Batting

Henny....you are right..the shrinkage is desirable on the older style. I usually make more modern ones, so go for the non shrink!

I only use poly for hand quilting, it seems easier to quilt through for me. Now that I do most on the machine, I use Hobbs Cotton/poly 80/20 I really like it, although recently it seems different. I think they changed it somewhat, it seems softer and lighter, not sure that I like it as well. I even accidently poked a hole though one with my finger when I rinsed it. I like to soak and rinse it so it doesn't shrink as much. I like a flatter look and not the old fashioned look but that's just me. Also, I can get it at Hobby Lobby for 40% off almost all the time with a coupon. I like that.

As for warmth, I don't know but we don't need much warmth down here. Usually we just push the spread off the bottom of the bed at night except on rare occasions when it really gets cold. We just keep a thermal cotton blanket on the bed which is all we usually need. I am more cold natured so just pull the spread up over my feet or body if I get cold. I have a quilt pieced for our bed and hopefully will get it ready to quilt soon after several years, so we will finally have a quilt on our bed.

<sigh> Everyone has such good information and opinions! There doesn't seem to be a clear favorite... which was what I was afraid of!

Though I usually love the crinkly-shrinky look of a cotton batting, I think that this quilt (a Storm at Sea) would be best served with minimal scrunchiness.

Right now I'm leaning toward a blend. Breathability, little or no shrinkage... lightweight????

If its an intricate pattern heavily pieced like storm at sea (wasnt it the bullseye one or am I deluded which is always a possibility LOL) Id want light and no shrinkage, dont want that kind of design crinkled up, just my thoughts

I think all my batting has been 80/20... both LAers use it and my QS sells it...

No Gimpy ...Storm at Sea isn't a bulls eye pattern. Another bad experience I had with batting was in washing it before I used it so that it didn't shrink. Now the wrapping on the batting said to wash it before hand. I didn't " wash " it but filled the machine up and just let it sit for about 10 mins then spun the water out. The batting started shifting and thinning out to the point of being dreadful . I was told it was my own fault because it had been washed " beforehand " that it should only have been washed " after " ...what ?????????? It said BEFORE on the wrapping and if it is to stop shrinkage what is the point in doing it after ?????

Does anyone know how much the 80/20 shrinks?

FiberBabble wrote:

' - the raw-edged Bullseye quilt that got me to join you all in the first place

Nah Im not going nuts, I knew FB had mentioned a bullseye, I got confused thinking she was going to quilt it then she mentioned storm at sea and well, ya'll know its not hard to confuse me

HP I knew they were different patterns, my slow brain just decided to try and confuse me LOL - note to friends here "Just ignore Gimpy Cat for a while, her brain is dead"

Well, FB, most of the quilts I use for myself are just backed with fleece and no batting, but the ones I have made for the gds seem to be holding up well.. I know their quilts have gotten washed a lot and I really didn't notice the shrinkage on it... I could measure a piece and wash it and remeasure it for you if you like ???

Golo, this might be a bit of a stupid question, but when you say your quilts are "just backed with fleece and no batting" do you mean you use the fleece as the batting and the put a backing on the quilt or does the fleece make up for the batting and backing?

FB, The Hobbs 80/20 package that I use says it can shrink up to 5% if used straight from the package. To lessen shrinkage it says to presoak for 5-10 minutes in tepid water, do not agitate, spin and then dry on air or fluff cycle. That's straight from the package. I go ahead and dry on the low cycle for a short time and it always comes out dry and fine. As I wrote earlier it seems they have changed it and it seems softer and a little easier to poke a hole through but it was still fine for me. That's all I ever use if that helps.

Thanks for the info, slumbersoft.

I don't usually make such a big deal out of batting choices, you know, but this is a one-time thing. Though the quilt isn't one of my fancy-dancy pieces, it is going to hopefully be on our bed for a long time to come, and needs to be comfortable for both of us. It's not like if I don't like it I can change it out, you know?

Jill, no batting... just fleece... I love them as throws, they are so cuddly and wash up great...

You are talking about polar fleece, right golo?

Polar fleece is what I use when I do that.

Just be glad we don't have to use our grandmother's batting. That stuff falls apart if you even look at it wrong.

Yes, Anita.... http://www.joann.com/search/_fleece/ I usually buy the anti pill fleece...