I greatly appreciate the time and effort it must have taken you to do all of these samples and explain in such great detail, visually, the difference in these battings. This is an excellent tutorial!! Thank you so very much.
I needed to watch this again. You really did a good scientific approach to the comparisons. I took notes so that I could refer back to your great results and presentation. Thanks Rob.
I have made only 2 quilts, one for each daughter, with very different methods and batting. Thanks for this tutorial. It gave me knowledge and inspiration to try a different batting in my third quilt (mine)!
Awesome tutorial Rob! I've used 80/20 cotton and wool battings before, but was always curious about other types. Seeing your samples back to back, and hearing of your quilting experiences with each was incredibly helpful. Thanks so much!
this is the all time best informational video I have seen....as a quilter I research a lot and have seen all of your demos which I love as well......but this one is for serious quilters that design 10-12 quilts a year.....you helped answer some questions we never thought involved the batting......thank you for your time......
Wow... just wow. I love the comparisons. I have always wondered what would happen to a finished quilt when I used different batting. Therefore, to make things less surprising, I used the same batting so I knew what to expect for gift quilts! Now, I have an idea as to what to expect, and can be more adventuresome!!! Thank you so much Rob! I love your tutorials. Your energy, planning on how to teach, and love of quilting show in every tutorial you do.
Wow! Rob - Thank you so much for this video. I bought a sample pack of batting to try and do something similar, but never got brave enough to try FMQ. I have been watching your series on FMQ and have learned quite a bit. I have so many quilt tops that need to be quilted, but it is quite expensive to send them out. I have been doing some straight line quilting on a couple of quilts and my husband loves them. I used a bamboo/rayon/cotton blend. They are quite warm for the Houston climate. They washed up very nice. Thanks again for your videos and tutorials. I watch them all!!!
Great tutorial Rob and thanks for taking all the time to quilt those samples. It is nice to see the dedication you have to your audience. I have been a fan of the Dream Green for a long time. Used to buy it from the company by the roll when I was doing long arm quilting. Was able to make over 30 lap size (I call them "cuddle") quilts from one roll. When I first ordered it the fact that it was eco-friendly won me over and then the drapability and washability kept me. Don't do the bulk quilting I used to but still love to watch your videos.
Rob, I have seen many videos and articles on batting and yours is the best one ever! Coming from a medical background myself, I especially appreciated your controlling all of the variables in your research on batting - and no kidding - found it extremely useful and helpful. Now I understand what batting to use for each type of quilt and did not know that bamboo was not always echo friendly, so thanks for that tip:) On a side note, I understand your from Morro Bay ? I was raised in the central valley and when my folks sold the farm, they (dad really) built a house up by the golf course. We've been going there for years, so a nice hello to MB.
Thanks for the amazing tutorial. In Australia we use another blend as well - a wool poly blend. It gives lovely drape, cool in summer and warm in winter and is very lightweight.
Thanks for the video. Great explanations. Had no idea there are so many choices. Yesterday I was putting a lap size quilt top together with some 80/20 batting. I was in pannick mode as I didn't know whether a single layer of batting would be enough. When I googled to search for an answer found your video. I'm fairly new to quilting and never used other than the traditional poly for baby quilts. I decided to use two layers. So far it's doesn't seem to bad, a little weighty but it will be warm. Perhaps a video on when and how to use mulitple layers for rookies like me. Watching you from Ontario, Canada. Thank you.
This was an excellent tutorial. I have purchased both the wool and the bamboo batting, but I still have not used them because I was unsure which kind of quilt for which they would be appropriate. Thank you so much for the information! Love your tutorials!
Phenomenal, well researched and presented. Rob, you hit it out of the park. This is invaluable. I will no longer stand in front of a line of batting and be so befuddled with what to choose. Thanks for replacing the mystery w/knowledge!
What a gem of a video! Thank you so much. I was just going over batting types with my mom and she suggested I just go buy several and play around. However I don't have the time or money to do that right away. This is awesome
Thanks Rob, Iloved your explanations of each type of batting. I’m new to quilting and I’ve only finished one ( for my granddaughter) and used the wool batting. I’m making another quilt and was curious as to which batting to us and decided to use the wool again because they live in a cold damp climate. Thank you for your work and knowledge you bring to your tutorials.
Thanks for all the information and research. It sure helps me. I've only used high loft polyester in the past. I'm ready to branch out. The samples were hard to see on my computer, really dark. Maybe a light material with dark thread, or dark material with white thread would be easier to see.
Thanks, Rob. I have just begun more quilting on my machine vs. sending out to a long-arm quilter. I usually use 100% cotton batting but am now inclined to branch out a bit.
