To see detailed photos of quilted and washed samples of each natural fiber batting tested, see QNM issue 317 (November '99).
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Lofty Decisions
Choosing The Right Batting
Part 1, Natural Fibers
By Lois Verma,
Quilting by Jeannie Spears
Some quilters give it no more thought than what's on sale at their local quilt or fabric shop when they are ready to baste their quilt. Others may use the "if it was good enough for grandma" test. Some may have tried a couple of different types but not been satisfied with the results. Some, let's face it, are just plain stymied by the number of choices.
And there are more than a few choices.
A sign of how important quilting has become in the fiber world may be in the number and
variety of batting types that are now available to quilters.
The choice of batting can make a real difference in the finished appearance and
performance of our quilts. While most manufacturers will readily supply quilters with
samples of their battings, only a few really dedicated quilters will ever take the time to
quilt these samples and compare and contrast the results.
So we made the samples for you. In our two-part batting series (of which this is the first part), Quilter's Newsletter Magazine reports on more than 50 different natural (Part 1) and synthetic fiber (Part 2) battings we tested from a number of well-known companies. To ensure consistency, we had one experienced quilter on staff, Jeannie Spears, hand and machine quilt the same design on each 13-inch square sample. The manufacturers' instructions were followed about any pre-treatment the batting might need. The quilt "sandwiches" were carefully labeled, and all were prepared in the same way, with similar-weight light and dark cotton fabrics on either side of the batting, allowing us to look at opaqueness and bearding. All of the samples were washed in a washing machine on the gentle cycle, using warm water and a commercial quilt-washing product. They were dried at a permanent-press setting until damp-dry, then allowed to finish drying at room temperature.
While no one batt will be perfect for all situations, you can use our Part 1 results to help you select an appropriate natural fiber product for your next hand- or machine-quilting project. (For Part 2 synthetic fiber batt results, click here.)
For Jeannie's personal insights,into "How Things Stacked Up," click here.
Some battings puckered more than others after washing. The amount of puckering was not necessarily related to shrinkage.
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