Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Batting

Batting is one of the expensive but essential parts of quiltmaking. Generally I have purchased rolls of 100% Warm and Natural cotton batting because I like how it machine quilts and how it hangs flat in wallhangings, and I like using all natural products... 100% cotton thread, fabrics, and batting.
I bought an 18 metre roll of Warm and Natural cotton batting in February 2015 and predicted it would last me a year.
It did! 
I was getting to the end of the roll and could maybe get one more quilt out of the remainder when I went on the Goose on the Loose shop hop and found a great deal on a roll of batting. It's an 80/20 batting which means 80% cotton and 20% polyester. I couldn't resist the deal so decided to give it a try. I hope I like it, cause I bought 27 metres of it!
Sometimes I have tried to keep track of how much batting I had used so I would know how much I still had. I would write the amount I cut off the roll on the side of the box. This system wasn't very helpful but seeing the scribbles was a blast from the past and brought back happy memories from finished quilts!
What kind of batting is your favourite?

29 comments:

Teresa said...

I have always used the 80 / 20. Have not tried any other kinds, except fusible which I did not much care for.

Jo said...

My favourite is 60% wool and 40% poly Matilda's own. This is what I learnt with and what I have stuck with... I do use 100% polyester for wall hangings and some charity work, because of cost.. I still prefer to use 60/40 for hand and machine quilting

KaHolly said...

Oh, lucky you! I'd love to find a deal like that! My last purchase was 80/20 on sale, and it's been just fine to work with!

Kristie said...

I love Warm and Natural batting but I usually purchase Hobb's 80/20 batting. It's cheaper for me and it quilts very well.
Have a wonderful and Blessed day
Kristie

Carin said...

I always buy 100% cotton or 100% wool, both from Quilters Dream. They are my favorite and don't buy anything else.

Melaniemmacdonald said...

Hi there! Can I ask where you bought your warm & natural batting from? I'm in Ottawa & looking for a place that will ship it reasonably. Thank you!!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I used to only get Quilters Dream 100% cotton, then I started to experiment with other battings and now I mainly use Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 - for the next two quilts though I was able to get Hobbs Heirloom 100% wool which is new to me but I wanted to see if I liked it - I know I will need to be extra careful with the laundry of the quilts when it is done. I have no place to store a big roll so I have never gotten one.

Linda said...

I have used Hobbs 20/80 for a long time and decided to buy a bolt but in the meantime I tried Arctic Cotton and really liked it and so I ended up buying a bolt of that.

Katie said...

I love the idea of writing on the side of the box. It's like recording you child's growth on the door frame. It brings back memories of days gone by.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I buy Quilter's Dream Select by the roll thru my LQS (their donation and work for ALS is wonderful and our LQS owner's granddaughter has ALS). I love their Oriental line and wool, too. If someone requests 80/20 I use HObbs. My longarmer uses 100% Warm & Natural.

Dolores said...

I hand quilt and use polyester. I love the way the stitches show (pop) up when you first start quilting. I tried a small, pre-cut piece of cotton for a small baby quilt and hand quilted it. It was pretty awful to get through. The package said I could use it for hand quilting but I found it a real pain (literally.)

beaquilter said...

I love warm and natural and buy it online at joann's with a coupon or on amazon, I once tried another batting from a store I get my long arm threads from, the lady said it's similar and I'd like it, so I bought a bolt.... well I DID NOT like it.... I used it but didn't love it, so used it for donation quilts etc.... I've tried to long arm on poly it's not great but do love how lofty it looks and makes a quilt very poofy!

Janet O. said...

For bed quilts I mostly use warm and natural cotton. If hand quilting I use 80/20. On my minis the drape isn't critical, so I use scraps of whatever.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I usually use Warm & Natural, but, we used 80-20 for my son's wedding quilt. It looks great! I've purchased my batting at Joann's (split a roll with a friend).

Lorna McMahon said...

This is such a great subject, Kathy. I too am a Canadian quilter and it is difficult to find a good deal on a roll of batting. I purchase through E&E's Cloth and Creations in Newton, Ontario and get a pretty good deal on buying by the roll. I'd be interested to hear how you find the 80/20 in comparison.

Deanna W said...

Some of the wools are machine washable and dryable now. Love quilting with wool batts.

Deanna W said...

I use 80/20 too and have found deals on full rolls. I have paid 7.99 to 12.95 per meter but had to get a full bolt(27 meters) Good deals. I have tried 100% cotton but found it too flimsy and thin. Will stick with 80/20, it is great for machine and hand quilting too.

Quiltdivajulie said...

My long arm quilter uses Hobbs 80/20 all the time. Two others use Quilter's Dream 70/30. I just ordered my first roll of Hobbs 80/20 to use with my new APQS George (who is named Max). I'm SUCH a beginner at this!

AnnieO said...

I like Warm and Natural for the same reasons you give. I have never bought a roll, however. I'll buy and 80/20 mix often. I'd love to try one of the washable wools. I used wool for my daughter's queen quilt and it could be machine washed but has to dry flat, which is a bit inconvenient.

Robin said...

I hand quilt and use polyester too, because of the way the stitches show up and because the needle glides through it easily. I don't like 100% Cotton for hand quilting but it is wonderful to sleep under.

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

I love Warm and Natural too, and support them as they have a warehouse in NC. I do like 80/20 too, and have recently found that I might want to use more wool (but it is pricey) because it doesn't crease.

Missy Shay said...

I usually use Warm and Natural also, you'll have to let us know how you like the new batting.

margaret said...

I too have just bought a roll, fabric freedom 80/20 with scrim so it can be quilted up to 10" apart, I am pleased with it had their recycled before which was okay but did not want to splash out too much as I was just starting the warm and natural needs to closer quilting which is not appealing to me! I was watching a video from craftsy on the quilting and they advised polyester thread which surprised me as always thought cotton was meant to be used

moosecraft said...

I haven't been quilting for very long, so I'm still trying out different brands. The most recent is Dream Wool... so far it is machine quilting nicely without bearding and is very lightweight and drapes nicely... I should know how it washes when I finish the quilt this weekend. Thanks for sharing your favorite!

Stephie said...

I love 100% cotton too - it's natural fibres all the way for me :) Kaja's inspired me to give a wool wadding a go on my next bed quilt, it looks so cosy and a few people have said it's like hand quilting through butter! Cotton wadding is one of the cheaper parts of a quilt here - it's about the same price per metre as a good quality quilting fabric, but I only buy enough for one quilt at a time - not enough for a year!!!

Nancy said...

The first quilt I hand quilted had Warm and Natural batting. I liked the thickness but found it a little difficult to quilt. Then I tried Mountain Mist Cream Rose 100% cotton and liked it a lot, but it was thinner than W&N. Most recently I've been using Soft & Crafty 80/20 cotton/poly (from JoAnn). It's thicker than Cream Rose, probably more like W&N, but quilts just as easily as Cream Rose. It washes and dries well without any special care. I want to try a wool bat for a quilt top I just finished but need to do some research about brand (because I want washable and dryable, if that's possible). I quilt so slowly it's hard to imagine buying a whole bolt of batting. It would probably take me a decade to use it!
--Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)

QuilterBee said...

I would like to try that Soft and Crafty. Sounds like a happy medium between W&N and Mountain Rose! Thank you for posting, Amie :)

QuilterBee said...

Try 100% cotton Mountain Rose, its really nice and easy to needle

Kate said...

Warm and Natural is my favorite, but I've got some of the Hobbs batting too. I like how Warm and Natural washes up versus the Hobbs batting.