I’m so happy for you doing this show I am self taught in quilting and I am very excited to learn more about it. I love your videos and I Thank you Karen for sharing your knowledge ❤
Intriguing quilt on the wall behind you. Over the years I’ve finally settled on buying rolls of 80/20 cotton polyester batting. Partly because it simplifies my quilting and partly because I noticed older quilts I made of 100% cotton are really flat. Thanks for the video.
My grandchildren received a hand quilted ,baby quilt and I used a polyester batting. I found this was their favourite because of the softness of the quilts. Other quilts using 80/20 was not as popular as they found them flatter and stiffer.
I love using bamboo, much easier to quilt on my domestic machine. And perfect to stay warm but not too much like my family loves 😂 So grateful for your videos Karen, how to sew bating scraps has been a life changer for me! Thanks and see you next time!
3am thoughts after watching this video. Last week I spent 2 days pin basting my current WIP. As I was doing it, I noted how wonderful it felt as I smoothed out each section. The combination of fabric of the top, which is by Northcott, and the loft of the wool batting I recently found, created such a wonderful feel. I truly enjoyed the process of smoothing and pinning and smoothing and pinning. The batting makes such a big difference in the feel. I am so looking forward to the finished quilt, but I am taking my time and enjoying the process. 448 HST, fabulous fabric, fluffy wool batting, quilting in the hoop (the current stage), and a double flange binding. This is a wonderful pastime. I am grateful I found it and grateful you share your wealth of knowledge with the world.
Thank you for sharing this information. I have been buying my batting in king size (due to lack of storage space) when on sale. This allows me to cut any size quilt with leftover for frankenbatting. It works well for my space.
Thanks for this video! I learn something new every time! One experience I’ve noticed with batting is that polyester and poly cotton blends even though they are cheaper, have a tendency to work their way through the cotton top and back, forming little “ pills” over time. Wish I’d know as a beginner, some of my early quilts were regrettably filled with polyester batting and ruined. Only use good quality cotton now or natural ( silk, wool) for special projects. In a future video, ( or maybe you already did one?)could you talk a little more about thread weight? Where is it labeled?Brands you prefer and why? Thanks again! Keep up the great work!
I'm glad I watched this! I'm determined now only to use cotton/poly blend. But the biggest thing is, I'm making a quilt for my grandson & decided to back it with flannel. His mom doesn't care for top sheets. So, now I know to wash the quilt top AND backing beforehand, so there won't be noticeable shrinkage. ❤ Cool. 😊
Just finishing a quick tree skirt for a friend. It needs to be quick, because I need it done this week! I have been happy to see that my skills are improving, even though there are parts of this project I wish had turned out better 😅 I will be sure not to point any of that out to the recipients!
Years ago I made a quilt after reading a magazine. I put polyester high loft batting in it - I didn't know anything else was available. It was sooooo puffy! And I found it a bit weird-sort of stiff. Now I use cotton exclusively and am very happy for crinklification to occur.
I have tried nearly every type and brand of batting, and Dream is my favorite, and bamboo silk blend is my most favorite of Dream brand. It was easiest to sandwich because it “grabs” the fabric. I did not need to use many pins.
Very informative - thank you! As a quilting newbie, I have found Warm & Natural's 80/20 works best for me. I had a messy and altogether unpleasant time using 100% polyester and will never touch the stuff again!🤢
I have stored it on a chair that rolls. Pull the chair off and put a rod in the chair tube. Put the roll on the rod. You can roll it and it's easy to unroll. Google it.
I had tried many different kinds. In the end I prefer Warm and Natural cotton. So much so that I buy it by the roll. I’ve gone through two rolls. That’s a lot of batting. I like to quilt pretty densely and it responds well.
I've used old blankets with holes. If they can't be stitched closed I padded some wadding in the hole. You can't see where it is. It feels a little different but it's so small it doesn't matter. Batting i get is whatever is on sale. I've also bought remnant batting and made the quilt to fit what size batting I had. I've also got a bunch of old ripped sheets that I could use to make a light summer quilt or add an extra layer on top of batting if the batting shows through.
Great tips! I love how you provided a ton of information but broke it down into bite sized chunks. You don't overwhelm the viewer that way! Personally, I love Quilters Dream batting or Tuscany for most quilt projects. Thanks again for a great video!
This is a nice detailed comparison. I find that I prefer wool from the roll. Fortunately, I found a source only half an hour away where they sell it by the ¼ yard. It is 120 inches long so I have used the method of getting several quilts from buying the width according to the longer quilt and using the length of the batting for one or two smaller quilts.
Thank you, Karen , for this timely tutorial on quilt batting. I’m about to sort through my quilting supplies, batting included. At least now I’ll be more informed. Thank you again.
You always provide a wealth of very helpful information! Thank you for doing the research for us. My question is: Does it matter which side of the batting goes up (touching the top of the quilt) and which side goes down? I have heard conflicting opinions for this.
That’s an urban myth. It might make a difference for a hand quilter but after a lot of testing and experimenting, no one can tell the difference after it’s quilted
Thanks Karen. So much information and I love the graphs. I’ve taken to using bamboo wadding: I live in the Uk and it’s readily available. Bamboo has a lovely drape I do a mix of machine and hand quilting and bamboo works well for both. There’s an overwhelming choice of wadding and your video certainly helps with the options.
