amelia0607

I met a few of you yesterday with a question about a frame. Thanks so much for your help with that.

Now I'm on to my next question. Sorry if I bug you guys too much but I have no one to ask. I am going to make a quilt/blanket for my first grandchild. The top will be a cheaters quilt as my sewing machine bit the dust (literally, in a tornado). I will hand tie this and am looking forward to that.

My original plan was to use prequilted fabric as batting so I wouldn't have to worry about the batting shifting if the ties are far apart. One of the patterns I'm looking at does call for ties to be a little far apart. But then I got to think this might make the finished quilt stiff and heavier than I'd like. I want this to be lightweight as my grandbaby is due in July and we live in TN so it doesn't get real cold here anyway. I saw on another thread that someone was using flannel as batting. I saw somewhere else where they didn't use any batting at all, just used minky for backing. But then I read that minky can be difficult as it stretches.

Help! I'm in need of some advise from those of that are more experienced. I rarely used my sewing machine so I have very little sewing experience but I have quite a bit of embroidery and needlepoint. Think this is another reason I'm drawn to hand tieing.

Thank you for your patience with me while I figure this out!!

DJ

You might consider flannel as a batting if you want it very light weight and to tie further apart.

janedee

I know you have to be careful about which batting to use in babys quilts but as you don't particularly need it for warmth I think I would use a pretty flannel backing and not bother about batting, you can still tie this just to hold the two layers together and wouldn't need to do alot so it would remain nice and soft and cuddly - I can't imagine what it must be like not having to worry about batting - minus 4 outside my door today!!!!
Other might have different suggestions.

mike'sgirl

I would just make it as simple as possible and use a nice 80/20 batting (it will drape very nicely) and if you want, flannel for the back, but I would just use a nice cotton. Tie it with 2 strands of floss about 3 inches apart. That's what I did for a friends grand baby and it turned out very nice. I used a cheater panel like you.
I hope you can find another machine. I see them all the time at thrift stores and garage sales. Good luck with you quilt and please keep posting. Nobody minds answering questions. Gina

Holice

thin poly batting and tie about every 4" all over.

AZ Jane

Well my first thought is, it won't be July forever. Even a very warm quilt can be used to lay one now and cuddle up with later??? Just a thought. I do like the idea of flannel. If your "cheater" fabric is fairly decorative, consider tying along the pattern, just very small and tight to get a different look.

No question is too much, besides, we like telling people what to do!! LOL!! It's also a good way to get different opinions.

NJ Quilter

Depending on the size of your panel, what about a nice purchased flannel receiving blanket either as the backing or the batting. Yes, Minkee can be extremely difficult to work with so I would not recommend it for your first quilt. If you decide that the panel and the flannel is just not quite as thick as you'd like, I would suggest either 100% cotton or 100% wool for batting. Wool can be pricey but for the size you are looking, it shouldn't be too horrible. Even silk but that's pricier still and harder to find. Not trying to make anyone paranoid or scare the bejezus out of anyone, but 100% natural fibers are far safer for any kind of bedding in case of fire. They burn. Synthetic fibers melt and can melt into one's skin. Just my 2 cents.

irishrose

I think I'd want a little loft on a tied quilt. I just used Hobbs Polydown on a quilt and it was a little puffy without being heavy. WalMart has some Fairfield batting that is similar.

Prism99

I would use flannel as batting. You can even use two layers if you like (or use a layer for the batting and another for backing). Just be sure to prewash the flannel and dry in dryer *twice* before using it this way, because flannel can shrink a lot. This is not a problem with close quilting, but it becomes a big problem if you tie; you really want the flannel preshrunk well. Be sure to buy extra flannel to allow for the shrinkage, which can be 10%. Flannel will be much softer and more flexible than the pre-quilted fabric.

I prefer using flannel as a batting to using no batting at all. It adds just the right amount of weight.