Battings: MQ vs HQ recommendations

Hi all,

Without (hopefully) debating the merits of MQ vs HQ, I'd like to hear
batting recommendations from both sides for their respective manner of
choice......

If you MQ, what do you use?

If you HQ, what do you use or what have you found that needles well?

If you do both at times, which bats have you found easier for each?

I'm primarily interested (at this moment) in a relatively low loft batt
for a table runner but will read with interest any recommendations that
may come in handy for other projects with higher loft batting
aspirations......

Thanks,
Tricia

"Tricia" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi all,

Without (hopefully) debating the merits of MQ vs HQ, I'd like to hear
batting recommendations from both sides for their respective manner of
choice......

If you MQ, what do you use?

If you HQ, what do you use or what have you found that needles well?

If you do both at times, which bats have you found easier for each?

I'm primarily interested (at this moment) in a relatively low loft batt
for a table runner but will read with interest any recommendations that
may come in handy for other projects with higher loft batting
aspirations......

Thanks,
Tricia


It so happens I've ordered a bolt of batting from JoAnn Fabrics in what is
advertised as low-loft, suitable for clothing, etc. It was only about $30
for a big roll of 48" wide batting and I had free shipping so I couldn't
resist. I've been looking for something for wall hangings, table runners,
etc. I'll let you know what it's like when I get it.

Iris

One word - WOOL

I know many will be totally committed to cotton and cotton
blends but wool and wool blends are just fabulous for both M
and HQ.

I tested a small piece of the Matilda's Own silk/wool blend
batt I mentioned a few weeks ago and it is my new ideal for
clothing. All the good features of both fibres, and no
problems so far. Beautiful drape, quilts close or up to
8"+, was great in machine trapunto, couldn't fault it. I
haven't done more than a few test pieces, but I love this
stuff. I can only assume that the wool/alpaca and the
wool/mohair will be the same.

For most quilts I use 60/40 wool/poly blend from Matilda's
Own. Machine quilts beautifully, easy needling by hand,
softens with "resting" (ie feels a bit stiffer straight out
of a pack or off roll, but softens when shaken out), warm
(wool has great natural insulation properties), soft, light
weight, washes like a dream (well, actually washes just like
a wool jumper lol I put my quilts through the wool
cycle in my washing machine albeit carefully), and is dead
easy to handle.

I know that there are American wool batts (Hobb's springs to
mind, the only one I tried personally) and of course many
brands of cotton and poly batting, but Matilda's Own remains
the best IMHO, followed by Nu-Wool, another Aussie brand.
And "No" I don't think I am biased. We have access to any
number of imported batts, but use this by preference even
though it is a little bit dearer.

NAYY all of the above, but we use a LOT of batting here, and
it is nearly ALL wool blend in quilts.


BTW - if your table runner is for daily use and will be
washed frequently try using fleecy knit fabric (what we call
poly/cotton track suiting, knit on the right side and
brushed fleece finish on the inside) without a backing.
Washes easy, dries fast and looks like a "traditional"
quilted item. We do this in placemats, and I have
full-length curtains over a doorway made up like this for
easy washing. Don't scoff until you try it!

--

Cheryl & the Cats
o o o o o o
( Y ) ( Y ) ( Y )
Enness Boofhead Donut
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau


"Tricia" wrote in message
oups.com...
: Hi all,
:
: Without (hopefully) debating the merits of MQ vs HQ, I'd
like to hear
: batting recommendations from both sides for their
respective manner of
: choice......
:
: If you MQ, what do you use?
:
: If you HQ, what do you use or what have you found that
needles well?
:
: If you do both at times, which bats have you found easier
for each?
:
: I'm primarily interested (at this moment) in a relatively
low loft batt
: for a table runner but will read with interest any
recommendations that
: may come in handy for other projects with higher loft
batting
: aspirations......
:
: Thanks,
: Tricia
:

For machine quilting, I absolutely love Warm and White or Warm and Natural.

For handquilting I tend to use Quilter's Dream. Super easy to needle.

Both are low loft

Debbi in SO CA



Tricia wrote:
Hi all,

Without (hopefully) debating the merits of MQ vs HQ, I'd like to hear
batting recommendations from both sides for their respective manner of
choice......

If you MQ, what do you use?

If you HQ, what do you use or what have you found that needles well?

If you do both at times, which bats have you found easier for each?

I'm primarily interested (at this moment) in a relatively low loft batt
for a table runner but will read with interest any recommendations that
may come in handy for other projects with higher loft batting
aspirations......

Thanks,
Tricia

I use Hobbs Heirloom cotton/poly blend for most of my hand and machine
quilting, though for table runners, I often use Warm and Natural (or
Warm and White). I have also used Hobbs PolyDown, but prefer cotton
batting for machine quilting because it seems to cling a bit better to
the cotton fabrics in the backing and top.

