Pick the Right Batting
You can now pick the right batting from a chart! I first saw this in 2010 and find it useful even today. Therefore, I am going to re-post this for those who may not have seen it or want to refresh their knowledge base.
Visit the Quilt Batting Selection Chart by the Curious Quilter at https://thecuriousquilter.wordpress.com/tutorials/cq-quilt-batting-selection-chart/
The Curious Quilter has listed seven battings: 100% cotton; cotton/poly blends; 100% polyester and 100% wool; 100% silk and 100% bamboo and 100% soy. She has filled in a chart addressing: washability; dry clean-ability; shrink-ability; loft thickness; loft qualities; quilting distance; level of warmth; hand quilting ease; machine quilting ease; and suitability for tied quilts.
You will not find battings of alpaca, corn, flax, and recycled plastic bottles on this chart. Her footnote states one should always read the label for manufacturer information on any batting. My go-to battings are 100% cotton, 80/20cotton/poly blends, and an 80/20 cotton/wool blend. I really loved working with the cotton/wool blend. The quilting stood out and the drape of the finished quilt was soft and cuddly. I would use it again in quilts where I want the quilting motifs to pop. My sister who is always cold was the recipient of this flannel queen size quilt.
Favorites and Tempting New Battings
This chart answers questions of what to expect if you want to try something different. I can see benefits with each kind. 100% wool would make a warm quilt for winter and replace the stack of cotton batt quilts now on the bed. Choosing the right batting based on how and where the quilt will be used is important.
Going from being a person who is a “toucher” to picking the right batting from a chart isn’t easy for me, but I’m adjusting. The Curious Quilter did her homework before sharing the chart with us.
Do you have a favorite batting and/or manufacturer? Does price influence what you use? Where do you normally buy batting? Do you purchase it by the yard or prepackaged by size? I order batting by the roll when it is on sale. I do have some packaged batting like black and pink for dark or mostly pink quilts.
Prewashing and Doubling Up – Can we talk?
I have never thought about pre-washing batting. Bouncing a few around in a dryer to relax stubborn creases I have done. I’m just not a pre-wash person – batting or my fabric. I read prewashing the batting and fabric shrinks them; therefore, the quilt will not have a wrinkled look. I like the wrinkled look, personally.
I am reading some quilters are using two layers of batting in a quilt. This is a new concept to me. I am thinking they may be wanting some features of two distinct kinds of batting. Do you want more information on what purpose is served by doing this?
P.S. While looking through old posts, I ran across another on batting. Hopefully you will find this article interesting, as well. https://www.handiquilter.com/thoughts-on-batting/ I had to copy and past the address, but it is still up. I guess 2020 wasn’t that long ago!