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Favorite Batting

There are so many battings available for us quilters these days.  I haven’t tried a bunch of the newer ones so I don’t even know what all is out there or how they rate.

Recently I did a post about trying Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 batting again and I’m still loving the newest batting I’ve gotten from Hobbs.  It’s so much like the batting I loved in the past, before it changed to the batting I didn’t love.  I’ve always liked Warm & Natural too.

What are your favorite battings and do you use one type for one project — say . . Warm & Natural for wall hangings and Quilters Dream for bed quilts . . or is it “one size fits all” for you?

Do you buy your batting from your local quilt shop or do you wait for sales at Hobby Lobby or Joann’s or the like?

Do you buy lots of batting when you find it on sale or do you buy what you need when  you need it?

Does your local quilt shop carry batting?  A lot or a little?

OK . . those are my questions for today . . or should I say those are my questions for this morning.  You never know when I might have a whole list of more questions!  🙂

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I like 80/20 for most bed quilts. It gives me a bit of the bounce of poly, plus the firmness and old-fashioned drape of the cotton. For wall hangings, placemats, totes, etc., I generally use fusible fleece.

  2. Ususally get my batting on the big rolls, then I can cut what I need with out so much waste. I don’t make standard size quilts. I like to use a lighter batting mostly then I can have 1, 2, 3,or even 4 quilts on the bed to keep us warm. Hey you need to USE those quilts. 😉
    Our local quilt store usually stock batting in quilt sizes in the bags. Joann’s has both bags and rolls.
    Hugs!!!!!!

    • Forgot, I use all cotton batting. Do have a bit of wool here to try one day.
      Hugs!!!!

  3. I buy mine by the roll at JoAnns when it is on sale. I only use Warm and Natural so far and love it.

  4. I purchase by the roll since I am lucky enough to have Linda’s Electric Quilters just up the road from me. I generally use Hobbs 80/20 or 100% cotton. Love them both! I do want to try both the silk and wool battings that Hobbs has too.

  5. i use only Quilter’s Dream 100% cotton batting for my quilts. In Summer i use Request weight, and in Winter i use Select weight.
    In Feb this year my local quilt shop was temporarily out of my size batting, so i looked around online at my other favorite ordering places and was totally shocked; four of the really good big name quilting stores that i usually order my fabric from were not carrying batting online any more!
    EEEEEK!
    you’d better believe that i stocked up when i did find a store with my batting available for ordering.

  6. Hobbs 80/20 and Legacy 80/20 for bed type quilts. Warm and Natural for wall hangings. I like to have some of each on hand. I usually buy a huge roll of Hobbs, but I really like Legacy 80/20 and the way they package it wrapped on flat cardboards like fabric. . Once Hobbs is used up I’m switching to Legacy for bed quilts.

  7. I like Soft and Bright 100% poly by the Warm and Natural company. It feels like cotton but a tad lighter. It is also way cheaper. I buy it at JoAnn’s on sale or with coupon. I buy as much as I can usually whatever they have on a roll.

  8. I’ve been hand quilting bed-size quilts more than 40 years, so I’ve been around the quilting block a time or two – poly/cotton/blends/etc. During the past 10 years I’ve mostly used Quilter’s Dream Cotton for hand quilting. Right now I am using Quilter’s Dream WOOL and I cannot tell you how much I LOVE this batting. It needles extremely well and gives beautiful loft and definition to my quilt. I bought it on sale at my local quilt shop.

  9. I love QD Blend and Warm and Natural for most of my quilts. I like heavy quilts. I’ve recently tried Hobbs 80/20 and an using it for donation quilts because it’s lighter. I’ve also used it in a quilt for summer.

  10. Very good post, Judy. I’ve been debating what batting I want to try next. I’ve gradually been using up a roll of Hobbs 80/20. I like working with it, but here in Central Texas it’s a little heavier and warmer than I really need. I’m trying to find a lighter weight one to try.