Very interesting and informative. Thank you! By the way, I piece my batting scraps together and make pot holders. I also cut the smaller scraps into small pieces and stuff pillows with them.
My sister gave me leftover 108" flannel that I used instead of batting for a wall hanging. I **loved** the drape and how easy it was to hand quilt. I haven't priced it yet, but yardage or sheets are definitely something I plan to consider for future projects.
Thanks for the info Karen. I always have a problem knowing which is the right and wrong side of batting and if the right side goes towards the quilt top or bottom.
So far my favorites in order Winline bamboo (this is the only brand of bamboo I've tried) I like the drape and the weight. Quilters Dream Dream Puff has a higher loft than the bag of Quilters Dream Wool I tried. I like how light the quilt is, even with a flannel back and it's warmer than the one with wool. Warm and Natural 100% with 100% cotton scrim Quilters Dream Wool (only wool I've tried) not impressed with the loft, and it smelled horrible after the first wash so I immediately washed it again. It's nice to cuddle with and is warmer than the cotton and it's the second lightest quilt I have.
Due to allergy issues for myself, I only use Warm & Natural's 100% cotton needle punched batting. I don't use Poly or Poly-cottons because of the issue you have, I discovered the hard way that very fine fibers come off and both my eyes and hands/arms itch. I also only get King size because I can cut it down for things. Timely video and great advice here though.
Through recent investigations within the past two weeks I have found that the W&N brands have the poly scrim on their otherwise cotton battings.. with exception of the wrap n zap line. Hope this helps.
Please tell what’s your current favourite batting and why? If you don’t want to tell brand’s name for reason just tell us the type. It’s hard experiment with batting after spending so much time, effort, love and money on the quilt. Need someone trustworthy to give recommendations. Thank you so much. Love your videos. Miss Toronto and it’s quilting material availability.
Great information. I just bought a lage roll of 100% cotton battin (I believe it was 25 meters) and am set for a while now. I was able to get some samples from the manufacturer, so that I was able to test-run the batting. And yes, my first quilts had poly batting since it was the cheapest and they are holding up quite well.
Thank you for so much information on batting! I remember you mentioned in a past video that you had downsized the number of different batts you use to simplify the scrap aspect afterwards. I've headed in that direction as well. I'm hoping 2025 will be the year I have everything in it's place!
Thank you so much for your great practical types. I think I missed it, but what is the batting you use all the time? I live in Canada too. Can you talk about doublebatting and when to do it?
I started quilting with ordinary 100% cotton and failed miserably. Pushing the needle through was painful. I tried bamboo next and have used it ever since, but because of the expense I don't quilt much. Thanks for the tip on a different type of cotton bat!
I use Hobbs wool batting. It's a dream to hand or machine quilt. It's breathable, warm, but not too warm. I find I can use these quilts year round. I've used 100% cotton. The finished product is nice, but cool or damp weather makes this quilt not very cozy. Warm and natural has similar.problem, and the larger size quilts become too heavy. I like the 80/20 cotton w poly scrim it shows off the stitches, but in winter, the quilt just isn't warm enough. Now I'm just looking for natural black wool batting for my darker projects.
I’m a longarm quilter. I have quilted hundreds of quilts. I get hoarse or lose my voice every time. I’m probably allergic to the batting, but it hasn’t stopped me from doing my therapy! 😂
I'm wondering about the process of turning bamboo into batting. I read somewhere that it takes lots and lots of water. Not very eco-friendly if this is the case. 😢
My go-to batting is 100% cotton. I use the quilt-as-you-go method and find that polyester sticks to the fabric when I iron my blocks. And sometimes it just melts.
Thank you again Karen for a very informative video. I also used to use warm and natural 100% cotton but found the thickness and weight inconsistent. lol, I also tried Quilters Dream and Hobbs. I liked the Hobbs but I am not a big fan of dense quilting so I mostly use the Quilters Dream. Maybe that means I’ve retained what I’ve learned from you?
I have made and use two different extra large queen sized quilts for our bed. One I used Dream Orient (silk blend) and the other Dream Wool. The one with silk blend is warmer than the wool, so we use the silk blend in the cooler part of the year, and the wool in the summer. I wonder whether the type of fabric used contributes to this. The warmer silk blend quilt is made of all Kona cotton, and the wool is made with Tula Pink fabric. Kona cotton seems heavier.
Great and informative video as always. Question for oven mitts, hot pads and bowl cozies - some sources say to use 100% cotton and others say to buy a specialty batting for use in microwaves. I think it’s called “wrap and zap” and seems to be 100% cotton but much more expensive. Any comments or tips? I was hoping to make some items for Christmas presents and info would be appreciated. Thanks again for a super video. From Dundas, Ontario!
Good info. Thanks Karen. Right now I have a collection of different kinds of batting, one of which is now my favourite and I will buy it exclusively in the future. How to use up all the rest? - that's my question.
Great discussion. Does it matter what fabric you use for your quilt top, compared to your batting? Does it take longer for one type of batting to dry then the other?
