanolin from feed store. No guarantee.

Densely quilted quilts are always stiffer but not sure that they are scratchy. I think it might be the fabric used.

I have the same problem. I have used some fabric backing that was stiff when I bought it. I did use it on a couple of quilts as the backing. I thought it was just sizing, but the fabric has never softened. As long as I use the quilt with other fabric under it, like on a bed, it doesn't bother me, but I don't like it next to my skin. I am thinking about adding a softer fabric as a second backing, using minimal stitching to keep it on the quilt. I thought I would just turn the edges under close to the original quilt binding and hand sew it. Minky is so stretchy, but I may try it

Could it be that the scratchiness is due to a wool batting you are sensitive to?

It's the quality of the fabric she used. This could be a car quilt. One that you use when you go on a picnic.

What about adding a second backing of fleece? I've never had a problem with that fabric.