jimerickson Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 I'm about to start on a quilt that is to have two layers of batting (cotton blend, and wool). Are there any things or tricks I need to know to help me get it loaded properly? I can foresee some difficulties getting the two layers of batting laying smoothly together. Any words of wisdom will be welcome. Thanks for the help. Jim BTW, I already have the backing and top pinned to my rollers and rolled up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeke Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Jimmy. You'll have no trouble at all. I've this many times in the past. I never had any trouble at all. You just need to smooth out both layers each time you roll the quilt. Have fun. Zeke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 I agree with Zeke 100%. I usually just make sure to give each batting a little tug after I roll forward to make sure there are no pleats in either. Never have had any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted January 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 O.K., I have spread the 2 battings out. wool on top of 80/20. kind of accordian folded them and stuffed them into my batting sling. They seem to stick together, and I think I've got them fairly smooth. So I guess I'm ready to go. First time to use wool. I sure like the way it feels. Thanks for the help. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Jim you'll love the wool! It is my go to batting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMALKB Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 I like the wool, too.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delld Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 In FLA and also LOVE wool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted January 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Well, I'm about 25% finished with the quilt with double batting. I must say I'm really impressed with the results. I don't seem to be having any problems with it, and the looks of the quilting is very nice. I'll probably become a real fan of the wool after this. The feel and look is really pleasing to me. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenscratch Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 The wool over anything is just dreamy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpkinpatchquilter Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 I'm working on one right now that is Hobbs 80/20 on the bottom and wool on top - the only thing that's tricky is the 80/20 is off a roll while the wool is packaged...so every advance I take extra care to make sure wrinkles and wads don't form in the wool. Because it was folded it wants to suck back up into a pile on my frame! But the combination (or even wool over cotton) creates for A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and delicious texture!!! I adore wool. If it weren't so pricey it'd be the only batt I use!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Question what about washing the quilt after does it shrink much? Do you wash and hang dry? A friend bought some once and her husband put in dryer and quilt was a ball had to rip out the quikting and start over? Or was it a poor quality? Thanks Leigh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted January 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Well, Hobbs says that it shrinks 2%, which is less than their 80/20 (3%). You are to wash it the same as you would a cotton quilt. Warm or cool water tumble with no heat, or hang to dry. We'll see when it actually gets washed. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 I wash all my quilts in our big front loader with cold water, damp dry in the dryer, take it out & spread it flat & squared & dry with the ceiling fan on for hours. Comes out always beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaC Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 My bed quilts all have wool batting and are washed frequently. They hold up wonderfully. Leigh; read the label on the batting and it should tell you everything. I use both Hobbs Wool and Quilter's Dream Wool and I've never had a problem with either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thankyou forgot to say wool was looking at by the meter and no instructions. Will try finding those brands I think it would be warmer than the cotton and like to try. Warm and natural is getting so thin, have started to think about two batts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie in Ok Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 So do you (everyone) never throw you quilts in the dryer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaC Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 I toss my everyday quilts in the dryer on low but do not dry it fully; I then lay them out to flatten and straighten and finish by air drying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 If it is a quilt that I'm using everyday it goes in the dryer. If I'm prepping it for a show then I lay it out and square it up and let it air dry overnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I'm wondering why it is necessary to use two layers? I've never done it, but then again I don't do a lot of custom - mostly edge to edge. I guess it would provide more texture, but at a greater expense. Most of my customers wouldn't go for it, so I want to give them an explanation that makes sense. Wouldn't the Hobbs Tuscany provide enough texture on its own or is there another reason for adding a layer of cotton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Caroline: I'm told that a number of competition quilters use double batting to improve the looks of their quilts. It does provide a good deal more loft. I did it on this quilt mostly to try it out, and because the quilt will likely be in our guild quilt show this fall. I've finished it now, and I must say it does look very nice. I did a lot of SID, and because the blocks are set on point, most of the SID was diagonal. The loft of the double batting allowed me to do all the SID free hand without the help of a ruler, and since I don't enjoy ruler work, that proved to be a real plus. I mostly wanted to try using wool batting. I've heard so many good reports on wool I was determined to use it. The double batting, wool on top of cotton blend, and it's competition use, made it easier to convince the piecer (my wife) that wool should be tried. What I learned is that the wool is really nice to sew into. Except for the relatively high cost (twice that of cotton blend) it would become my go to batting. I also learned that wool is much lighter in weight than cotton. I weighed the rolls of batting I just bought, and the wool was less than half the weight of the cotton blend. When a light weight quilt is desired, wool batting will be my recommendation. Now in a double batt configuration like this quilt, it only adds weight, but I estimate the added weight is only one and a half pounds to the completed quilt. Besides being very forgiving, the double batting gave me some of the nicest stitch definition I've ever had. The stitches look nice on both sides of the quilt. I couldn't be more pleased with the technical aspect of my quilting. The only down side to this quilt is that it is a Civil War quilt, and the loft is probably higher than it would be on one made then. As you can tell, I really like the wool batting. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Thank you Jim for clarifying. I might try it on one of my quilts some day too. I do use wool quite often - but on its own. I hope you share a picture of your quilt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinneaMarie Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I've been working on one for about 3 years that has Hobbs 80/20 on bottom and Quilters Dream wool on top. It quilts beautifully. Good thing I have zippers; because everytime I get a customer quilt I can zip it off and then zip it back on. Can you tell I have not had ANY time to work on it?? hahahahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted January 22, 2015 Report Share Posted January 22, 2015 I have used 60% wool 40% polyester wadding almost exclusively for ten years. My quilts go in the washing machine and are line dried. I prefer this extra loft, and no fluff! over 100% cotton wadding any day. Never have a problem with definition in the quilting either. Do any of your batting makers in the US make a 60/40 wool/poly batting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpkinpatchquilter Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Bonnie - I never throw quilts in the dryer. Well, quilts that I use get washed and dried like regular laundry...but I don't make nearly the number of functional quilts as I once did. Most of the quilts I make now a days are for shows or display of some sort...and they are lightly hand washed (damp cloth washed by hand) and air dried. CarolieQuilts - I think the double batting is more about PUFF and texture than anything else. Wool (IMHO) fills out the quilt unlike any other batting...it just looks really lovely. But personally I wouldn't use wool on a quilt that wasn't considered a display quilt, heirloom, or show quilt. UNLESS the client wants something very warm...but if you're using it for looks...well I also consider the function of the quilt. Double batting I reserve for very special custom quilted quilts to highlight definition. I actually think it's really funny how puffy quilts are coming back in style because fancy quilting is so popular. I think it's a fad that may eventually fade out over the next few decades as something else takes over...however right now fancy quilting is all the rage and double batting really makes fancy quilting pop. So do you (everyone) never throw you quilts in the dryer? I'm wondering why it is necessary to use two layers? I've never done it, but then again I don't do a lot of custom - mostly edge to edge. I guess it would provide more texture, but at a greater expense. Most of my customers wouldn't go for it, so I want to give them an explanation that makes sense. Wouldn't the Hobbs Tuscany provide enough texture on its own or is there another reason for adding a layer of cotton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted January 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 Lyn: Hobbs is now making a wool blend batting. It's wool and cotton rather than wool and poly. It's new and I haven't tried it. Don't know what the percentage the two fibers consist of. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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