|
|
|
Lofty Decisions
Choosing The Right Batting
Part 1, Natural Fibers
Wool and Wool Blends
Wool batts have long been the darling of some quilters who like to hand quilt. They will
tell you, "It's like quilting through butter."
Though often more than twice the price of cotton or polyester batts of similar size, wool,
if treated properly, can wear extremely well and will allow a quilt to be used
continuously through several seasons. The manufacturers now moth-proof the products we
tested, eliminating one of what used to be the greatest drawbacks of using wool batting.
The springiness of the fibers is both a blessing and a curse in wool. The natural
resilience of wool fibers can cause them to beard substantially, so care should be taken
in how the batting is handled. Some quilters prefer to put a layer of cheesecloth between
the wool batt and the outside layers before they baste their project. And to keep the
fibers from felting, or matting, wool quilts should be treated like fine wool sweaters:
wash only in warm water with mild soap without agitation; rinse thoroughly; and lay the
quilt out flat to dry.
An example of bearding,
from one of the wool batts. To control bearding when using a wool batt, try placing
cheesecloth between the batt and the outside layers.
|
