I still really don't get battings. I like quilts that are really puffy and softs, so I always want high loft battings, but those are always hard to find. In this case I was in a rush, couldn't find that many battings in crib size anyways, and grabbed this high-loft crib batting:
It cost about the same as all of the other battings, so I didn't think of it as cheap (maybe the word "crafty" should have been a hint). But when I took it out of the bag today and laid it out on my backing for pinning, this is what it looked like:
This is it lying flat. It is a lumpy mess. When I try to smooth it, it just bounces back to this lumpy shape. So what do you think? I can return it (the bag says "unconditionally guaranteed") or maybe let it sit a day and see if the shape relaxes out? Or I can pin the backing to the batting to stretch it out and do a second layer of pins to pin the top to the backing/batting? (Big danger there of sewing over pins...)
Not sure what to do and I would love any advice. Also, what battings do you use? I just don't know.
In the meantime I have been doing some needlepoint. Here is where I am now:
I also found a new game that I am currently in love with. It is called "blendoku" and you basically just put colors in order. Great practice for quilters and artists.
Here is an example level: It gives you the placement of two squares, and you have to figure out where the rest go.
And here it is all complete!
I can just read that this is a polyester batting. I'm afraid I don't know anything about those. I make a lot of baby quilts and always use cotton batting - it gives the finished quilt a lovely crinkled soft look, washes like a dream (I wash the quilt once the binding is on, before I gift it), new mum's can just bang it in the washer and dryer with no fear. You say you want a puffy finished quilt, but I think if you try one quilt with cotton batting, you will be surprised at just how soft and cuddly it is. It certainly won't be puffy like a polyester batting will be though. I hope this "kind of" helps:-)
ReplyDeleteWith batting, you get what you pay for. After a few washings, it will start to fall apart, and you'll end up with a wadded up mess inside your quilt. If you are going to invest your time and effort into a quilt, it is certainly worth it to use quality materials in its construction.
ReplyDeleteThere are quality battings out there that aren't as expensive as you think. Hobbs, Quilters Dream, and Warm and Natural all have heirloom quality battings with prices very comparable to the junk you find at Joanns even with their discount coupons.