Opinion, please
 

Need an opinion and most especially from hand quilters. I have recently completed a top from hand pieced GMF blocks that were in my mother's stash. Now to make the sandwich. I usually use poly batting because I like the poof. In her collection of possibilities is a cotton (not 80/20) batting. I have never used cotton but realize it would fit the era of the blocks. I'll be hand quilting this. Opinion--cotton or poly batting?

I only ever use cotton batting. It hand quilts beautifully.

If you like poof and have been happy with poly batting, you might not be as pleased with the flatness of cotton. I guess it depends which is more important to you -- poof or being consistent with the era of the top. Wool also has nice poof to it, if that would be more era-appropriate.

If you are new to hand quilting, make sure whatever cotton batting you choose doesn't have scrim in it. Just makes hand quilting harder for me.

I would probably go with a cotton, but make sure it is not one of those that requires quilting closer than you would be happy doing.

I really like wool batting..it has nice loft ,is soft, and easy to hand quilt.

As a hand quilter, I have quilted most of the available battings. My first preference is wool. I like natural fibers, so don't often quilt poly. Wool gives the loft of poly, is easy to needle and breathes, making it more comfortable to sleep under, unlike poly which doesn't breathe. The most difficult batting for me to hand quilt is 100% cotton. If I want to use cotton, I use the 80/20 cotton poly which needles quite nicely. To me the two most important things to consider are ease of needling and the look you want.

Agree with Glendan. Wool or Hobbs 80/20 cotton.

I do like Dream Cotton. I am completing my first in the Select weight(usually have used Request, their lightest weight batting). Dream Cotton has minimal shrinking. Surprisingly, I also like the 80/20 Hobbs. I've always preferred cotton and can't stand 100% poly batting. After I finish, I always wash my quilts and that gives them the crinkly soft look. I used to use Warm and Natural, but those quilts tend to get heavy. They are warm.

Poly will flatten to nothing, over a few years. The Cotton, when it does it's little bit of shrinking in the wash, will give lasting definition to the quilt top.