Batting for hand quilting
 

I am venturing into my first large hand-quilted piece. The quilt will finish at about 80x90. In your experience hand quilters, what is the best batting to use for a hand-quilted piece? I have been a W&N gal for a long time but I hear mixed messages about W&N and hand quilting. Some yes, some no! This quilt will not be used for warmth and will likely be a cover for spare bedroom bed.

Your recommendations are valuable to me. Thank you.

I have used both W&N and a medium poly bat when hand quilting. The W&N works much better. You have more control if using a hoop. I use a variety of sized hoops when hand quilting. The thinner batting makes it easier to control. I can't answer to other bats. I have done a good number of quilts with hand quilting (including the one as my avatar). The larger the quilt the stronger your arms have to be. That however comes as you quilt. Take your time and enjoy the experience.

My learning quilt for hand quilting was made with W&N, but that was some time ago. I think what I remember is that when I started the next quilt with wool batting, it was so much easier to quilt. My recommendation is to try Quilter's Dream Cotton Request (I think that is the one made especially for hand quilting). This is the batting I have heard the most raves about for hand quilting.

Wool batting needles like a hot knife in butter.

the hand quilter giving our last demo at guild prefers wool

for ease of needling with no drag use wool but there is no resistance with wool so if you find you like to have a little drag and resistance while hand quilting switch to cotton that does not have a scrim (W&N has a scrim). I have also hand quilted with 100% poly (low loft not high). Quilters dream poly is unlike any other poly out there and actually feels, handles and looks more like an 80/20 blend. It also seems to needle like an 80/20 blend. Other poly's on the market (like Hobbs Poly down) are very easy to hand quilt with too. Very similar to wool in terms of needle resistence. Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 is nice too. I used to hand quilt a lot so have experimented with a lot of battings. W&N would be the absolute last choice for hand quilting. People who hand quilt with it and say they have no problems have most likely never hand quilted with wool or other battings. W&N is great for machine quilting but for hand quilting it is not the ideal unless you are doing something like big stitch quilting.

I've used W&N for hand quilting for years with no issues. I guess since it's what I started with I've just never known anything better/different. That said, I did finish up some hand quilting on a baby quilt for a friend. She exclusively used Quilter's Dream 100% but I don't know 'request' or other descriptor. I was very nice to hand quilt through and if doing an 'heirloom' quilt I would probably go with that or try wool or silk. For a utility quilt - as mine typically are - I'll stick with the W&N particularly considering costs.

Mountain Mist is a popular batting for hand quilting. Some people find W&N difficult due to the scrim. Cotton batting without scrim is your best choice- Hobbs or Dream wool are also wonderful for hand quilting

I would either use wool or Hobbs Tuscany Supreme Cotton--both super soft and drape nicely and easy to quilt.

I just bought Hobbs Tuscany Wool on the recommendation of the others here. Haven't started yet but looking forward to hand quilting with it.