THANKS for the new video ... looking forward for more as I have seen them all... Hoping you are finding some great new DONATION QUILT PATTERNS as I have done all of your multiple times and would like some new block patterns as I am getting a little tired / bored with them... My brain needs a jump ...
Thankfully cotton doesn't bother me. Nor does wool (but several of my siblings cannot do wool) and I have an issue with Kapok fiber if it is loose...makes my eyes and skin itch so badly! But if it is contained in cotton, it doesn't bother me. I used Bamboo batting for one of the quilts I made my brother and it only bothered me a little bit. He loves it.
Hello there from Florida. Thank you for your great videos. I have a question regarding your amazing batting storage under your quilt frame. Where did you find those “brackets” that are mounted to keep your batting rod secure? I’m limited on space in my sewing room. Your solution seems perfect. Cheers!
For anything I take to my long-armer, I buy batting from her. It saves me a bit of money and a bit of headache as well. She keeps a few types on hand and I go with her recommendation. I take home the scraps and make Franken-batting for some small projects. Question: For making small bags, I use fusible fleece (Pellon 987f). Can those scraps be made into Franken-fleece, or would it create too much of an obvious seam given the stiffness and the fusible?
I prefer 100% cotton as I find poly blends tend to beard more fiber bits out than cotton. Plus I get much less bits of fluff that is hard to clean up. Cotton tends to tumbleweed and be easy to clean up. Poly blends weave into cracks and crevices needing more work to clean up after using.
I'd be curious to know exactly how you're meant to pre-wash batting? In the bathtub, with hot or cold water? with detergents or other additives? are you meant to tumble dry it, hang it to dry or lay it flat? (expecially with wool or cotton, if it doesn't dry fast enough will it mildew or mold?) I've tried looking up blog posts or video tutorials and reading the labels of multiple brands of battings and have given up on pre-shriking it because I've never been able to find a straight answer
I actually was doing some research this week on exactly this topic and then I picked up my phone and thought to look on the packaging to see what the manufacturer suggests for this very topic. This was a W&N brand it says shrinkage 3-5% and to preshrink it lay it in a bathtub of hot water for 15 mins. Do not agitate and lay flat to dry… my take of that is DONT PRESHRINK! For exactly the reasons you laid out and embrace the lovely (Karen coined) crinklfication!
I wouldn’t try to pre-shrink batting because it most likely will ruin it. However, I have put batting into the dryer on low heat with a damp wash rag, which relaxes the wrinkles and tightens the fibers.
Before I make my quilt sandwich, I put my batting into the dryer on very low heat, with a damp wash rag. This gets any wrinkles out, and it seems to tighten the fibers, shrinking it a bit. Then I don’t get as much batting shrinkage. If you do this, don’t cut your batting to size before this step.
If you care about the finished size of your quilt, you may want to pre wash your batting. Doing so removes some finishes that you can’t see and the batting gets softer. I may do this when I don’t want the quilt to shrink the 3-5% that cotton shrinks. Karen has a good video where she tests prewashing vs not prewashing.
So helpful. I just had someone tell me that the quilt I made for them partly shrunk. Some of the fabrics shrunk and others didn't. I used charm packs in the quilt. I heard you say prewash. Would you wash a charm pack? Jelly Roll. Help. I feel so bad that their quilt turned out like this. Thanks so much. I appreciate your content greatly.
I always prewash my pieces of yardage. I use Synthrapol to remove excess dye from medium and dark colors. I use a little regular detergent for light colors. I also throw in a couple of Carbona Color Grabbers so that I can see how much color came out of the fabrics. It is possible to prewash precuts, but their dimensions will change due to shrinkage across the width of the fabric, so if your pattern requires a 5-inch or 10-inch square, you cannot prewash a charm pack or layer cake. I plan to prewash some layer cake cuts by placing them in lingerie bags. Applying spray starch or Best Press to unwashed fabric will cause shrinkage because they wet the fabric. Even if you preshrink your fabric, the batting will shrink when the quilt is washed, and it may not shrink the same amount in each direction. For example, a square quilt probably won’t be square after it’s washed. It’s possible to preshrink Warm & Natural batting by wetting it in hot water, but its surface will be pilly after a trip through the dryer. To get perfectly square quilted pillow tops, I make my tops oversized, wet and dry them to get the batting to shrink, and then trim them to the square size I need before I add the back on the pillow. I guess the main point of my lengthy answer is that if you need your washed quilt to end up an exact size, you need to test your fabrics and batting before you make your project.
When using a charm pack I always press my squares using starch and typically they shrink in one direction so they end up not being square anymore, so I will cut them down to 4.5” and then begin with the sewing. Press, then cut then Sew. ❤️
@@Carol_Sews Wow. I absolutely appreciate your comment. many things to know. I think what happened is the batting and the fabric didn't shrink up the same. I will be more aware the next quilt I make. Thanks so very much.
When I started quilting many years ago I could only get poly and it migrated out of the quilt . Bearding. I have one quilt that doesn’t have much batting left . Then I was able to buy cotton and have very good luck. I see lots of people using 80/20 and have been wondering about that. It seems to be less expensive. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks
I wish there was a place to compare brands. Are you familiar with Hobbs? I’m Leary of trying a batting that I’m not familiar with. I did that once and it was terrible.