Just a comment on the bamboo. I don't know your experience but I got sheets from Purple bedding and they are fabulous! They feel like satin sheets but gets nice and warm in winter and stays cool in summer and breathes nicely wicking away moisture while sleeping.
I love using the wool batting when I use a lot of black or navy in a quilt. I find it doesn't shed as much lint "fluffies" to clean off when done. Thanks for a great video.
Thanks so much for all the info! I've been quilting for about 20 years and the last eight yrs have been blessed to have a Gammill longarm. I have used all of the types of batting you showed except the bamboo on my longarm. I only used 80/20 batting when I was quilting on my DM. At this point I prefer wool for family and special quilts because of the beautiful drape and warmth. But, we also use our quilting spring and fall as it doesn't over heat. If it's really cold I add an extra flannel sheet to the covers and we're plenty warm without the weight of a lot of covers. You mentioned liking to use poly for children's and babies quilts. Yes, they are very durable but, should that blanket ever get near a flame it will flare and melt. It will also stick like glue to anything it's setting on including skin. So, please use cotton or at least 80/20 cotton batting or, if you can afford it, wool as it won't burn at all. Yes, the cotton part will but the wool won't support a flame. It's a dreadful thing to think about but worth it should a fire ever happen. Surely appreciate all the work you did in showing the before and after washing too! Marty
That's a great use for wool in the last sample you did. Wool is lovely for warmth, but it makes me itch! I wonder, would it be itchy if it were sandwiched in a quilt (fibers working their way through a quilting cotton backing, etc.)? Super video- it looks like your experiment took lots of hard work. Thank you for your efforts- very informative.
Quilters Dream Batting has a great accordion like 2 inch X 3 inch sample packet..of all the different kinds of batting..that I picked up at a quilt show a couple years ago.
Thank you!! Great Scientific Method! I have wondered about the differences in batting and now all of my questions are answered!! I wouldn't have thought to wash them for comparison...great job!!
Nice video, although good science covers all aspects of the findings, I was surprised that you didn't mention anything about shrinkage after washing. I wish you'd have compared each sample against each other so that we can see the differences in the shrinkage. Thank you.
Wow! Rob! You worked hard for us with this one! Thank you so much. I have to admit, I can never decide which batting I want to use. This is going to be my go to video before I sandwich my next quilts! You rock!
I've only ever used poly wadding because it's so much cheaper than cotton and I have the dream green at the moment. I've seen a couple of blog post on different kinds of wadding, but they all seem to say that poly is bad and cotton is good without actually showing the differences. Thank you for doing this experiment, it was very helpfull.
I have put my quilts in the dry on low or air day..and when able lay them flat out on a sheet on the patio. I usually iron it as most my quilts are gifts and I like the crisp ironed appearance. I always put a sleeve on the back giving them the option of quilt and/or wall hanging.
Hi from the UK...I love your demos you make them easy to understand so thankyou.may I just add please could you change your overall to the next size down as your overall is too big for you.keep crafting love your work...
Thank you for all your hard work and you definitily answered a lot of my unspoken questions! And now I know why I'm getting some puckers on the back of my current quilt. Thank you so much! As always, another fantastic tutorial!
Thank you for this, I gave always stayed away from poly, this has made me rethink that. I am a huge wool fan, it is a heavy quilt but love quilting. I used the bambo fir a quilt fir my sister when she was going thru chemo. Some patients don't like things touching them but the are cold. this is so light it was not uncomfortable but still warm without the weight. They are both a bit more money, so poly might be good choice too.
Thanks for your 'scientific' efforts and making the info so concise and enjoyable to watch. Learned a whole lot in a short time, so will keep this video around for future reference. Good job!
Thank you Rob, this is just what I needed to know. This will help me to decide which batting to use in each quilt I plan to make. Definate wool for winter quilts!
Great video. Thank you! I watched the video twice, to make sure I didn't miss this, but was the fabric prewashed? I assume no, because of the amount of shrinkage. I just wanted to confirm. I make t-shirt quilts and depending on the looks someone wants in the final product, I use poly or cotton/ poly blend. It is fun to play with materials to get the look you want.
I found this one very interesting . Your time and effort is appreciated so you could show us all those samples. The high loft one looks like it could be fun to try. I wonder if appliqué would poof as well as your letters did. hmmmmm....gotta try. Thanks for posting ...it's now in my favorites for reference :)
Wonderful info. I wasn't aware of the different battings available. Next time I'm in Hamilton (I live about an hour away) I'll be sure to look at your samples.
Hey Rob, I recently tried Milk Batting. I found it great. I did hand quilt it, lots of height without the weight. You do have to wash the quilt in cold water. You must air dry naturally ie.. delicate drying setting, but it came out great. Regards Judy Wheldon
I absolutely love your videos! Your personality is perfect to teach, and your enthusiasm is fantastic!!!! I’m learning soooo much. Thank you!!! 😃I was given many (like 10) boxes of loose batting.... any suggestions on what I can do with it? I’m a newbie to all of this BTW....
