What's the lightest batting?
 

I'd like to make a super lightweight quilt - is there batting that's best for that sort of thing? I wonder if bamboo would be cooler than cotton or wool? Ideas?

How about just flannel sheeting...or some people make summer quilts and don't use a batting at all.

Which is just two layers - the top and backing.

Mountain Mist has an ultra-thin polyester batting I have used that is very nice. Found it very reasonably priced at JoAnn's. I think the loft is 1/4". Used this in a baby quilt and it came out very soft and light.

I bought some Fusi-boo on sale at Joanns and it was very thin, in fact too thin. I did like the fusible quality though -- it was very fast to sandwich (I was doing a QAYG) & quilt. I had a cotton pieced front and back, and used the Fusiboo for batting. The quilt turned out fine except it is much thinner than I expected and certainly not as warm as cotton. So I can say for sure that Fusiboo will be very thin and lightweight if that's what you're looking for.

Quilter's Dream makes a very, very thin batting which is available in different fibers (cotton and otherwise, I believe), and I have also used Theromore, which is synthetic, very thin and a very even thickness all over.

Pricey, but you could also look at silk batting. I'd think you would get the same heat retention as with cotton or wool without the weight. I've not personally used it but it was wonderful to fondle. It's on my 'someday' list for that most special quilt.

My experience as well. That's all I use on baby quilts now.

Hobbs Thermore. One time I split apart a Fairfield batting for the hood in a silk cape. I can't remember (now) which it was. But a poly cotton batting I will remember when I am not thinking about it.
I would definitely use a batting and not flannel as it would be lighter in weight and more drapable.

I think Cream white or Cream Rose is one of the lightest battings I have ever used. It is a Mountain Mist product and 100 percent cotton.

I LOVE Quilters Dream Wool batting. It's cool in the summer, warm in the winter, very light weight and hand quilts like a dream!!

That sounds like what I want but some reviews say it shrinks a lot. Did you have that problem?

I have two packages of silk batting. I bought one to use in a special someday quilt and the second to use in a quilted jacket, which has yet to be made. I fell in love with the with the feel of the silk batting and just had to have it.

My advice is to get a set of the batting samples that Harriet Hargraves carries on her website. I can't remember the cost, but she has two different sets, so that you can feel and compare how the different battings quilt and drape.

I have some soy/cotton blend battings that are very lightweight. I couldn't tell you what brand they are since they're over in a storage unit right now. One of my friends used the soy/cotton in a quilt and it was very soft and lightweight.

I buy Tuscany silk batting when it's on sale. It's my favorite. My fmq looks much better using silk or wool batting then cotton or poly batting. The last sale I found I got king size silk batting for $34.99. I stocked up, I hope enough until I find another sale. I always buy king size batting so I have enough to fit any size quilt.

I like Hobbs Thermore for a light summer quilt. It does give a rather flat look though, not great if you want fancy stitches to show well.

I really like Hobbs Thermore batting. It can be used for wall hangings, quilted wearables, baby quilts, and any other project that you want a bit of batting and have it drape well.

Chris

I just finished a baby quilt for a Corpus Christi, TX baby, and I used a 50/50 cotton/bamboo batting I got at Joann's. I am quite pleased with it! It is definitely lighter than warm and natural, my standard baby quilt batt, and it is very soft and drapable. It was a bonded batt so I didn't need close quilting which was nice because the quilt is a panel with circus animals, and I wanted the animals to stand out from the quilting. I used a fairly dense quilting for the backgrounds and only outlined the animals, and it came out nicely. I have only washed it once, but I like the results.

Pam