Batting

[GrammaJudy]

Will someone please educate me on batting. I am making quilts for my grandchildren. What battings do you use? I was practicing free motion quilting on a sandwich and my batting seems awfully thin. Help me out here you experienced quilters. Suggestions? I like the flatter quilts but I also want them to be warm. Look forward to your responses.

[toggpine]

If the quilts will be layered on the bed with another blanket the thinner cotton should be fine.
If you are needing uber-warm ones, consider using polar fleece for batting. It doesn't shift or bunch up over time either.
there are a bunch of weights and fiber combinations out there too. It all depends on how much $/yd you want to spend.
Unless you are looking for a specific effect and a quilting headache, I'd suggest staying away from the high loft stuff. I had the worst time using that in a quilt I was finishing for friend's son. His mom started it, but couldn't finish it for various reasons.

Perhaps some of the other quilters here will have more advice.
C

[GuitarGramma]

GrammaJudy -- I have just the resource for you. Two women tested dozens of battings to see how they fared (bearding, shrinkage, etc.) and put it all into a PDF chart.

Here's the link:
http://www.villagequiltworks.com/ima...ttingChart.pdf

I had been using Warm&Natural or Warm&White for many years. When I looked at this chart the first time, I discovered that when I look at the criteria which are important to me, Warm &Natural/White are precisely what I needed to be using. Other quilters will have different criteria.

Good luck to you!

[Madeforyouinma11]

I'm not an experienced quilter but I use "warm and white"or "warm and natural". It's a cotton batting. It isn't thick but it quilts very nicely and it makes a very warm and cozy quilt especially after washing.

[Bubby]

I try to use 100% cotton batting in everything I make...Warm&White or Warm&Natural are my favorites. One is white and the other is natural beige. If I absolutely have to use something different, I would use Hobbs 80/20 (80% cotton and 20% poly). It's really a matter of personal preference. Barb

[brook]

I also like warm and white/natural, but I am trying one that's 100% bamboo. It has a little more loft and doesn't have creases like the other and is a really nice quality and Windline Textiles makes it, but I know it's spendy so when I'm done with it I will probably go back to the other. (I bought it at a quilt show.)

[Jen7]

I guess I'm with the majority here, I use warm and natural/white for everything I do and love how it turns out.

[Suzyq]

I use warm and natural too, but find the quilt is flatter than I'd like. I use flannel for backings which makes it more cuddly. The more quilting you do on the top, the flatter and stiffer the quilt seems to end up being.

[Iris Girl]

me too for the warm white/ warm natural, have used hobbs heirloom also

[yeeehawterri]

Warm & white/natural and Hobbs 80/20. Hobbs gives a little more poof to your quilting, and the drape is beautiful. I've also used flannel, which is very flat, but nice and cozy.