Very engaging and informative tutorial, Rob! You obviously spent a lot of time planning and executing it, and the end result is much appreciated. One question: It seemed you were dissuading your viewers from using bamboo. Could you clarify exactly what it is you don't like about bamboo batting? Thanks!
Ugh! I didn't realize that, and you're right, it's not what we're being led to believe about bamboo. Thank you for doing what you've done to make the issues more transparent so we can all make better informed choices.
Really helpful video - I never was sure what to use. My first quilt a couple years ago I used polyester fleece (the kind sweatshirts are made from), and I did not use a backing because it looked so nice. I believe this fabric is also made from recycled bottles. Is it the same thing? It turned out great, and is nice and light, and very warm. It is only used at Christmas, and I was experimenting.
Rob this video was awesome. I have never been a fan of poly. I only use cotton because I like it for warmth which is mostly what I do quilting for. I am curious about the green cotton you used. I want to try it so may see if I can get a crib size to try it out. Thanks for all the help. You do good work and I appreciate you sharing all your work with us.
Thanks a ton, Tammy! :) That batting was a Dream Green batting, and it really was nice. You can find it in many different places online. Hope this helps!
What about the best type of batting when using a heavy weight stretch fabric such as heavy weight jersey? I want to make sections of a garment with batting. Thank you. Great video.
Absolutely fantastic video, especially seeing what they look like washed! I love the Quilters Dream battings because you don't have to quilt them as densely as some of the other brands (between 8" and 12" depending on the fibers used). We sleep under the quilts so we want them soft and snuggly. I have used most of the battings (my favorites are Wool, Orient and Puff) but was always a bit nervous about the Green. Your review made me decide to give it a try. It's a pity MSQC don't carry it.
So I am a complete beginner, never quilted before, and will be making a baby quilt. I really liked the one from recycled water bottles but I'm hopping that the quilt I'm making will be used and washed a lot. Do you think it would withstand all the use and washing or would you suggest going more with the 70/30 cotton polyester blend or the mid loft polyester?
I most definitely appreciate effort you have put into this testing; however, I have never seen quilting without a backing. That has to have effected the process of free motion movement.
I love your video's! Where can i find the Dream green batting? Checked the website, not there. Was difficult to see with the dark fabric, but really enjoyed it! Thanks Rob!
Hello Charlene! Thank you for tuning in to the Batting Bootcamp tutorial! A quick Google search will give you a few options to purchase the Quilter's Dream Green batting. Thank you!
I loved this boot camp...a lot of great information that I really needed (more than I even knew I needed!) but I agree about the contrast between the dark fabric and thread. Still a BIG thumbs up on the tutorial, but maybe next time the fabric and thread will have more contrast. Thanks for the great information and ALL that free-motion work, Rob!
great video....... thank you. There's always something to be learned. You did a great job showing how each batt quilts up, but as I'm sure you know, there's more to learn. ie. poly batts tend top beard over time........ making a beautiful quilt look awful.
I started quilting with poly but found it bearded so switched to 80/20 and then 100% cotton. I have not had any bearing with 80/20 but wonder about the 70/30.
Loved this tutorial. Question shrinking what if any had shrinkage ? Would you suggest washing any of the batting prior to quilting on it for example the wool, because it was hard to work with would washing it first have made it easier? New quilter thank you
Was there a noticeable amount of shrinkage after washing? I ask because I want to make a table runner and placemat set and I wont be doing much decorative quilting but just a few verticle, evenly spaced lines for bonding the back to the front. Maybe a diamond pattern but certainly not squiggly stuff and I'm not looking for loft or "character" as you called it. I want the fabric design to be the feature and the less thread line the better. Thank you! Oh, by the way.... you have any videos of you playing that Martin hanging on the wall behind you? I'd really like to hear you play. I'm a drummer and bass player but dabble on 6 strings. I have a parlor size (2-17 model) Martin from 1928 that my dad left to me when he passed. Martin is probably the most consistantly great guitar makers ever, I think! Peace!