Julia in MN

Tricia wrote:
Hi all,

Without (hopefully) debating the merits of MQ vs HQ, I'd like to hear
batting recommendations from both sides for their respective manner of
choice......

If you MQ, what do you use?

If you HQ, what do you use or what have you found that needles well?

If you do both at times, which bats have you found easier for each?

I'm primarily interested (at this moment) in a relatively low loft batt
for a table runner but will read with interest any recommendations that
may come in handy for other projects with higher loft batting
aspirations......

Thanks,
Tricia



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Tricia wrote:
Hi all,

Without (hopefully) debating the merits of MQ vs HQ, I'd like to hear
batting recommendations from both sides for their respective manner of
choice......

If you MQ, what do you use?

Lowest loft possible. Lately I've been using Quilters Dream Select,
because of how easy it is to acquire as the main reason. MQing to me is
done for speed reasons. I want it done and out of my hair and I can
forget about it. It's also very washable.

If you HQ, what do you use or what have you found that needles well?

Again, low loft is easier. I have used Warm & Natural 100% cotton which
is okay. I really like Matilda's Wool batting- even using it with linen
thread and linen fabric (which love to to stick) it was a joy to use and
not itchy like I feared. I *will* use the wool again.

I have tied quilts, and for that I want the highest possible loft which
can only be gotten with polyester. These are more comforters and less
quilts and easily washed.

For trapunto stuffing, I like a medium loft batting. The wool is
fantastic. Cotton/poly blend will work too.

-georg

In article .com,
"Tricia" wrote:

Hi all,

Without (hopefully) debating the merits of MQ vs HQ, I'd like to hear
batting recommendations from both sides for their respective manner of
choice......

If you MQ, what do you use?

If you HQ, what do you use or what have you found that needles well?

If you do both at times, which bats have you found easier for each?

I'm primarily interested (at this moment) in a relatively low loft batt
for a table runner but will read with interest any recommendations that
may come in handy for other projects with higher loft batting
aspirations......

Thanks,
Tricia


I use Hobbs 80/20 for both machine and hand quilting and find it works
very well. It's low loft and easy to quilt, though it's even easier if
soaked before using. I'm itching to try wool batting, and I can only
dream of how lovely silk must be! G
--
Sandy in Henderson, near Las Vegas
my ISP is earthlink.net -- put sfoster1(at) in front
http://home.earthlink.net/~sfoster1

AKA Dame Sandy, Minister of Education

I've done both. The first time I did a handquilted piece, I used a
cotton batt and found it very difficult. On a trip to Lancaster, PA, I
saw a Mennonite woman quilting in a shop with a polysester batt and
asked her about it. She told me that a good poly batt is much easier
to needle and the stitches stand out better - even on very low loft
batts. Tried it on my next project and she was right.

For Machine quilting, I usually use Warm and Natural. I just used Warm
Blend for the last two quilts I did and I really like it.

Linda
PATCHogue, NY

On 24 Sep 2006 05:43:44 -0700, "Tricia"
wrote:

Hi all,

Without (hopefully) debating the merits of MQ vs HQ, I'd like to hear
batting recommendations from both sides for their respective manner of
choice......

If you MQ, what do you use?

If you HQ, what do you use or what have you found that needles well?

If you do both at times, which bats have you found easier for each?

I'm primarily interested (at this moment) in a relatively low loft batt
for a table runner but will read with interest any recommendations that
may come in handy for other projects with higher loft batting
aspirations......

Thanks,
Tricia

For your purpose Tricia - which is similar to the small quilts I make a
lot of times - you could try Hobbs Fusible (if you haven't already). I
love it where I use it. I do stabilise the edges with tacks, because I
don't actually press on the layers - I just hover the steam iron over
it, so it comes loose.
Sorry - I do machine quilting virtually exclusively.

I have used something like Warm and Natural for a snuggly quilt.

In message .com,
Tricia writes
Hi all,

Without (hopefully) debating the merits of MQ vs HQ, I'd like to hear
batting recommendations from both sides for their respective manner of
choice......

If you MQ, what do you use?

If you HQ, what do you use or what have you found that needles well?

If you do both at times, which bats have you found easier for each?

I'm primarily interested (at this moment) in a relatively low loft batt
for a table runner but will read with interest any recommendations that
may come in handy for other projects with higher loft batting
aspirations......

Thanks,
Tricia


--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

Me too on the Hobbs Sandy.
About the wool, Your itching to try it ....
You silly woman. LOL

Glad you are home safe. We missed you.
Taria

Sandy Foster wrote:


I use Hobbs 80/20 for both machine and hand quilting and find it works
very well. It's low loft and easy to quilt, though it's even easier if
soaked before using. I'm itching to try wool batting, and I can only
dream of how lovely silk must be! G