Summer is around the corner along with the hot weather so I've spent quite a few evenings this past month hand quilting that old thing that's been hanging around.
Round and round I go, echo quilting in the borders. I have two completed and the last two are half quilted. Don't clap yet, I have trapunto to do.
I've used a Quilter's Dream Request cotton, Request is the thinnest weight and I used the bleached one.
I used to think this batting was the be all and end all batting but I've since changed my mind.
I like cotton for the crinkly, thin antique look and I like the Dream Orient for Perle quilting that's got a better loft.
Having a natural material is important to me for two reasons. It's better from a fire safety view and a Polyester causes the sweats in bed because it doesn't breathe, it traps moisture.
I'm thinking of also going back to a wool for extra warmth and for showing the stitches in a different way. It's much lighter in weight than cotton but the last time I used one was years ago and showed fibres on the surface of the quilt otherwise known as bearding.
Wool batting has come along way and I decided for hand quilting, I'd give this one a go. It will quilt like butter and I'm looking forward to it. It's not needle punched and it doesn't have a scrim. The fibres are thermally bonded.
My only concern is how it will wash up so I'll be using it on a quilt for everyday use to test it before I use it for a lifetime quilt. I have done a google search to find some reviews and so far, I've only heard good things. I'm hoping the bugs won't like it too much
If you've had experience with this batting, I'd love to know your thoughts.
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47 comments:
Your quilting is beautiful! You're really making a masterpiece.
I have used Dream Wool for hand quilting, and I like it a lot, but I use larger stitches with #8 perle cotton, and make my rows farther apart than yours. This week I started using yarn ties with the Dream Wool. With the double thick wool yarn, the batting pulls through sometimes. But maybe any batting would.
I love this one of yours Janet, so much incredible work in it!!! I use cotton from my local, did use a wool in the past but I didn't like the fibres coming through. It will be interesting to see if that has changed these days. xo
It's so interesting to hear your thoughts on batting and threads. I feel limited in what I can find locally so mostly use cotton. I used to like a cotton/wool mix I got from Logans in Sydney but I don't know what brand it was. My stitches aren't as beautiful and fine as your stunning work.
You know so much more than I ever will. It's great to hear what you have to say and look forward to seeing how it goes! Good luck!
I am interested in hearing about this too.
I hope someone answers you with their results with different battings and you will do a review?
I normally use request too but have been wanting to try wool
keep us posted ok?
Kathie
I swear by Hobbs Heirloom 100% wool batting, Janet. That's all I use now both for hand quilting and when I send out my quilts to be machine quilted.
The drape and feel to the quilt is heavenly and I've also found that because it's made from a 100%natural fiber, it provides warmth in our Canadian winters and because it breathes, coolness in the summer.
I don't have any problems with it 'bearding' when I hand quilt with it and the gal who does my machine quilting loves working with it.
Most importantly, it washes in the machine beautifully. I also dry my quilts in the dryer on the gentle cycle and the shrinkage is very minimal to none at all.
The only caveat here is that my experience with wool batting is limited to the Hobbs brand. I can't speak for any of the others on the market.
I'm sold on Hobbs wool batting...and no, I don't work for them or own stocks in their company. *wink*
Whenever I read "information" on wadding I find it totally confusing. I think the information is just recycled and often it contradicts itself in the same article. How frustrating. I would like to try silk wadding. I hear it is beautiful to quilt although prohibitively expensive. Surely someone could get a Phd doing a definitive, unbiased and independent study on available wadding.
For some reason, not all of my comments are coming to my email so I apologise in advance if I don't reply to your comment. Know that I read and appreciate them all. I think blogger is not playing nice at the moment.
I don't know much about wool batting. I have use mainly cotton and have used bamboo, but I don't hand quilt yet!
Your double wedding ring quilt is stunning!
As a fairly new quilter, I like the comments from all of you, much more experienced quilter. The information about batting is always very interesting. Thank you for that!!!
Jana
I'm going to start clapping now...this quilt is amazing!!!
I have my hands poised in mid-air :) :) It looks fantastic!!
I've used both Hobbs and Quilter's Dream wool batting for hand quilting. I've found that Quilter's Dream is a much better quality bat. They incorporate Merino wool making the hand nicer. Additionally, Hobbs has a gauze like feel that seems to pull apart. I've heard that Bamboo is very nice as well. I might try it one day.
Great looking quilt!
I am going to clap anyway! Your hand quilting (and quilt!) is so beautiful.
I'm happy to know there is a wool batting that is easy to quilt through.
I love your echo quilting.....it is perfectly spaced....Did you mark it or are you really good at eyeballing it...
I have never used wool batting and would love to try it. So it interesting to read everyone's thoughts.
I used a wool batting many years ago and it was a disaster. It shrank up a lot when the quilt was washed. I'd love to hear your opinion on the newer, improved batt.
I tried a bamboo batting made by Fairfield and it bearded just horrible. Fibers came through in areas where there wasn't quilting so it wasn't from the thread pulling it through as I stitched. Steer clear of that one!
I attempted to simplify my quilting life recently and decided to use Hobbs 80/20 for all machine quilts, and Dream Request for all hand quilting.
Having said that, it has been recommended to me by several people to try the wool batting. I'm allergic to wool, so I'm not sure. It doesn't feel itchy and I've heard it's a dream to quilt.
