I don't know, I've never used starch in my entire life. I bought some recently, having read so much about it, but not sure what the effects are exactly or if it needs to be washed out?

I think Prism has given some good advice. If you do not want to rip the quilting out (frog it), then do as Patrice suggested and block it. Then quilt it some more. I have had to frog an entire Qu sz that was pretty heavily long-armed before. Not fun but not that bad while watching a movie. This quilt doesn't look that bad. IMHO I think I would block it and maybe do some more quilting in it and call it a day.

FYI: If you ever try Bamboo, it does shrink more than Wool.

Starch stabilizes the fabric so it doesn't distort while you are machine quilting. It prevents unwanted tucks and puckers. I don't like machine quilting without it because it prevents so many problems.

It should be washed out afterwards, but this can be a simple rinsing. At that point you would probably want to re-block the quilt without starch for gift-giving.

I agree with Linda M. I would do more quilting on it. I have always used cotton or poly batting's and have never had a problem. I always throw my cotton batting in the dryer to remove the wrinkles before using it and I always prewash my fabric and that's how I get a nice old look to my quilts after I wash them but I never prewash the batting. I don't think I'm brave enough to use wool because you never know who's going to be allergic to it.

I use Warm and Natural for all my quilts. I cut the batting and then wash it in the washing machine and dryer it in the dryer so it does not sink in the quilt or helps it from looking used. I wash all my fabric also. So when I am finished a quilt all parts have been washed first.

I don't usually prewash my fabric or batting. I use all cotton batting so when it's done & I wash it everything shrinks the same. So far I haven't had any problems.

I only use polyester and I don't have the problem of shrinking, maybe closer quilting would help with the problem once you get it straightened out, if you do.

What a terrible thing to have happen.

I am working my way through a bolt of warm and natural. I never pre wash fabric or batting (but i do use 2 to 4 dye catchers). I like the shrinkage I get but I am quilting it pretty tightly on my pfaff hobby grand quilter. I have to remind my self to make the top bigger so when I do get shrinkage, it will still fit the bed. the old fashioned crinkle makes my day, but the quilt is still straight and flat.
The rewetting and blocking idea sounds good, but i would not fret too much. only you will know that the quilt is a little wonky. the receiver will love it is warm and cuddly.

i use wool batting often and love it...it is important to really stablize the edges of your quilt and quilt fairly heavily...it is still going to shrink and if making a quilt for a baby/child drycleaning is out of the question, if the quilt is for a child it is going to be washed and dried alot...with the wool batting it is going to shrink alittle each wash for awhile (wool is nice to work with but for kids dream poly is a much better choice) i don't really think it detracts from the charm or usability of the quilt kids love them because they are fluffy and soft, they don't care if it is out of square or 'wrinkly' which really is what happens to most quilts unless they are wallhangings and not washed. don't be so hard on yourself, the quilt is cute and will be loved even if you don't like it, the recipient is not going to know it's not supposed to be that way.

i have heard of people washing their batting , i hav enever done tho. so much work , i know you are disappointed , i am for you :(

This is a real shame, after all that hard work. The quilt itself is adorable so I hope you can get a fix for it. I myself have never had any problem with the batting but I have only used the Warm & Natural & right now I am going to use the bamboo batting.

What is bearding?

I very very rarely wash my fabric before making a quilt. I only use warm & natural 100% cotton batting, and sometimes only quilt lighlty, and have never had a quilt shrink up unevenly. Yes one does have to make the quilt a smidge bigger to make up for the slight shrinkage, but I personally like the look in the end. Each of us have different views and ideas and that is a good thing for all of us.

I, too, am sorry for your pain. I know, now, though, why my grandmother's quilts all had a rumpled look. She washed just about every thing in her house every week, quilts included. They were rumpled, but her kids still fought over them when it came to dividing up her stuff. I was just a kid, and it was a sad thing for me. If you don't give it away, it can become a part of you life's work that you have kept, and your kids will treasure it.
Theresa

Wow! I haven't seen any batting shrinking unevenly like that. Maybe try pressing it with a steam iron? You can just try it...nothing to lose!!

When little whisps of the batting come up through the weave of the fabric. It won't happen if you use a needled cotton batting and quilt it as per instructions for maximum distance between quilting lines.

How dissappointing for you.

If you have the packaging, re-read it and then you can see where you may have gone wrong. Otherwise, re-wet it and lay out as previously noted to dry strtching gently into shape.

you can wash the batten first follow th edirections on th ebag to wash it or soak it and let it drip dry . always pre wash your fabric and iron it and your batten too. i use the low loft 100% cotten batten in my quilts and pre wash it on gentil cycle i have a front loader washer so it really spinks it almost dry . and then i hang it out on th eline to air dry. and pined now to streach out of shape.

wool is a very luxurious batting but it does need special care, so it probably isn't the best choice for a baby. it will probably keep shrinking a little more each time it gets washed for a couple more washings, and if the parents aren't 'too careful, if you know what i mean', they'll put it into the dryer, too. myself, i would take the time to unsew, and i would replace the batting with polyester, a better choice for babies. AND i would keep the good stuff for a nice lap quilt for me.

it's a lovely quilt and such a heartache when something like that happens. so sorry.

I've not had this problem with any of my quilts, however I've heard of people "blocking" thier quilts after washing to square them up again. Not sure how to do it, just heard of it. You should Google it or something and see if this helps. Good luck!

How do you remove bearding?

Since

it is a gift
it is not a large quilt
it isnt heavily quilted

Maybe consider taking it apart and putting new batting in. I know it is a lot of work, but you have a lot of time and love invested now and you want it to be right.

Margie

I only use warm and natural and have never had a problem.
If I pre-wash the fabric, then I pre-wash the warm and
natural too, unless I want the old look. (which I usually
do). If I don't prewash the fabric, then I don't prewash
the warm and natural.

So sorry! I prewash my fabrics always. I have developed an allergy to the chemicals in the fabrics. I do not usually prewash batting, but I have never used a wool blend. You can always steam the batting in the dryer before using it. Sadly, this will only help with future quilts. It is still beautiful. Do you think adding any quilting will help it lay better?

I have never had good luck with warm and natural batting. Always a disappointment. I am currently using Quilters Dream 100% cotton. I love it. I prewash my fabrics. The whole quilt goes into the machine for wash and into the dryer and I get a wonderful puckering from a little shrinkage of the batting. It has always been good end result. I have never worked with wool batting.

I don't use wool batting and never realized it would do that. I do like the wrinkled crinkly look of the quilt. It's just me.

I followed the advice I got here and squared the quilt while it was wet and it is currently drying, but already looks much better.

Great!

I have always preshrunk warm and natural. Soaked it in warm water, squeezed it out and then dried it the dryer and ironed it. It seemed to work fine.

I ALWAYS prewash my batting if it's a shrinkable like cotton. I've never used wool, so I can't speak for how it would work for wool. But if you're going to wash the quilt after it's quilted, you should probably prewash the batting, or it's going to shrink.

I fill the washing machine with warm water, soak the batting, spin the water out. Then I dry the batting in the dryer. Cotton batting definitely shrinks, and I want it to shrink before I quilt it, unless I'm going for the 'antiquie' shrinky look.

I am sorry about your quilt. It is beautiful. Penny

That is good news. Keep working it til it does what you want!

you need to quilt it more, much more