  11. Until recently I’ve used Warm & Natural and bought 10 yds at a time when I could get it at a great price. I’ve got Quilters Dream in my DWR that I’m hand quilting. I quilted a quilt for my sister using Hobbs Tuscany 100% cotton the other day and I loved how it crinkled with the shrinkage. So last night I used the same. After I wash it I’ll see if I still like it. This was a larger quilt and batt, and I had a bit of tearing on the end since there is no scrim. But if it washes up like I think it’s going to, I may pick up several batts in a couple of weeks. Quilted Memories where I quilt is the local Hobbs distributor and they are having a warehouse sale.

  12. I prefer either Warm & Natural or Quilters Dream but recently have run into a problem where the quilts are getting too warm at night. I don’t have anyplace to store batting rolls so I buy packages as I need them from whomever has the size I need cheapest.

  13. I use Hobbs 80/20 or Quilters Dream. I buy it when I need it as I have limited storage space to stock up. I usually purchase it from Fields Fabric Store. If I send a quilt out to a longarmer, I request either one of the above. If I’m doing a table runner or wall hanging, I then use Warm & Natural.

  14. I generally use Hobb’s 80/20. I also use Warm and Natural cotton for my summer quilts, and Hobb’s wool (Very light weight, but extremely warm) for my winter quilts. I live in NY- winters are pretty cold, and summers tend to be hot.

  15. I like quilter’s dream blend for most things. If I want a little poof, I love the Thinsulate. I can’t get that any more!! It used to be made by 3M. Don’t you have any connections there? I recently bought a roll of dream puff. It is very similar to the dream blend.

  16. My LQS stocks Quilters Dream, which works well. I also buy Warm and Natural at a craft/fabric store called Beverly’s (it’s a chain but may be only in California). I’m no batting expert, but both of these have worked well. I have a smallish package of Hobbs fusible batting but have been afraid to use it for fear of getting wrinkles or who-knows-what in the quilt . Any tips for me?

  17. Have used Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 for years and love it…..I machine quilt both on a DSM and a HQ Sweet Sixteen. When washed it crinkles beautifully. I am thinking of ordering some of their Tuscany Silk. Have heard many good things about it.

  18. I used to buy the Hobbs 80/20 by the bag, but as the number of my flimsies grew, I realized it would be better to get a bolt of it instead. I usually wait until Joann’s has a sale and free shipping.

  19. i have been buying hobb’s 80/20 on the roll the last couple years from hancock’s in paducah. i usually just use it for everything. if i run out before i get down to paducah, which usually happens, i just buy a bag from wal mart of whatever they have that’s all cotton or 80/20.

  20. I’ve been using Warm/Natural pretty much exclusively but tried the Hobbs after your blog. I buy rolls of the W/N at Joann’s or Hancock’s when it’s 50% off. I do a lot of small quilts for charity.

  21. As I make mostly baby, kid and college bound quilts that will get a lot of use and frequent washing, my go to batting is Hobbs Polydown which I buy by the 30 yard roll when a LQS has their annual truckload batting sale at 40% off or from my LA quilter who can get batting at a good price . I also keep a roll of Hobbs 80/20 on hand and a half roll of Warm and Natural (split a large roll with my quilt buddy) for my special quilts.

  22. I use Hobb’s 80/20 and usually buy it through a local dealer. Works great for handquilting.

  23. Since only make baby quilts and children’s quilts that are washed often, I use Warm and Bright 100 per cent poly. I t washes so well. When it is in sale at Jo-Ann’s or I have a coupon, I buy a roll so I don’t have to keep going back to get more.

  24. Oh so many questions! Let’s see– I try to buy on sale when I can but quiet honestly I haven’t bought any in awhile as I have only finished small wall hangings and used what I had lying around. I have used Warm & Natural in the past with good results , also have used Hobbs 80/20 also and with the last quilts that a long armer quilted- I just bought from them so not sure what they used. There was also a guild member that was selling yard pieces of all cotton batting for a $1 a piece and have used those also. So i guess i will use whatever comes along. Our LQS have batting but they tend to be higher priced so I don’t buy from them. I have a couple rolls in my closet but don’t buy in bulk.

  25. I use Hobbs 80/20 or QD Blend for almost all my quilts.
    If its a bed quilt for winter, I add QD Wool over the Blend for added warmth.
    The stitch definition really improves with 2 batts.
    But since my LA skills aren’t exactly stellar, I find I only use 2 batts when I want warmth.
    I buy my batt online. I’ve tried getting it at my LQS, but they don’t ever seem to have what I need.
    The ladies that work at Joann’s here are so nasty, I never go in there.