Never know how to tell right side from wrong side, does it matter when putting it in quilt sandwich. I use a longarm machine, so what is correct way to place batting, wrong or right side up on backing before top.
I love 100% cotton batting, but I wish it was puffier.. I’ve often wondered if sandwiching 2 layers of thin cotton batting would help make it puffier or would it be too difficult to free motion quilt?
That’s called double batting. I like it because I like heavy quilts. Not terribly difficult on a longarm. But on a domestic sewing machine would be a challenge
I usually use Warm & Natural but recently used extra-wide flannel for the batting on a CA King quilt made with 2.5" strips. The final quilt weighs a TON. Was the heavy weight from the batting? I've never had that issue and I've made 4 quilts that size. I'd be grateful for any advice you have. Thank You
Because you used 2.5” strips, you had many seam allowances. All those double layers of fabric would add weight. I don’t know how the weight of flannel compares to the weight of the batting. I use Warm & White for most of my projects. For rag quilts, I use a thinner Quilter’s Dream cotton to reduce weight.
Double batting is done for weight (if you want it) , to make the quilting puffier. And in show quilts where it’s often mixed, so they can stand up to travelling
Thanks for all that information but I think you missed an important consideration. Polyester is plastic and contributes to the already large load of micro plastics in our water ways. I think quilters should consider the sustainability of their art.
I am super allergic to polyester...I cannot use it or work with it. It makes my eyes itchy and my asthma kick in hard...and every place my skin touches it gets an angry red rash
Great information! You do so much research just to produce a 15 minute video!! Thank you for all your hard work! It is much appreciated.
This did take time. Thank you for noticing
As usual, Karen, you are a font of valuable information. Thank you, take care. Until next time.
Glad to help!
When I first started quilting, I used flat pre-washed cotton or flannel bedsheets. While in Germany, I used lightweight blankets.
I’ve done that too! Sometimes we have to get creative with what we have on hand.
Karen, your videos never disappoint. Thank you.
Thank you 😊
I’m so happy for you doing this show I am self taught in quilting and I am very excited to learn more about it. I love your videos and I Thank you Karen for sharing your knowledge ❤
You're welcome! It's so much fun to share what I know about quilting.
Love crinklefication
Me too. It has a special feel to it that no other bed cover has.
😎
Intriguing quilt on the wall behind you. Over the years I’ve finally settled on buying rolls of 80/20 cotton polyester batting. Partly because it simplifies my quilting and partly because I noticed older quilts I made of 100% cotton are really flat. Thanks for the video.
I'm glad you've found what works for you!
Karen, I appreciate your dedication to inform me about all aspects of quilting. I love learning about the 'technology involved.
If helps with the why and where
My grandchildren received a hand quilted ,baby quilt and I used a polyester batting. I found this was their favourite because of the softness of the quilts. Other quilts using 80/20 was not as popular as they found them flatter and stiffer.
I love your videos. Your style is easy going and you are very easy to follow, for us beginners. Thanks.
Glad you are finding the videos helpful!
I love long videos. I probably listen to you all day. You are so informative. I always learn something new. thanks
Glad you enjoy them!
Another very timely video. Thank you🎉🎉🎉 Lately I have been ordering batting rolls. I am finding I have a lot less waste.
Next you need to try quilting two quilts side by side
I love using bamboo, much easier to quilt on my domestic machine. And perfect to stay warm but not too much like my family loves 😂
So grateful for your videos Karen, how to sew bating scraps has been a life changer for me!
Thanks and see you next time!
Wonderful!
Hi Karen, what I’d like to know is if batting has a right side?
I remember her going over this in another video. You may be able to find it if you search her previous videos.
Nope…urban myth. With needle punched batting you can tell the ‘good’ side by the needle holes
Thank you Karen. You've given some great tips there. Batting is very expensive in Australia so I'm always looking out for the least expensive. 🇦🇺💵💵
Keep an eye out for those sales
3am thoughts after watching this video.
Last week I spent 2 days pin basting my current WIP. As I was doing it, I noted how wonderful it felt as I smoothed out each section. The combination of fabric of the top, which is by Northcott, and the loft of the wool batting I recently found, created such a wonderful feel. I truly enjoyed the process of smoothing and pinning and smoothing and pinning. The batting makes such a big difference in the feel. I am so looking forward to the finished quilt, but I am taking my time and enjoying the process. 448 HST, fabulous fabric, fluffy wool batting, quilting in the hoop (the current stage), and a double flange binding. This is a wonderful pastime. I am grateful I found it and grateful you share your wealth of knowledge with the world.
Sounds lovely. Do share the final finish
Thank you for sharing this information. I have been buying my batting in king size (due to lack of storage space) when on sale. This allows me to cut any size quilt with leftover for frankenbatting. It works well for my space.
Smart. I am amazed how good frankenbatting is for quilts. You can’t tell unless you look really closely
Thank you for this valuable research. Much appreciated.
Nice video. You put a lot of work into it. ❤
I think I am going to go for 100% cotton from now on. Prefer to not have petroleum in my bed covers.