I am struggling with an 80/20 cotton wool batting, I think Hobbs. What needle should I be using? Cotton top, batting, flannel backing. I just bought a used Juki TL98Q for FMQ and have been practicing and practicing. But wow, I just put the quilt sandwich in today and the drag against my movement was incredible. 62x72”. My Aurifil 50wt cotton thread keeps breaking. Plan to clean machine again tonight and oil again (did this 3 days ago with an hour or so practice a day since). Should I switch to a polyester thread? My first quilts, midloft poly, cotton top, cuddle backing, did great with gutermann sew all 50 wt. If you can’t answer all these many many questions, can you point me in the direction for finding answers? Karin
Hello, still not certain which batting to use for my first wall hanging. It is a collage with many pieces in the background, and foreground. I'd like it to be stiff for a nice straight, somewhat stiff wall hanging. Because of the pieces on the top, I will quilt this with lines close together; thus given this information, would you recommend mid poly? Would cotton be to light and have to soft of a hand for a wall hanging? Thank you for your thoughts.
Hi Rob! Great tutorial again! I have a question, I tried to listen to it in your video or in the comments below, but I may have missed it. Is there a correct side of the batting that goes next to the quilt top and which side goes towards the backing, or doesn't it make any difference? I never know when I am getting ready to pin my quilts together before quilting, I probably do half of them wrong! Thanks, I can't seem to find any info on this. I really appreciate your help!
Thank you so much! Batting can drive me "batty" sometimes! LOL! I can't tell you how much I enjoy all your videos, I always learn something very useful even after quilting for 28 years! I still think you should have your wife and kids on! That would be awesome! It would be fun to see a tutorial while you all work on a "family" quilt!
First of all, thank you for sharing all your research. I was surprised by your recommending polyester batting for a baby quilt. In a fire, polyester will melt and stick to whatever it touches, like baby skin, so I don't believe it should be used for a quilt that will cover a baby (or a person who is elderly or disabled, for that matter). Quilter's Dream makes one called Dream Angel that has a non-chemical fire retardant that I use for baby quilts. I did just look, and fireproof polyester batting is available. I wonder what is used to make it fireproof.
Thanks for that great feedback, Terri. You do make a great point there, perhaps the poly blend would be better for a play mat and not an actual baby blanket. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I'll be sure to remember that going forward. :)
Thank you a very nice review. I like Dream Green on most of my quilts. Only exception is that for babies and young children, then I use Dream Angel because of flame retardant fibers.
Polyester high-loft batting. Would you remember what brand you used? I would love to see you at the machine quilting with high loft batting. I've had problems with it in the past. Is it really made for tie quilts?
I greatly appreciate the time and effort it must have taken you to do all of these samples and explain in such great detail, visually, the difference in these battings. This is an excellent tutorial!! Thank you so very much.
Really LOVE that you showed how each sample looked before and after washing. Best tutorial on batting I’ve seen.
Thank you!
I needed to watch this again. You really did a good scientific approach to the comparisons. I took notes so that I could refer back to your great results and presentation. Thanks Rob.
I’m totally watching this guy. I’m not a man. But I am totally happy to see a man teaching in this space! Joy!
I have made only 2 quilts, one for each daughter, with very different methods and batting. Thanks for this tutorial. It gave me knowledge and inspiration to try a different batting in my third quilt (mine)!
So glad to hear that, Linda!
Awesome tutorial Rob! I've used 80/20 cotton and wool battings before, but was always curious about other types. Seeing your samples back to back, and hearing of your quilting experiences with each was incredibly helpful. Thanks so much!
That is fantastic to hear Michelle Weatherson! Keep up the great work!
this is the all time best informational video I have seen....as a quilter I research a lot and have seen all of your demos which I love as well......but this one is for serious quilters that design 10-12 quilts a year.....you helped answer some questions we never thought involved the batting......thank you for your time......
Thanks for your awesome comment Janet! We appreciate your support!
Wow... just wow. I love the comparisons. I have always wondered what would happen to a finished quilt when I used different batting. Therefore, to make things less surprising, I used the same batting so I knew what to expect for gift quilts! Now, I have an idea as to what to expect, and can be more adventuresome!!! Thank you so much Rob! I love your tutorials. Your energy, planning on how to teach, and love of quilting show in every tutorial you do.
Wow! Rob - Thank you so much for this video. I bought a sample pack of batting to try and do something similar, but never got brave enough to try FMQ. I have been watching your series on FMQ and have learned quite a bit. I have so many quilt tops that need to be quilted, but it is quite expensive to send them out. I have been doing some straight line quilting on a couple of quilts and my husband loves them. I used a bamboo/rayon/cotton blend. They are quite warm for the Houston climate. They washed up very nice. Thanks again for your videos and tutorials. I watch them all!!!
The best video I find so far about batting. Thank you so much. God blessed
Great tutorial Rob and thanks for taking all the time to quilt those samples. It is nice to see the dedication you have to your audience.
I have been a fan of the Dream Green for a long time. Used to buy it from the company by the roll when I was doing long arm quilting. Was able to make over 30 lap size (I call them "cuddle") quilts from one roll.
When I first ordered it the fact that it was eco-friendly won me over and then the drapability and washability kept me.
