What batting is the warmest?

[JFS211]

I've only been quilting for a couple of years, and most of what I've done are lap quilts or baby blankets. When I use batting, I've been using polyester. I'm working my way up to bed-sized quilts. What is the warmest type of batting to use? The beds that my first quilts will go on are new Big Boy Beds in a cooler room (old house) with a slightly, um, paranoid mother.

Also, I'm used to "heavier is warmer," my current bed cover is maybe half an inch thick. Am I getting in over my head to try 2 layers of thinner batting? What about a layer of InsulBright with something else for further warming?

Thanks!

[SuzyQue]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

You can buy wool bats.....but they will have to be washed in cold water and hung to dry. Polyester would come next in my opinion and cotton last. Insulbright is used for potholders and table runners where you might be setting down a hot pot.....not to make you warmer.....more of a protection layer.

[redcaboose1717]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

What about purchasing a electric sheet for their beds ? These are thin and go under the fitted sheet ...in other words you put them on top of the mattress, then the fitted sheet, the top sheet and then a quilt or a blanket......My parents used these for years, and I purchased these ( I found mine at Wal-Mart ) that were made by Sun Beam Corp.....they were under $25 a piece. and have controls on them.) for my two sons that had bedrooms in our finished basement, which was always a tad bit cooler because it's a basement.

Just a suggestion here !

[Hulamoon]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

What an interesting question. I have the opposite side living in Hawaii. But I buy this and there are a ton of grades to pick from.

Quilters Dream Batting - Cotton, Polyester, Fire-Retardant, Recycled, Puff, Wool and 100% Cotton Stuffing

Funny story.. when I was a little girl I slept over at someone's house and the mother piled about a foot of blankets on us, I kid you not. I never felt so trapped in my life. I haven't thought about that in years.

[SuzyQue]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

My mom was good at making piles on top of us kids while we were growing up! If we had a fever, she piled more on. My hubby got the same treatment, so it must have been the going thing back then! I love the weight of blankets on me and being toasty! My babies always were covered, but not piled on. I will have difficulty with the grands when they come as I hear they don't even use blankets for babies any longer. By the time my kids came, the pediatrician told us to keep them cool when they had a fever. It is a miracle we didn't overheat and die from the weight of all those quilts!

[Quiltfreestyle]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

SuzyQue I'd right about the wool batts. I made a winter quilt with it for my son who lives in the Mule Mountains in southeast Arizona. Temps can get pretty low at night & his house is old, old, old. One of those Sears Kit houses from the early 1900's
He says it keeps him toasty & it's not too thick to quilt easily.
Electric sheets are a great idea too,

[Racing Nana]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

What about using Polar or Arctic fleece? This stuff is wonderful, drawback is it's only 60" wide. It would quilt up nicely though and would take the laundry great and won't shrink.
I've used it as the backing on 3 quilts now (poly batting in between) and it worked like a charm and looked great.
I've also used it as batting in the "fabric boxes" instead of batting and it was perfect.

[madampolo]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

I think Poly is the warmest. It's a lot thicker.

[Slokarma]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

I like the weight of a quilt and maybe that comes from sleeping under Grandma's heavy quilts when I was a kid.

I imagine wool would always be the answer, but I have started using Pellon's 1/4 inch loft called Nature's Touch 100% cotton. I love the feel of it. I had a queen size piece laid out on my bed,so to let it relax, and I couldn't help but touch it every time I walked by.

I'm thinking it feels about twice as thick as Hobbs 80/20 batting and I've had no trouble quilting thru it. It gives my quilt just a bit more thickness and a bit more weight. I wouldn't use it for a hot weather quilt, or my elderly mother in FL , who complains about the weight of quilts, but here in Ohio, I'm thinking it's especially good for about 8 months out of the year!

I get it from Joann's and of course I use a coupon for at least 40% off. Don't forget you can use the Hobby Lobby 40% coupons at JoAnns.

[buckeyequilter]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

I like Nature's Touch, I buy it at JoAnn's. I also like Hobb's.

[Doloris]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

make sure you use a large quilting design so you have air pockets in the batting. the air pockets are what traps the warmth and makes the quilt warm

[JCY]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

I don't know if it's the warmest, but for ease of working with & quilting, I vote for Hobbs 80/20. JCY

[JFS211]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

Thanks, Ladies. This has given me a lot to think about... The first quilts are for my nephews in Ohio. I plan on backing them in flannel (as i do my blankets) for more warmies as well as some friction to keep them from sliding off in the night!

[Cat n bull]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

I used Quilter's Dream wool for my iron quilter quilt and I am officially hooked!

It was delightful to work with! LOVE the extra loft. It is very light in weight but very warm. (BIL has been using it)

I used fleece on the back, the way the quilting shows up is just wonderful. Someone made the comment that I made a reversible quilt because the back is just as pretty as the front!

I washed mine just like I wash ALL my quilts. Warm wash, hot dryer. No problems :-)

[Murphy]

Re: What batting is the warmest?

Ditto what Cathryn said about wool! Use it in almost all of my quilts, wash and dry just like all the others and my dryer has one setting... HOT haha I have never had a problem