I'll be checking the comments to see if there is a consensus.
I have had zero problems with quilters dream wool. Mine was hand quilted and it was great. I can not wear wool clothes but the batting is no problem. Mine did not beard. Actually all of quilters dream I have used has been fine.
It also holds up and hangs/drapes very well.
Quilters Dream Wool was recommended to me, too. I sandwiched the quilt a year ago and have it about a fourth of the way quilted (small lap size). I haven't noticed any bearding and the border is red. Can't remember what I was told about how it washes. Ah, it is like quilting through butter!
I have used the Hobbs wool and it washes up just fine. I have not put it in the dryer - just air dry my quilts.
The wool is great for S. Texas - not too hot to sleep under in the winter.
I will be watching for comments on the QD wool.
You are a master!! So beutiful.
"that old thing that has been hanging around" is hardly the way I would refer to that gorgeous quilt you are making. The quilting is so wonderful - I'm cheering you on Janet.
I love the silk batting I have been using for handquilting. I react to wool so I'm not sure I could handle quilting with it. I'll be watching your comments :0)
I have heard good things about the wool batting too. Hope it works for you.
Your quilt is lovely.
Fantastic! Love that Quilt!
Oh my hand quilting, I really like it. I have used the woll but for machine quilting and I do like it. I am now in love with the Hobbs 80/20 Cotton/polyester. It had a wonderful drape.
I've been using Warm & Natural cotton for hand and machine. I used Nature-Fil Bamboo 50/50 Cotton) in a machine quilt and loved the drape so am about to try it for hand quilting. A friend of mine insists that wool and bamboo are similarly wonderful for hand quilting. Time for me to figure out if she's right.
LOVE THEIR WOOL BAT! I have gone through 2 HUGE ROLLS of That batting,I love it,It's warm has that nice LOFT to it, and and it's light weight... Your quilting is glorious!!!
Thank you for sharing and opening up for shared experience on this battle with the battings. Your hand-quilting is soooo beautiful, and makes all the applique really shine. My experience with hand-quilting Quilters Dream Request is also a good one, but on a very different scale than your fine and detailed quilting.
Please keep sharing any developments on your investigation, Janet!
I always love to see progress on this majestic beauty! She's looking fabulous!!!
Your quilt and quilting is just beautiful. Could you tell me the name of the pattern I know it's a wedding ring but did you just add the wonderful applique? I love applique. Thanks for all the help and information on batting. Debbie
It is stunning - a job well done!
Your appliqué is amazing.
ciao ciao Linda
I too love to echo quilt on my quilts with hand quilting and have been using Quilter's Dream Polyester thinking it would be easier to needle than Cotton. It is not like other polyester battings, seems much denser and is ok to needle with no bearding. I want to try wool as I hear that it needles well but sometimes it has trouble with bearding and stretching if it is hung on a wall. I will be following along to see how it works for you.
I have machine washed QD wool on warm AND dried it in the drier (ie. maximum abuse!). It did shrink, but not that much, and it felt absolutely lovely in the quilt. Everyone who touched it loved it. Unfortunately it wasn't mine to keep! Not affiliated with them, but love their products.
I'm also a fan of the Quilter's Dream request batting as it's nice and cool for the tropics. As an additional benefit it's very easy to machine quilt as it doesn't add bulk. On the other hand it doesn't define the stitching at all. I made one quilt using Dream Wool for my son in Boston and I machine quilted it (and it didn't beard at all). I'm interested to see how you get on with hand quilting it. I'm also eager to try bamboo and soy batting. Do you have any experience with that?
By the way; I love silk batting. It's wonderful for hand quilting and it's warm or cool, whatever you need it to be.
It's beautiful the way you are quilting it!
:o)
That's gorgeous!!!. I t looks like a painting flowers.
Comgratulations
So thrilled you asked this question and that I got to see all the answers as I have a crib size amount of that very wool batt and have been afraid to use it. Think I might just take the plunge as it seems everyone likes it :o)
love your quilting - one question I have is: does wool batting shrink a bit when washed to give quilts that crinkly antique look that 100% cotton batting does? I love that look and will stick with 100% cotton batting unless someone says the wool will give it that same look.
Karen
I must say your work is so lovely. I did a Hawaiian quilt with echo quilting, I really enjoyed it.
Beau-ti-ful quilting! I thought that most antique quilts were made with cotton instead of wool, when it was readily available? I love QDR all cotton and would be worried about the wool and bug holes. Bamboo,I heard, beards. I am not taking chances with the blends either. I agree someone should do some unbiased research on this.
Hi! Greetings from Finland! I love your quilts! Stunning! It’s so nice to find other quilters all around the world!
Your quilting is absolutely beautiful!! I have only used Hobbs Heirloom wool, and love hand quilting it, but I have no experience with this one.
Jane
I love Quilter's Dream batting too! I haven't seen the Orient product yet-- I'll have to keep an eye out for that. I have heard wonderful things about wool, but haven't tried it yet (though I have some waiting for the right quilt
to test it out on!).
Your quilting is beautiful!
how did you like the wool and does it give the quilt that crinkly look that cotton does? I love that look but would like the extra warmth of wool.
Karen
Your quilting is beautiful!Thanks for sharing this article.
Kind regard
Bleached Cotton Rolls Manufacturers
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