Don't do the bulk quilting I used to but still love to watch your videos.
Thanks so much, Patricia! I love hearing everyone's feedback and what batting they like. This is great information!
Your batting tutorial was great . It tayght me a lot about some batting that i have never used
It’s obvious the amount of time you put in. Thank you. Well done.
Rob, I have seen many videos and articles on batting and yours is the best one ever! Coming from a medical background myself, I especially appreciated your controlling all of the variables in your research on batting - and no kidding - found it extremely useful and helpful. Now I understand what batting to use for each type of quilt and did not know that bamboo was not always echo friendly, so thanks for that tip:) On a side note, I understand your from Morro Bay ? I was raised in the central valley and when my folks sold the farm, they (dad really) built a house up by the golf course. We've been going there for years, so a nice hello to MB.
Thanks for the amazing tutorial. In Australia we use another blend as well - a wool poly blend. It gives lovely drape, cool in summer and warm in winter and is very lightweight.
You know what's also cool in summer?
Not using a blanket.
This has been so helping in choosing batting for jackets!
Thanks for the video. Great explanations. Had no idea there are so many choices. Yesterday I was putting a lap size quilt top together with some 80/20 batting. I was in pannick mode as I didn't know whether a single layer of batting would be enough. When I googled to search for an answer found your video. I'm fairly new to quilting and never used other than the traditional poly for baby quilts. I decided to use two layers. So far it's doesn't seem to bad, a little weighty but it will be warm. Perhaps a video on when and how to use mulitple layers for rookies like me. Watching you from Ontario, Canada. Thank you.
And I have no idea how I just found this video. I loved your channel!
This was an excellent tutorial. I have purchased both the wool and the bamboo batting, but I still have not used them because I was unsure which kind of quilt for which they would be appropriate. Thank you so much for the information! Love your tutorials!
Hopefully now you'll be able to use them up!
Phenomenal, well researched and presented. Rob, you hit it out of the park. This is invaluable. I will no longer stand in front of a line of batting and be so befuddled with what to choose. Thanks for replacing the mystery w/knowledge!
Thanks so much, Lesley. I'm glad it was helpful!
Fantastic information and respect to you for how much effort you go into to create a tutorial 🔥🔥
What a gem of a video! Thank you so much. I was just going over batting types with my mom and she suggested I just go buy several and play around. However I don't have the time or money to do that right away. This is awesome
Super happy to help Christy Hinkle!
great information for those of us who have only used one kind of batting (cotton). thanks and keep up the good work!
Glad I could help a bit, Shelly! :D
i absolutely fell in love with the look of that high loft poly absolutely beautiful
Isn't it great? Such a fun look!
Thanks Rob, Iloved your explanations of each type of batting. I’m new to quilting and I’ve only finished one ( for my granddaughter) and used the wool batting. I’m making another quilt and was curious as to which batting to us and decided to use the wool again because they live in a cold damp climate. Thank you for your work and knowledge you bring to your tutorials.
Thanks for all the information and research. It sure helps me. I've only used high loft polyester in the past. I'm ready to branch out. The samples were hard to see on my computer, really dark. Maybe a light material with dark thread, or dark material with white thread would be easier to see.
Thanks for the great feedback, I'll keep that in mind for future tutorials. :)
Thanks, Rob. I have just begun more quilting on my machine vs. sending out to a long-arm quilter. I usually use 100% cotton batting but am now inclined to branch out a bit.
Just a comment on the bamboo. I don't know your experience but I got sheets from Purple bedding and they are fabulous! They feel like satin sheets but gets nice and warm in winter and stays cool in summer and breathes nicely wicking away moisture while sleeping.
I love using the wool batting when I use a lot of black or navy in a quilt. I find it doesn't shed as much lint "fluffies" to clean off when done. Thanks for a great video.
Thanks so much for all the info! I've been quilting for about 20 years and the last eight yrs have been blessed to have a Gammill longarm. I have used all of the types of batting you showed except the bamboo on my longarm. I only used 80/20 batting when I was quilting on my DM.
At this point I prefer wool for family and special quilts because of the beautiful drape and warmth. But, we also use our quilting spring and fall as it doesn't over heat. If it's really cold I add an extra flannel sheet to the covers and we're plenty warm without the weight of a lot of covers.
You mentioned liking to use poly for children's and babies quilts. Yes, they are very durable but, should that blanket ever get near a flame it will flare and melt. It will also stick like glue to anything it's setting on including skin. So, please use cotton or at least 80/20 cotton batting or, if you can afford it, wool as it won't burn at all. Yes, the cotton part will but the wool won't support a flame.
It's a dreadful thing to think about but worth it should a fire ever happen.