  26. Usually drive up to Paducah and buy Hobb’s 80/20 by the bolt. Go thru a lot machine quilting. Also love Legacy’s 80/20. Hobb’s wool is great too and nice to sleep under.

  27. I always wait for a sale or coupon for JoAnn’s or Hancock’s, and but the rolled batting. In my old house I had a quilting frame, but in this small apartment have found it works best to quilt as you go, then sew the blocks together. It isn’t as smooth or as pretty on the back, but it keeps me warm. My grandmom would pluck her geese and use the down for her quilts. So soft and warm, but occasional little pricks from the feathers would poke out.

  28. I have always been a cotton purist. When I first started quilting because of the cost factor I used Warm and Natural from Joann’s with my 40% coupon. Then once I really got into quilting, I found Quilter’s Dream and that is the only one I would use because I felt it draped better than Warm and Natural. Well, I just bought a Millenium longarm and it seems to be that most quilters I know like the Hobbs 80/20, so I have been practicing on it and have just purchased a whole bolt of it from Hancocks. I don’t find that the price at Joann’s even with the coupon is worth it since even by the bolt they are going to charge the yard price. So…Hancock’s is going to get my business unless I am just gong to buy a package. As for quilt shops in my area carrying what I want in batting….there aren’t many, so now with the longarm, I am just going to have to have a LOT of it on hand all the time and buy bolts.

  29. I always use Hobbs Heirloom 80/20. Love that batting, it has never let me down.

  30. Wow, this post was really timely. I have been thinking about batting a lot. and planning to poll my friends. A friend recently used wool batting and I couldn’t believe how light and airy it felt. I ‘m thinking about using it for a summer quilt. I use Warm and Natural most of the time and buy it by the roll from Joann’s when they have a sale. I sometimes use bamboo batting too because it seems so soft. A lot of your comments mentioned Hobbs 80/20 so I may have to check that out.

  31. I am odd – I rarely use “batting’ unless I have someone quilting for me – I use white or off white cotton flannel by the yard, and piece a batting much as you would piece a backing. I like the drape and the crinkle I get with this.. I use this for machine quilted projects as well as tied.

  32. I join the rank of Q D and Hobbs 80/20 and pretty much always go to each one of these.. I did a small hand piece with wool but I am so allergic to wool I could not do a full quilt but it is like butter. I get my batting on a sale or at LQS up town .. I have a silk batting here to try. no experience with that.
    Enjoy reading each ones comments and why you like it.

  34. I love the Quilters Dream cotton – love both the request and select -and have used it on all my finished projects! I have a QD wool here but have not used it yet…..it is waiting for something special. I have bought batting at LQS but usually buy it at Hancocks of Paducah when they have free shipping as their batting is about 25% less than LQS and no tax. I try to keep at least 2 pkgs ahead and usually buy king size and can get several baby quilts and table runners and wall hangings out of one pkg.

  35. The batting always depends on the quilt – weather it’s for warmth, summer-weight, et cetera. I wait for,the ‘bolt’ sale at my LQS – 40% off the bolt. Bamboo, silk and wool are my current favourites.

    Good topic.

    Hugs,
    Carolyn

  36. I use QD 100% cotton 100% of the time. I’ve seen baby quilts I made go through 100 weekly washings and still look great! I love the way it looks and feels and drapes. I order it directly from Kelsul.

  37. I love Mountain Mist Cream Rose and White Rose, especially for baby quilts which is what I make most of the time. It is soft, drapes well and is easy to handle for machine quilting. I used to buy it in a package at Hobby Lobby with a coupon, but they don’t carry it any more. Joann has the Cream but not the White. I use a coupon there or wait for a sale and stock up. If I need white I have to get something else, usually Warm&White. I don’t quilt my own bed quilts, my long-arm quilter likes 80/20.

  38. I have used Warm & Natural and I do like it. I find that Dream is too thin, but I love, love Dream Green. It is soft, doesn’t tear on the edges and has a nice loft. I use it on almost everything but a white quilt. And I feel good that it has recycled plastic bottles!