Just read the label to be sure. It’s amazing how it sneaks in
@@JustGetitDoneQuiltsI have had a time trying to get to the bottom of this myself and they ARE sneaky about it. Wonder why?
Thanks for this video! I learn something new every time!
One experience I’ve noticed with batting is that polyester and poly cotton blends even though they are cheaper, have a tendency to work their way through the cotton top and back, forming little “ pills” over time. Wish I’d know as a beginner, some of my early quilts were regrettably filled with polyester batting and ruined. Only use good quality cotton now or natural ( silk, wool) for special projects.
In a future video, ( or maybe you already did one?)could you talk a little more about thread weight? Where is it labeled?Brands you prefer and why? Thanks again! Keep up the great work!
I'm glad I watched this! I'm determined now only to use cotton/poly blend. But the biggest thing is, I'm making a quilt for my grandson & decided to back it with flannel. His mom doesn't care for top sheets. So, now I know to wash the quilt top AND backing beforehand, so there won't be noticeable shrinkage. ❤ Cool. 😊
👍👍👍
Just finishing a quick tree skirt for a friend. It needs to be quick, because I need it done this week!
I have been happy to see that my skills are improving, even though there are parts of this project I wish had turned out better 😅
I will be sure not to point any of that out to the recipients!
You go girl
Years ago I made a quilt after reading a magazine. I put polyester high loft batting in it - I didn't know anything else was available. It was sooooo puffy! And I found it a bit weird-sort of stiff. Now I use cotton exclusively and am very happy for crinklification to occur.
I’m glad you found what works for you.
I have tried nearly every type and brand of batting, and Dream is my favorite, and bamboo silk blend is my most favorite of Dream brand. It was easiest to sandwich because it “grabs” the fabric. I did not need to use many pins.
My quilting Granny used carded wool - Nothing nothing warmer
Agreed 👍
Very informative - thank you!
As a quilting newbie, I have found Warm & Natural's 80/20 works best for me. I had a messy and altogether unpleasant time using 100% polyester and will never touch the stuff again!🤢
It is interesting to see how different batts work for different people.
I have started using flannel for my middle layer. I prewash and dry on very low heat. This works well for me.
Flannel can be a lovely middle layer! I prewash mine before I use it.
Ordered a roll of batting today now I have to figure out where to store it. I don’t have a long arm machine to hide it under😅
I have stored it on a chair that rolls. Pull the chair off and put a rod in the chair tube. Put the roll on the rod. You can roll it and it's easy to unroll. Google it.
I use to store it in the back of my closet
I had tried many different kinds.
In the end I prefer Warm and Natural cotton. So much so that I buy it by the roll. I’ve gone through two rolls. That’s a lot of batting. I like to quilt pretty densely and it responds well.
👍👍👍
I've used old blankets with holes. If they can't be stitched closed I padded some wadding in the hole. You can't see where it is. It feels a little different but it's so small it doesn't matter. Batting i get is whatever is on sale. I've also bought remnant batting and made the quilt to fit what size batting I had. I've also got a bunch of old ripped sheets that I could use to make a light summer quilt or add an extra layer on top of batting if the batting shows through.
Very resourceful 👏👏👏
Great tips! I love how you provided a ton of information but broke it down into bite sized chunks. You don't overwhelm the viewer that way! Personally, I love Quilters Dream batting or Tuscany for most quilt projects. Thanks again for a great video!
It is a good batting. You have great taste!
This is a nice detailed comparison. I find that I prefer wool from the roll. Fortunately, I found a source only half an hour away where they sell it by the ¼ yard. It is 120 inches long so I have used the method of getting several quilts from buying the width according to the longer quilt and using the length of the batting for one or two smaller quilts.
I love that you found a local source!
Thank you, Karen , for this timely tutorial on quilt batting. I’m about to sort through my quilting supplies, batting included. At least now I’ll be more informed. Thank you again.
I'm glad it helped!
You always provide a wealth of very helpful information! Thank you for doing the research for us. My question is: Does it matter which side of the batting goes up (touching the top of the quilt) and which side goes down? I have heard conflicting opinions for this.
I think she covered this in another of her videos.
That’s an urban myth. It might make a difference for a hand quilter but after a lot of testing and experimenting, no one can tell the difference after it’s quilted
I wish you would showcase( again) the quikt businesses you like
Im local and always looking for brick and morter options ty❤
There are the videos to refer to
Thanks Karen. So much information and I love the graphs. I’ve taken to using bamboo wadding: I live in the Uk and it’s readily available. Bamboo has a lovely drape I do a mix of machine and hand quilting and bamboo works well for both. There’s an overwhelming choice of wadding and your video certainly helps with the options.
So overwhelming. It’s such a relief to find something that works that is readily available
Very interesting and informative. Thank you! By the way, I piece my batting scraps together and make pot holders. I also cut the smaller scraps into small pieces and stuff pillows with them.
I'm glad you are reusing the batting scraps
Batting scraps are great for quilt as you go projects! Especially the kind with small pieces like the Daisy and Grace ones
My sister gave me leftover 108" flannel that I used instead of batting for a wall hanging. I **loved** the drape and how easy it was to hand quilt. I haven't priced it yet, but yardage or sheets are definitely something I plan to consider for future projects.