Surely appreciate all the work you did in showing the before and after washing too! Marty
Thanks for your awesome comment and advice MrsMTMomma! I really appreciate it! :)
Best batting tutorial ever. Thank you!!
That's a great use for wool in the last sample you did. Wool is lovely for warmth, but it makes me itch! I wonder, would it be itchy if it were sandwiched in a quilt (fibers working their way through a quilting cotton backing, etc.)? Super video- it looks like your experiment took lots of hard work. Thank you for your efforts- very informative.
Quilters Dream Batting has a great accordion like 2 inch X 3 inch sample packet..of all the different kinds of batting..that I picked up at a quilt show a couple years ago.
Thank you!! Great Scientific Method! I have wondered about the differences in batting and now all of my questions are answered!! I wouldn't have thought to wash them for comparison...great job!!
Nice video, although good science covers all aspects of the findings, I was surprised that you didn't mention anything about shrinkage after washing. I wish you'd have compared each sample against each other so that we can see the differences in the shrinkage.
Thank you.
very very helpful thank you so much . I'm doing a quilt with wool batting and look forward to it now
Wow! Rob! You worked hard for us with this one! Thank you so much. I have to admit, I can never decide which batting I want to use. This is going to be my go to video before I sandwich my next quilts! You rock!
I hope it helps as you choose for future projects! :)
I've only ever used poly wadding because it's so much cheaper than cotton and I have the dream green at the moment. I've seen a couple of blog post on different kinds of wadding, but they all seem to say that poly is bad and cotton is good without actually showing the differences. Thank you for doing this experiment, it was very helpfull.
You bet Jen! Thanks for watching!
Thanks. Also, while wool is good for cold climates, a thin wool batt is also good in warm climates as it has superior wicking properties.
Good point, Dale! Thanks so much!
I have put my quilts in the dry on low or air day..and when able lay them flat out on a sheet on the patio. I usually iron it as most my quilts are gifts and I like the crisp ironed appearance. I always put a sleeve on the back giving them the option of quilt and/or wall hanging.
What a fantastic way to do it Happy Cat! Keep up the great work!
Hi from the UK...I love your demos you make them easy to understand so thankyou.may I just add please could you change your overall to the next size down as your overall is too big for you.keep crafting love your work...
Wow....awesome segment. Thanks for doing this as i have been wondering about the different battings. This has really helped
Great info Rob!! I was wondering how much shrinkage was there with each type of batting.
Thank you for all your hard work and you definitily answered a lot of my unspoken questions! And now I know why I'm getting some puckers on the back of my current quilt. Thank you so much! As always, another fantastic tutorial!
Thank you for the visual comparisons! So helpful, Rob!
Thank you for this, I gave always stayed away from poly, this has made me rethink that. I am a huge wool fan, it is a heavy quilt but love quilting. I used the bambo fir a quilt fir my sister when she was going thru chemo. Some patients don't like things touching them but the are cold. this is so light it was not uncomfortable but still warm without the weight. They are both a bit more money, so poly might be good choice too.
Thanks so much for your comment, Debi! That's a great point about the bamboo vs poly.
Thanks for sharing
I have been watching for three weeks
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this for us.
Very helpful video, wish I could give it 2 thumbs up! Thank you Rob for taking the time to show us the difference in batting.
You're very welcome, Alison! :)
This was really helpful. I plan to try the Dream Green ASAP.
Thank you Rob, what a brilliant informative video.
Thanks for your 'scientific' efforts and making the info so concise and enjoyable to watch. Learned a whole lot in a short time, so will keep this video around for future reference. Good job!
Thanks a ton! That's great to hear!
WOW WOW WOW!!! Thank you so much for doing all the research here! Fantastic information - you've got a new subscriber!
Thank you for the great information and all the hard work.
Thank you Rob, this is just what I needed to know. This will help me to decide which batting to use in each quilt I plan to make. Definate wool for winter quilts!
Great video. Thank you! I watched the video twice, to make sure I didn't miss this, but was the fabric prewashed? I assume no, because of the amount of shrinkage. I just wanted to confirm.
I make t-shirt quilts and depending on the looks someone wants in the final product, I use poly or cotton/ poly blend. It is fun to play with materials to get the look you want.
I found this one very interesting . Your time and effort is appreciated so you could show us all those samples. The high loft one looks like it could be fun to try. I wonder if appliqué would poof as well as your letters did. hmmmmm....gotta try. Thanks for posting ...it's now in my favorites for reference :)
Thank you so much dude. You are seriously the best. I really enjoy quilting with you. Awesome skull on the lab coat!
Thanks a ton, PrincessMorbid! :D I kinda like the skull myself.
