wool batting

[kmouse]

Whenever I hear all of the discussons about wool batting I can't help but wonder if it doesn't make the quilt hot? This Texas girl doesn't need any more heat! Please tell me it's just the same as cotton. Thanks,

[Lorchen]

Yohoo, Ali! What type of wool batting is in my quilt? Can you remember? It's a big quilt, but very light. It's lovely and warm in winter. I have hand-washed it in the bath, then dried it outside on a sunny day (but in the shade), and it looked like new.

Lorchen

[Lorchen]

I usually use Warm & Natural Cotton batting and I'm a handquilter. Since no one else mentioned it, I'm wondering if there is something about it that I should know. So far, I prefer cotton over poly and have not yet tried wool.

[kmouse]

Nancy,you will LOVE handquilting with wool batting. I finished hand quilting a queen sized quilt some months ago and it was so easy to needle. The needle glided right through the batting and I was also better able to maintain stitch size. It's just easier to hand quilt. In fact, until I got used to it, I really stabbed my finger underneath the quilt a few times because I was expecting more resistance.

Charmart, the wool batting is really light and provides a light warmth without weight. It's lighter than poly (except for something like Hobbes Thermore) and also "breathes" better. My largest quilt, 120 x 120, is our summer quilt.

[kmouse]

I'm still waiting for just the right time to quilt my king-sized quilt at the shop where I rent time on an HQ16 and am planning on using a wool batting.

At a quilt shop, I asked why all they had was wool and the worker said they all love it so much that's all they carry. I asked about it being too warm since my DH is heavy and hot blooded and she said it's not any warmer because it breathes so much better.

We'll see. The problem is that the gal who helps with setting up the long-arm that I rent is alergic to wool and can't even be in the room while I'm there. I have to pick a day when another gal is working.

I'll report on how it quilts on the long arm. Nancy in NY state

[kmouse]

Lorchen, you've got Hobbs Heirloom wool in your quilt, I'm pretty sure.

Nancy, if you've been hand quilting W&N, you'll be amazed at how easy it is to hand quilt Hobbs or Quilters Dream Wool. If you prefer cotton, I would recommend one of the Quilters Dream ones, it doesn't have a scrim and should be easier to needle than the W&N.

Shirley, the Hobbs Wool is thinner than the Quilters Dream and might suit your purpose better. It is washable, though I have heard other reports of some batches of Heirloom wool shrinking, so it might be worth pre-washing. It's not heavy like cotton, so it won't be a difficult job.

[Lorchen]

I used lukewarm water for my gorgeous 'Ali Quilt', and shrinking has been minimal. The quilt looks great.

I don't know if anybody in the US does this, or how much in would cost in postage if you order from 'Asding', but I just love the idea of being able to buy a whole stack of wadding sample pieces and then 'play' with them at home.

The other thing I did before making a very large quilt for a non-quilting friend on the other side of the world who has cats and dogs, so it had to be easy to look after (and I wasn't there to help): I made a few simple table mats with the wadding first, and then washed them several times. The friend uses the quilt all the time (and it washed regularly in a machine), and I'm still using the mats about 4 years later.

[Judymc]

That's a great idea, Lorchen! I've never used wool and usually use Mountain Mist Light for my hand quilting.

[suehenyon]

Does pre-washing even out the thick and thin places of the wool batting?
If not, do we just ignore them?

[littleflower]

Once a friend turned me on to Quilters Dream I gave up W&N for hand quilting. Partly because of the scrim and partly because of the seeds etc that are still in the W&N. Then someone else mentioned wool and oooooooooooooooooooh I fell in love!

Teri

[littleflower]

If you have distinct thick and thin bits in your wool batting, it's not a first quality bat. Pre-washing won't move the fibres around, but it shouldn't notice once it's quilted, and if you're machine quilting I doubt you'll even notice it when you're sewing. However, if you're hand quilting, I would avoid using it if the thick and thin areas vary a lot.

[suehenyon]

If you have distinct thick and thin bits in your wool batting, it's not a first quality bat.

Wow, it's Hobbs Heirloom Premium Wool Batting.

I bought a queen-sized bat & cut it for my projects. I can't say that I've noticed a difference because of the thick/thin spots in the few small items I've done, all by machine. I'm not extremely experienced with finished large pieces.

I love the weight & feel of the finished product.

[suehenyon]

Thanks for my parcel including the bit of wool Ali! The postman was most intreagued with the packaging!! :shock:

[eileenkny]

Whenever I hear all of the discussons about wool batting I can't help but wonder if it doesn't make the quilt hot? This Texas girl doesn't need any more heat! Please tell me it's just the same as cotton. Thanks,

Wool batting doesn't make the quilt hot at all. I used it for a customer who needed a batting that wouldn't be too hot for her but would keep her hubby warm. She called me once she got the quilt on her bed and said it was perfect. Her husband no longer needed to use 3 quilts on the bed. :lol:

eileenkny

[eileenkny]

Glad it got there OK Amo, I really should have put it in two packages, I got in an awful tangle with the sellotape :lol: :lol: .

Sue, The problem with buying batting in the pre-packed bags is that it does get distorted, it's best if it's cut from the bolt.