Thanks for the info Karen. I always have a problem knowing which is the right and wrong side of batting and if the right side goes towards the quilt top or bottom.
Here in South Australia we have a “budget” shop and I have purchased cotton batting/wadding when on “special “ and it’s extremely thin
👍
oh you have excellent timing.
😎
So far my favorites in order
Winline bamboo (this is the only brand of bamboo I've tried) I like the drape and the weight.
Quilters Dream Dream Puff has a higher loft than the bag of Quilters Dream Wool I tried. I like how light the quilt is, even with a flannel back and it's warmer than the one with wool.
Warm and Natural 100% with 100% cotton scrim
Quilters Dream Wool (only wool I've tried) not impressed with the loft, and it smelled horrible after the first wash so I immediately washed it again. It's nice to cuddle with and is warmer than the cotton and it's the second lightest quilt I have.
Thanks for sharing your experience with different batting! First hand experience is so valuable
Due to allergy issues for myself, I only use Warm & Natural's 100% cotton needle punched batting. I don't use Poly or Poly-cottons because of the issue you have, I discovered the hard way that very fine fibers come off and both my eyes and hands/arms itch. I also only get King size because I can cut it down for things. Timely video and great advice here though.
Glad that I am not the only person with the problem. We could form a club 😎
Through recent investigations within the past two weeks I have found that the W&N brands have the poly scrim on their otherwise cotton battings.. with exception of the wrap n zap line. Hope this helps.
So glad to see another one of your straightforward and informational videos! Thanks for all the useful tips!
You’re welcome! I hope it helps you.
This was extremely helpful and informative! So much to learn and retain, I will have to refer back to it alot! Thank you for your tutorials!!
You're welcome! There's a lot to quilting!
Perfect timing. I just finished my first quilt top.
Thank you for this much needed video! I learned a lot. You are the best!
🤗🤗🤗
Please tell what’s your current favourite batting and why? If you don’t want to tell brand’s name for reason just tell us the type. It’s hard experiment with batting after spending so much time, effort, love and money on the quilt. Need someone trustworthy to give recommendations. Thank you so much. Love your videos. Miss Toronto and it’s quilting material availability.
I like the thickest 100% batting I can find. I have used ‘warm and natural’ , Quilter’s dream and now Hobbs.
@@JustGetitDoneQuiltsdo you mean 100% cotton?
Your videos are so informative, interesting, they do not seem long at all .❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏😉🐾🎄🎅🦃
I’m glad you find them helpful. 🤗🤗🤗
Great information. I just bought a lage roll of 100% cotton battin (I believe it was 25 meters) and am set for a while now. I was able to get some samples from the manufacturer, so that I was able to test-run the batting.
And yes, my first quilts had poly batting since it was the cheapest and they are holding up quite well.
Sounds great!
Thank you for so much information on batting! I remember you mentioned in a past video that you had downsized the number of different batts you use to simplify the scrap aspect afterwards. I've headed in that direction as well. I'm hoping 2025 will be the year I have everything in it's place!
Thank you so much for your great practical types.
I think I missed it, but what is the batting you use all the time?
I live in Canada too. Can you talk about doublebatting and when to do it?
I love a double batting
I have been buying my rolls from Kawartha sewing centre. You can ask your local quilt store to bring it in. Shipping costs on batting is nasty
I started quilting with ordinary 100% cotton and failed miserably. Pushing the needle through was painful. I tried bamboo next and have used it ever since, but because of the expense I don't quilt much. Thanks for the tip on a different type of cotton bat!
It is so hard to sew through some of the cotton batting! By hand and on the domestic sewing machine. Luckily there are lots of types to choose from
You have the best informative and to the point videos. Love watching them. Hope your holiday season will be great.
Thanks! I hope yours is too.
Thank you
This was a great video. Thank you so very much!!
I am so glad you found it helpful!
I use Hobbs wool batting. It's a dream to hand or machine quilt. It's breathable, warm, but not too warm. I find I can use these quilts year round. I've used 100% cotton. The finished product is nice, but cool or damp weather makes this quilt not very cozy. Warm and natural has similar.problem, and the larger size quilts become too heavy. I like the 80/20 cotton w poly scrim it shows off the stitches, but in winter, the quilt just isn't warm enough. Now I'm just looking for natural black wool batting for my darker projects.
There are some smaller manufacturers that specialize in niche batting. Let me know if you find anything
Wool batting is my fave.
Thanks for this! It IS very confusing!
It's one of those things that seems simple but there are so many options.
I’m a longarm quilter. I have quilted hundreds of quilts. I get hoarse or lose my voice every time. I’m probably allergic to the batting, but it hasn’t stopped me from doing my therapy! 😂
Have you tried a mask…though that isn’t comfortable either
Funny that you would say that, I thought I should wear one when I wrote out my comment!
Thank you once again for a wealth of information.
You are welcome. I’m glad it was helpful.
Ultimate sewing on oshawA has 20^ off batting if you biy the roll
Thank you so much. This answers many questions and provides a solid base for figuring out the rest.
Great information filled video. Loved the graphics! Thank you!
You are very welcome! Glad you liked the graphics.