I love bamboo fabrics, especially in my socks. It wicks moisture like wool, but is lighter weight like cotton. You said you wanted to know.
Thanks a ton! I appreciate the info, Stephanie!
Loved this video! Made me an expert in 15 minutes. I can only dream of machine quilting as good as you.
Hi and thanks a million for this very useful tutorial! 🌸🌸
Wonderful info. I wasn't aware of the different battings available. Next time I'm in Hamilton (I live about an hour away) I'll be sure to look at your samples.
Awesome, Sue! I hope to see you soon in Hamilton!
I love your show! I've watched every episode more than once.
Very informative for a newbie like me! Thanks for taking the time!
Thank you for the video! I do have a question though...did you dry your samples in the dryer?
Whaaaat a great tutorial!
Oh my gosh! All the quilting and washing... But my beginner quilting heart is very thankful!
VERY INFORMATIVE!! Thank you Rob for another great 'class'.
This is exactly what I was looking for!
Excellent video, great samples! When using the polyester batting, what size needle?
Thanks for this!! Great information on batting!!
Hey Rob, I recently tried Milk Batting. I found it great. I did hand quilt it, lots of height without the weight. You do have to wash the quilt in cold water. You must air dry naturally ie.. delicate drying setting, but it came out great. Regards Judy Wheldon
Thanks for the info on it, Judy! I'll have to look more into it!
Hi there Rob yet another Amazing Tutorial Thanks for sharring (smile)
I absolutely love your videos! Your personality is perfect to teach, and your enthusiasm is fantastic!!!! I’m learning soooo much. Thank you!!! 😃I was given many (like 10) boxes of loose batting.... any suggestions on what I can do with it? I’m a newbie to all of this BTW....
Very engaging and informative tutorial, Rob! You obviously spent a lot of time planning and executing it, and the end result is much appreciated. One question: It seemed you were dissuading your viewers from using bamboo. Could you clarify exactly what it is you don't like about bamboo batting? Thanks!
Ugh! I didn't realize that, and you're right, it's not what we're being led to believe about bamboo. Thank you for doing what you've done to make the issues more transparent so we can all make better informed choices.
Really helpful video - I never was sure what to use. My first quilt a couple years ago I used polyester fleece (the kind sweatshirts are made from), and I did not use a backing because it looked so nice. I believe this fabric is also made from recycled bottles. Is it the same thing? It turned out great, and is nice and light, and very warm. It is only used at Christmas, and I was experimenting.
What a great idea to just use it without backing. I like it!
Awesome info. An easy reference to refer to when choosing something for a special project! THANKS!! :)
Perfect information Rob!!!, I learned so much. thank you for your commitment to Science for us!
Thanks for the great info! As always, totally enjoyed the video and will refer back to it many times I'm sure.
Rob this video was awesome. I have never been a fan of poly. I only use cotton because I like it for warmth which is mostly what I do quilting for. I am curious about the green cotton you used. I want to try it so may see if I can get a crib size to try it out. Thanks for all the help. You do good work and I appreciate you sharing all your work with us.
Thanks a ton, Tammy! :) That batting was a Dream Green batting, and it really was nice. You can find it in many different places online. Hope this helps!
The Dream Green is actually plastic not cotton. It's made from plastic bottles like water and sodas come in.
What about the best type of batting when using a heavy weight stretch fabric such as heavy weight jersey? I want to make sections of a garment with batting. Thank you. Great video.
Absolutely fantastic video, especially seeing what they look like washed! I love the Quilters Dream battings because you don't have to quilt them as densely as some of the other brands (between 8" and 12" depending on the fibers used). We sleep under the quilts so we want them soft and snuggly. I have used most of the battings (my favorites are Wool, Orient and Puff) but was always a bit nervous about the Green. Your review made me decide to give it a try. It's a pity MSQC don't carry it.
So glad to hear that, Enny!
So I am a complete beginner, never quilted before, and will be making a baby quilt. I really liked the one from recycled water bottles but I'm hopping that the quilt I'm making will be used and washed a lot. Do you think it would withstand all the use and washing or would you suggest going more with the 70/30 cotton polyester blend or the mid loft polyester?
Thank you for this wonderful information!!
I most definitely appreciate effort you have put into this testing; however, I have never seen quilting without a backing. That has to have effected the process of free motion movement.
wendi gratz does that for her quilt-as-you-go projects and it turns out beautifully! don't knock it till you've tried it.
I have tried it and don't like it. I wasn't being critical just asking a question. Ron does provides great info that's why I subscribe.
i remember when high loft was twice that high. i really want to use that green though. that's a brilliant idea.
I love your video's! Where can i find the Dream green batting? Checked the website, not there. Was difficult to see with the dark fabric, but really enjoyed it! Thanks Rob!