  39. Previously I was a Warm and Natural girl. I started using Hobbs 80/20 and love it. I variate between the two depending on what I want for the particular quilt. I either go with JoAnns with my coupons or Hancock’s in Pudukah….Hobby Lobby is great with my coupons for Hobbs too.

  40. I have used Warm and Natural or Hobbs 80/20 for years and mostly purchased with a coupon at Joann’s. I was not happy with my last 80/20 purchases; the packaged batting had irregularities. Last year, I purchased a 30yd roll of Pellon 70/30 at MQS. I used it for the first time last month. It is consistent, no bare spots, lumps or dips in the batting, so I’m happy about that. Although I have a wholesale account with Quilter’s Dream, I purchased two packages of Quilter’s Dream last month at a longarm dealer. Having never used it before I wasn’t sure which fiber I wanted in large quantities so I purchased a Deluxe Poly and a Wool. I used the Deluxe poly yesterday, love that it holds the texture of the quilting. It is firm but needles so well. There are times when I want to see the texture of the quilting and prefer that it not be scrunched up like an antique quilt, thus, Deluxe Poly will be my choice for those times.

  41. I buy all my batting wholesale on big rolls. Warm and Natural I will use if a customer requests or if it is a table runner, etc. I use Dream Puff for most quilts and Dream Wool when I can talk the customer into paying the price. When I want lots of quilting definition, I use Warm and Natural with a layer of Dream Wool–I tease the layers apart and only use one on top of the W&N.

  42. My very favorite batting of all time is Hobbs Wool. I prefer to buy it on the roll, but if I have to buy a package, I buy the Tuscany Wool, not the heirloom. I don’t like those tightly rolled little bolsters of batting. I’ve tried the QD Wool, but it’s a bit too stretchy for me. For thinner loft, I like QD cotton or blend in Select loft. The Request is too thin to deal with on the longarm. A lot of my customers like to use Warm and Natural, but I really don’t like it. I suppose it’s because it causes a lot of dust, makes me cough a lot, and I’ve had it beard way too many times. I don’t buy it and am on the fence about refusing to use it in the future. It’s just one of those things that doesn’t agree with me. Oh! The other reason I’m not very fond of it — it doesn’t show up the quilting much and, when folks want a custom job but bring me that batting, I get a bit depressed. I know it’s not going to come out as they want it to. I do use Warm’s Insul-brite for potholders and oven mitts, and I like their new soft, soft, hi-loft. Just my preferences!

  43. I use mostly Hobbs 80/20 or Hobbs polydown for my quilts depending on what attributes I want to the finished quilt. Most of my customers are making utility quilts for kids, teenagers, mom’s birthdays and the like, and prefer all poly, so Hobbs polydown fits the bill here. I have a roll of wool that I’m saving for my special quilts or any customer that may reqauest it. I’ve tried Legacy 80/20 and it quilts up nicely, but was heavier in weight and very linty in my bobbin area after a big quilt. I buy from a distributor in KS most of the time.

  44. My nearby quilt store doesn’t have a lot of batting. I’ve seen a couple rolls so I think they must sell it by the yard or the foot and they have a few packages of wool and a package or two of cotton on display. My favorite batting has been Hobbs Poly-Down. It’s always been so lightweight, even, soft and so nicely rolled in the package so it doesn’t come out all wrinkley. The last case I bought wasn’t nearly as nice…stiffer, less even and not so nicely rolled. I hope it was just a one time quirk since I just got out my last roll of the nicer, older stuff for my son & daughter-in-law’s quilt.

  45. hobbs wool for my personal bed quilts and hobbs 80/20 for most of the rest of mine or quilts i quilt for others unless they request another…if it is a small lap quilt i will use warm and natural or warm and white…love the stuff but on a large quilt it can make it pretty darn heavy!

  46. For wall hangings I use 80/20. Everything else, lap to bed I use wool. The wool is so light weight that a huge quilt is light but warm. I have been experimenting with 2batts like a lot of longarmers are using. Harder to do on a domestic machine but the quilting looks amazing.
    Cher in BC

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