I'm wondering about the process of turning bamboo into batting. I read somewhere that it takes lots and lots of water. Not very eco-friendly if this is the case. 😢
Yes. Bamboo is not the most eco-friendly batting. Look for the organic cotton or wool
My go-to batting is 100% cotton. I use the quilt-as-you-go method and find that polyester sticks to the fabric when I iron my blocks. And sometimes it just melts.
Thank you again, I love these videos - the nuts and bolts we need!
Thank you again Karen for a very informative video. I also used to use warm and natural 100% cotton but found the thickness and weight inconsistent. lol, I also tried Quilters Dream and Hobbs. I liked the Hobbs but I am not a big fan of dense quilting so I mostly use the Quilters Dream. Maybe that means I’ve retained what I’ve learned from you?
I have made and use two different extra large queen sized quilts for our bed. One I used Dream Orient (silk blend) and the other Dream Wool. The one with silk blend is warmer than the wool, so we use the silk blend in the cooler part of the year, and the wool in the summer.
I wonder whether the type of fabric used contributes to this. The warmer silk blend quilt is made of all Kona cotton, and the wool is made with Tula Pink fabric. Kona cotton seems heavier.
Thank you for all the great information. Your videos are exceptional!
Great and informative video as always. Question for oven mitts, hot pads and bowl cozies - some sources say to use 100% cotton and others say to buy a specialty batting for use in microwaves. I think it’s called “wrap and zap” and seems to be 100% cotton but much more expensive. Any comments or tips? I was hoping to make some items for Christmas presents and info would be appreciated. Thanks again for a super video. From Dundas, Ontario!
Cotton burns. So if it’s going into a microwave it needs the specialty batting
My quilt shop does not sell poly/ ploy blend for baby quilts. And they also tell you that wool is wonderful for handquilting.
Thank you for sharing this information
You are very welcome!
Good info. Thanks Karen. Right now I have a collection of different kinds of batting, one of which is now my favourite and I will buy it exclusively in the future. How to use up all the rest? - that's my question.
So you said you have changed to just one bulk batting… you didn’t specify and tell us how you came to the decision! I’m totally interested ❤
Great discussion. Does it matter what fabric you use for your quilt top, compared to your batting? Does it take longer for one type of batting to dry then the other?
Poly will dry the fastest
THANKS for the new video ... looking forward for more as I have seen them all... Hoping you are finding some great new DONATION QUILT PATTERNS as I have done all of your multiple times and would like some new block patterns as I am getting a little tired / bored with them... My brain needs a jump ...
Great information as usual Karen.
Of course I have only 1 question…what is your favorite batting that you buy by the roll?
That’s my question too!
Me too🙋♀️
I like the thickest 100% batting I can find. I have used ‘warm and natural’ , Quilter’s dream and now Hobbs.
Thankfully cotton doesn't bother me. Nor does wool (but several of my siblings cannot do wool) and I have an issue with Kapok fiber if it is loose...makes my eyes and skin itch so badly! But if it is contained in cotton, it doesn't bother me. I used Bamboo batting for one of the quilts I made my brother and it only bothered me a little bit. He loves it.
Thank you for sharing because experience is so important
Thank you for a terrific video! ❤❤❤❤
Hello there from Florida. Thank you for your great videos. I have a question regarding your amazing batting storage under your quilt frame. Where did you find those “brackets” that are mounted to keep your batting rod secure? I’m limited on space in my sewing room. Your solution seems perfect. Cheers!
For anything I take to my long-armer, I buy batting from her. It saves me a bit of money and a bit of headache as well. She keeps a few types on hand and I go with her recommendation.
I take home the scraps and make Franken-batting for some small projects.
Question: For making small bags, I use fusible fleece (Pellon 987f). Can those scraps be made into Franken-fleece, or would it create too much of an obvious seam given the stiffness and the fusible?
It depends on where you use them. They will give you a folding point but many places that doesn’t matter
@ thanks!
I prefer 100% cotton as I find poly blends tend to beard more fiber bits out than cotton. Plus I get much less bits of fluff that is hard to clean up. Cotton tends to tumbleweed and be easy to clean up. Poly blends weave into cracks and crevices needing more work to clean up after using.
Excellent. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
I'd be curious to know exactly how you're meant to pre-wash batting? In the bathtub, with hot or cold water? with detergents or other additives? are you meant to tumble dry it, hang it to dry or lay it flat? (expecially with wool or cotton, if it doesn't dry fast enough will it mildew or mold?) I've tried looking up blog posts or video tutorials and reading the labels of multiple brands of battings and have given up on pre-shriking it because I've never been able to find a straight answer
I actually was doing some research this week on exactly this topic and then I picked up my phone and thought to look on the packaging to see what the manufacturer suggests for this very topic. This was a W&N brand it says shrinkage 3-5% and to preshrink it lay it in a bathtub of hot water for 15 mins. Do not agitate and lay flat to dry… my take of that is DONT PRESHRINK! For exactly the reasons you laid out and embrace the lovely (Karen coined) crinklfication!
I wouldn’t try to pre-shrink batting because it most likely will ruin it. However, I have put batting into the dryer on low heat with a damp wash rag, which relaxes the wrinkles and tightens the fibers.