Hello Charlene! Thank you for tuning in to the Batting Bootcamp tutorial! A quick Google search will give you a few options to purchase the Quilter's Dream Green batting. Thank you!
I loved this boot camp...a lot of great information that I really needed (more than I even knew I needed!) but I agree about the contrast between the dark fabric and thread. Still a BIG thumbs up on the tutorial, but maybe next time the fabric and thread will have more contrast. Thanks for the great information and ALL that free-motion work, Rob!
Great video with so much useful information. Thanks!
Nice! Thank you for your work!
great video....... thank you. There's always something to be learned. You did a great job showing how each batt quilts up, but as I'm sure you know, there's more to learn. ie. poly batts tend top beard over time........ making a beautiful quilt look awful.
I started quilting with poly but found it bearded so switched to 80/20 and then 100% cotton. I have not had any bearing with 80/20 but wonder about the 70/30.
You are amazing. Thanks for putting this altogether. Great info
Loved this tutorial. Question shrinking what if any had shrinkage ? Would you suggest washing any of the batting prior to quilting on it for example the wool, because it was hard to work with would washing it first have made it easier? New quilter thank you
Was there a noticeable amount of shrinkage after washing? I ask because I want to make a table runner and placemat set and I wont be doing much decorative quilting but just a few verticle, evenly spaced lines for bonding the back to the front. Maybe a diamond pattern but certainly not squiggly stuff and I'm not looking for loft or "character" as you called it. I want the fabric design to be the feature and the less thread line the better.
Thank you!
Oh, by the way.... you have any videos of you playing that Martin hanging on the wall behind you? I'd really like to hear you play. I'm a drummer and bass player but dabble on 6 strings. I have a parlor size (2-17 model) Martin from 1928 that my dad left to me when he passed. Martin is probably the most consistantly great guitar makers ever, I think!
Peace!
I am struggling with an 80/20 cotton wool batting, I think Hobbs. What needle should I be using? Cotton top, batting, flannel backing. I just bought a used Juki TL98Q for FMQ and have been practicing and practicing. But wow, I just put the quilt sandwich in today and the drag against my movement was incredible. 62x72”. My Aurifil 50wt cotton thread keeps breaking. Plan to clean machine again tonight and oil again (did this 3 days ago with an hour or so practice a day since). Should I switch to a polyester thread? My first quilts, midloft poly, cotton top, cuddle backing, did great with gutermann sew all 50 wt. If you can’t answer all these many many questions, can you point me in the direction for finding answers? Karin
Hello, still not certain which batting to use for my first wall hanging. It is a collage with many pieces in the background, and foreground. I'd like it to be stiff for a nice straight, somewhat stiff wall hanging. Because of the pieces on the top, I will quilt this with lines close together; thus given this information, would you recommend mid poly? Would cotton be to light and have to soft of a hand for a wall hanging? Thank you for your thoughts.
Hi Rob! Great tutorial again! I have a question, I tried to listen to it in your video or in the comments below, but I may have missed it. Is there a correct side of the batting that goes next to the quilt top and which side goes towards the backing, or doesn't it make any difference? I never know when I am getting ready to pin my quilts together before quilting, I probably do half of them wrong! Thanks, I can't seem to find any info on this. I really appreciate your help!
Thank you so much! Batting can drive me "batty" sometimes! LOL! I can't tell you how much I enjoy all your videos, I always learn something very useful even after quilting for 28 years! I still think you should have your wife and kids on! That would be awesome! It would be fun to see a tutorial while you all work on a "family" quilt!
Thank you for such great info. Just what I needed to know!
First of all, thank you for sharing all your research. I was surprised by your recommending polyester batting for a baby quilt. In a fire, polyester will melt and stick to whatever it touches, like baby skin, so I don't believe it should be used for a quilt that will cover a baby (or a person who is elderly or disabled, for that matter). Quilter's Dream makes one called Dream Angel that has a non-chemical fire retardant that I use for baby quilts. I did just look, and fireproof polyester batting is available. I wonder what is used to make it fireproof.
Thanks for that great feedback, Terri. You do make a great point there, perhaps the poly blend would be better for a play mat and not an actual baby blanket. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I'll be sure to remember that going forward. :)
Thank you a very nice review. I like Dream Green on most of my quilts. Only exception is that for babies and young children, then I use Dream Angel because of flame retardant fibers.
Thank goodness for this, I was always perplexed.
Polyester high-loft batting. Would you remember what brand you used? I would love to see you at the machine quilting with high loft batting. I've had problems with it in the past. Is it really made for tie quilts?
Have you tried Quilter's Dream Request batting? Very low loft and just gorgeous to work with. Not warm, however.
I'll have to give that one a try, Ruth! :)