Wool Batting recommendations?
 

Last Winter was pretty darn cold. I was still cold underneath two cotton batting quilts! I'm thinking maybe I better make a couple of quilts with Wool batting, but I never have use it before. I've heard of some undesirable results, so I'm wondering if someone can tell me which brands they've had good results with. Thanks so much

I have heard good things about Hobbs wool batting. That would be my choice.

I don't have it handy, but one of the QB members had a bad experience with Quilter's Dream wool bearding. If I can find that thread, I will post it.

Edit: I think this is the thread:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...m-t222212.html

Hobbs wool is wonderful, washes well without excessive shrinkage, keeps me warm in the winter and not too hot in the spring/summer/is easy-easy to handquilt (tiny bit of bearding which has not continued as I've washed it several times), has no odor or scratchiness through the top or backing fabric. I love it!

Jan in VA

I love, love, love wool batting! I use either Hobbs or Dream wool. Both are fabulous to work with, lightweight but lofty, they do not shrink like cotton. If I could afford it I would use it in all my quilts.

I've used Hobbs in the past with great results, much easier to hand quilt. I'm trying to get a large top pieced to try on the longarm.

I've used Pellon Legacy wool and loved the results.

I have used Quilter's Dream wool on my longarm, and it's now my favorite batt.

I had really nice results with Hobbs. I would really like to use it more but it really adds to the cost of a large quilt. I plan to use it in all the bed quilts I make in the future.

I suggest going to your local thrift store, Volunteers of America, Goodwill, garage sale, etc., and see if you can find an old wool blanket. Here (in Michigan) I can usually pick one up for under $5. I simply wash and dry the blanket before using to make sure it will stay the same size. Since it's used, I'll wash it to begin with anyway! I used hot water/hot dryer with one blanket, which felted it, so it resulted in a heavy, stiff quilt with no draping quality which was what I intended-- because I use it for a 'door' for the stairway leading upstairs to keep the heat on the main floor in the winter. It's the last time I'll do that! It was murder to machine quilt-- it killed my walking foot. (A felted wool batting is really cool for a wall hanging too.) For a bed quilt I chose a very very thin wool blanket that showing good draping itself after washing with cold water/cool dryer. I simply continue to launder the quilt the same way and have had no problems with it.

I know some people like all new modern 'ingredients' for their quilts, which I like to do too, but I enjoy also creating with the old-school attitude for quilt making, that follows the American settler type tradition, where you use what patches, scraps, liner, etc. that you have.

Wool certainly seems to make a warmer quilt than cotton or polyester. Wool does have weight though. Sometimes on a cold night several quilts can feel like a ton over you... If only there was a way to make batting with feathers! A quilt top cover over a down comforter is just not the same as a true quilt. :-)

Thanks so much to all of you for responding; you've been very helpful.