Muslin, Batting & Prewash questions

[tori w]

Hi there. I have a few questions and hoping someone can give me some guidance.

First is Batting....What kind of batting does everyone prefer to use? I went to grab some yesterday and there is so different kinds.

Second...Muslin. Are all muslins created equally? Once again, I'm in need of some muslin. I found some at the quilt shop yesterday but I have also purchased at JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, & even Walmart. Is there really any difference except price.

Finally...Prewashing. I was always told to prewash your fabric before you use it. What I have read since getting the quilting urge again appears that isn't the case. I prewash before I make my lanyards so fill me in.

Sorry for so many questions things haven't changed in 20 years BUT it appears some have.

[Roxanne]

I never prewash. It makes the fabric more difficult to work with. It frays and gets wrinkly. I prefer Warm and Natural batting. I like a low loft batting and it is really easy to work with and also to quilt. As far as muslin goes, there are different grades. I usually just go by the feel. If it feels thin and cheap I stay away from it.

[CarrieG]

A lot of quilters prewash to get the chemicals out. But it does remove the sizing so your fabric is not as stiff. There are different quality muslins. What you're using it for will make a difference. If I am making a wall hanging, many times I will back those with muslin. If I am doing hand embroidery to use in a quilt, I look for a very tight weave.

[toggpine]

You will find that there are pre-washers & non-washers here. We each have our reasons. I don't like the smell the fabric has when I get it home. I think we all agree that you never pre-wash your pre-cuts. (Although some have individually washed a really dark red by hand.)
Batting: Warm & Natural or White seem to be a favorite. I have used several different kinds including flannel, but since I'm such a weenie when it actually comes to quilting, I'll let the others speak to the technical aspects of the different types.
Muslin: I have bought it in most of those places too. Roxanne is on the right track. I also look at the label. Kona has some nice muslin and if you watch the quality, Roclon seems ok too. Watch the sales, sometimes it's cheaper to buy it in the extra-wide widths. That is also nice for backing material.
Glad you are getting re-addicted to quilting!

[GuitarGramma]

Hi Tori,

As with most subjects, there are different opinions, all of which have good reasoning behind them. It's good to post questions like yours so you can gather info and make the decision that suits you, yourself, best.

First, I'm with Roxanne about batting -- Warm & Natural (or Warm & White) is a great batting. We just had a houseful of young adults stay the night, two of whom slept on couches. Each grabbed a Warm & Natural quilt and commented in the morning on how warm it was. I was surprised, but pleased.

As for pre-washing, with one exception, I always pre-wash. I don't want any surprises with odd shrinkage or color bleed. One backing fabric I'd bought shed so much lint in the dryer that I re-washed it twice; if that third dry had as much lint as the first two, I would have discarded it. My final reason for pre-washing is that most fabrics are made overseas where chemicals such as formaldehyde are used. I want those washed out before I spend hours with my nose practically buried in the fabric.

My one exception is pre-cuts: I don't pre-wash them as they would fray too much to be useful.

I also pre-shrink my batting (unless I'm using pre-cuts). I find that pre-shrinking fluffs up the batting a bit, which I like, and gives a smoother surface after the quilt is laundered.

Best of luck to you!

[pamipatch]

Agree with all of the above. Quilt shop muslin should always be higher quality, hence the price. Hold it up to the light to see the density of the weave. Try not to mix a loose weave/light weight muslin with a heavy quilting fabric, feel both and you'll be able to tell if there's a big difference. Also, funny but true, a dark heavy print fabric will weigh more than its fairer counterpart from the same range, but it's the dye, the fabric underneath is the same.

Cheers, Pami

[lilmouse]

Here goes...I don't prewash but I do wash everything before I give it away or use it at home......I use warm and natural or white for machine quilting...for handwork I use polyester..easier to needle....as to muslin I only buy the extra wide by Legacy Studio at Joanns...with a coupon as it is pricey but it has a good hand to it and works up well, that is what I back all my quilts with! Most of the time I am not real particular... just with the muslin, and I use white or natural!

[tori w]

Thank you so much for all of the information. SO helpful, you have no idea.

tori

[Tanya D]

I only use Warm and Natural batting, have never bought Muslin so I don't know anything about that and the only fabric I wash before working with is flannel as it shrinks 10% (so the fabric store says)

[auntiemern]

You will get as many answers as there are members. I never pre wash fabric, except for flannel, because it shrinks so badly. NEVER EVER wash pre cuts. For batting I primarily use 80/20 or warm and natural. Do sometimes use poly batting in baby quilts for the extra loft. Muslin, can't help ya with that one.