GingerK

I have always used a heavier and slightly stiffer poly batting for placemats. Lately, it has been very hard to find, as more and more LQS's close. Needless to say, I never took note of the manufacturer's name or type (number) on the bolt.

What brand do you use?

QuiltE

Having just made placemats for our church bazaar, you grabbed my attention. Note: in all the years I've quilted and sewn, I have never made placemats!! Simply put, I don't use them myself, so hadn't made them for anyone else. Well, that is, until the church ladies requested them!

I really did not know what to use for batting and just went with a poly/cotton that I had here already. Not too thick, but seems to show enough definition to the quilting. And with enough weight, that I felt there was some protection and that it had a nice texture/feel, without being too overly bulky.

Though I did wonder (and still do) ... what about a layer or two of flannelette?
I have LOTS of it in stock, and would really like to downsize that part of the stash!!!
(now that I am into making placemats! )

So, am throwing flannelette as a batting into the discussion as to its appropriateness for placemats, along with yours, @GingerK !!

bearisgray

I think any of the above would work well - provided that all the shrinkage had been removed from the components before assembly

I think placemats would work out better being flat, rather than "crinkly".

Opinions?

Stitchnripper

I made placemats with regular batting. Over the years they are fine

GingerK

Yes, I have used 80/20 and normal poly batting scraps for donation placemats. One guild I belonged to, made placemats for meal on wheels--one side Christmas and the other a non Christmas print. They would donate over 100 per year. I don't know about flannelette--even two layers. However, I prefer something heavier--more like you would use in a wall hanging, say.

In my search, I came across a reference to 'Pellon 75' but, unless I order it online, I can't actually 'feel' its weight.

thimblebug6000

Years ago I always used what was called needlepunch, but I haven’t bought it for years. I do use the 80/20 now but find the placemats look better if taken out of the dryer damp and smoothed by hand, flat to finish drying.

petthefabric

I use adhesive/fussed woven interfacing on both top and bottom.

geevee

I used Pellon Thermolam when I made a set, has a nice weight and stiffness to it but easy enough to sew/quilt on, and ironing it won't flatten it like some other polys.

Snooze2978

I was able to find special batting, if that's what it's called from my local fabric store. It comes in a couple different shapes to go with whatever mat you're making. You can also buy it in a long form so you can cut to fit whatever you're making. It's perfect if you want to quilt on it but all I did was use some of my decorative stitches on my machine as I was using 4 different fabrics (scraps) to make the placemat.

Gemm

I make Frankenbatting from my offcuts for placemats (I do not mix and match different kinds of batting) and most of what I use is a basic 80/20. I'm getting pretty good at getting the edges to match up nicely and even when I know where the joins are I've been unable to feel them in the placemats and the placemats feel structured without being stiff.