Welcome from WV! I bought batting by the bag until I discovered that it comes on bolts just like fabric. If you have a store that sells several types, then you can touch them and see what you like best. I, too, also used to do hand quilting, but machine quilting is much faster. Try the stitch in the ditch method (means sewing in the seam or as close as you can get). This is a nice way to make it all stay in place, too.