Before I make my quilt sandwich, I put my batting into the dryer on very low heat, with a damp wash rag. This gets any wrinkles out, and it seems to tighten the fibers, shrinking it a bit. Then I don’t get as much batting shrinkage. If you do this, don’t cut your batting to size before this step.
If you care about the finished size of your quilt, you may want to pre wash your batting. Doing so removes some finishes that you can’t see and the batting gets softer. I may do this when I don’t want the quilt to shrink the 3-5% that cotton shrinks. Karen has a good video where she tests prewashing vs not prewashing.
So helpful. I just had someone tell me that the quilt I made for them partly shrunk. Some of the fabrics shrunk and others didn't. I used charm packs in the quilt. I heard you say prewash. Would you wash a charm pack? Jelly Roll. Help. I feel so bad that their quilt turned out like this.
Thanks so much. I appreciate your content greatly.
I always prewash my pieces of yardage. I use Synthrapol to remove excess dye from medium and dark colors. I use a little regular detergent for light colors. I also throw in a couple of Carbona Color Grabbers so that I can see how much color came out of the fabrics. It is possible to prewash precuts, but their dimensions will change due to shrinkage across the width of the fabric, so if your pattern requires a 5-inch or 10-inch square, you cannot prewash a charm pack or layer cake. I plan to prewash some layer cake cuts by placing them in lingerie bags. Applying spray starch or Best Press to unwashed fabric will cause shrinkage because they wet the fabric. Even if you preshrink your fabric, the batting will shrink when the quilt is washed, and it may not shrink the same amount in each direction. For example, a square quilt probably won’t be square after it’s washed. It’s possible to preshrink Warm & Natural batting by wetting it in hot water, but its surface will be pilly after a trip through the dryer. To get perfectly square quilted pillow tops, I make my tops oversized, wet and dry them to get the batting to shrink, and then trim them to the square size I need before I add the back on the pillow. I guess the main point of my lengthy answer is that if you need your washed quilt to end up an exact size, you need to test your fabrics and batting before you make your project.
When using a charm pack I always press my squares using starch and typically they shrink in one direction so they end up not being square anymore, so I will cut them down to 4.5” and then begin with the sewing. Press, then cut then Sew. ❤️
@@Carol_Sews Wow. I absolutely appreciate your comment. many things to know. I think what happened is the batting and the fabric didn't shrink up the same. I will be more aware the next quilt I make. Thanks so very much.
They also probably washed the quilt in hot water so maximum shrinkage happen. Providing a use and care instructions also might help.
When I started quilting many years ago I could only get poly and it migrated out of the quilt . Bearding. I have one quilt that doesn’t have much batting left . Then I was able to buy cotton and have very good luck. I see lots of people using 80/20 and have been wondering about that. It seems to be less expensive. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks
Poly/cotton is more durable in the wash than plain cotton
I wish there was a place to compare brands. Are you familiar with Hobbs? I’m Leary of trying a batting that I’m not familiar with. I did that once and it was terrible.
Never know how to tell right side from wrong side, does it matter when putting it in quilt sandwich. I use a longarm machine, so what is correct way to place batting, wrong or right side up on backing before top.
That’s an urban myth. Don’t worry about it. the ‘good’ side can only be seen if it’s needle punched.
I love 100% cotton batting, but I wish it was puffier.. I’ve often wondered if sandwiching 2 layers of thin cotton batting would help make it puffier or would it be too difficult to free motion quilt?
That’s called double batting. I like it because I like heavy quilts. Not terribly difficult on a longarm. But on a domestic sewing machine would be a challenge
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts Thank you.
What makes a quilt beard?
Friction. Wool and poly are the worst. Check also that you needle does not have a barb. Change it
I usually use Warm & Natural but recently used extra-wide flannel for the batting on a CA King quilt made with 2.5" strips. The final quilt weighs a TON.
Was the heavy weight from the batting?
I've never had that issue and I've made 4 quilts that size.
I'd be grateful for any advice you have.
Thank You
Because you used 2.5” strips, you had many seam allowances. All those double layers of fabric would add weight. I don’t know how the weight of flannel compares to the weight of the batting. I use Warm & White for most of my projects. For rag quilts, I use a thinner Quilter’s Dream cotton to reduce weight.
@Carol_Sews that's what I think too.
It’s in the seam allowances.
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts Thank You. I've learned my lesson, I'm not making a King Size jelly roll quilt again! And I enjoy your videos.
Is it common to use double batting in some cases? And if so, when? Thank you!
Double batting is done for weight (if you want it) , to make the quilting puffier. And in show quilts where it’s often mixed, so they can stand up to travelling
Thanks for all that information but I think you missed an important consideration. Polyester is plastic and contributes to the already large load of micro plastics in our water ways. I think quilters should consider the sustainability of their art.
In addition to this the idea of laying around resting wrapped in plastic just does t sound healthy or appealing.
FYI the new fabric also exposes you to microplastics.
❤
I am super allergic to polyester...I cannot use it or work with it. It makes my eyes itchy and my asthma kick in hard...and every place my skin touches it gets an angry red rash
Sounds horrible. No issues with cotton?