fusible batting

I'm glad you asked, Donna. I ran in to a related battle. For about a year, I truly loved using Mountain Mist Gold which was, for a time, 50% cotton,

50% poly. I might decide I love another blend just any minute but that was the hands-down favorite for quite a while. When I attempted to buy it recently, I just happened to notice that it had become 'fusible'. Now, I don't trust fusible. Don't know what it might do down the road as in: yellow, become stiff, get gummy. Who knows? Many fusibles that I've used have claimed that they won't gum the needle but they dang well do. Moving on, if you are a new quilter, just one suggestion. High-loft poly is Very difficult to quilt. You'll find a favorite with the others or maybe several but I do suggest you avoid the high-loft stuff unless you're creating a comforter and plan to tie it. Polly

80/20 cotton poly is very nice! Most of the "big" batting companies make at least one variety of that; my favorite for years has been Hobbs 80/20 (recommended by Harriet Hargrave, you know ), but I'm fast falling in love with Hobbs Tuscany line, which also includes an 80/20 version. But then there's wool ... a dream to quilt, though a bit warm for the climate here.

The 80/20 is probably warm and natural, which Joanns does carry, that's a pretty reasonable batting, I've drifted away from it as I tried Quilter's Dream, specifically there fire retardant one and it's beautiful, almost indistiguishable from their cotton one and it gives me a level of comfort for quilts that end up on beds. My experience with a fusible from Joanns is exactly as you describe, unfortunately. I do have one quilting friend who loves fusible, but I don't think it's the one you can get in Joanns that she uses. I've also played with some other battings from Joanns, the bamboo one they sell is the same bamboo as you'll get anywhere you can purchase bamboo and it's lovely. I've also had pretty good results with there eco friendly one and some which were a wool or silk blend.

It's worth looking out for any contacts who can get batting in bulk from a wholesaler as it will save you a fortune in the long run, I met my supplier through my church quilt group. Anyone who is a longarmer as a business should be able to do this, the one I use is incredibly generous as she literally sells to friends at cost price plus sales tax, but you might find one willing to do it for somewhere between wholesale price and full price.

Cheers Anne

Can't think what would have caused the thread to break with fusible batting? I love Hobbs fusible (though I wouldn't use it for a baby quilt as it is a little less soft and cuddly than non-fusible). There are lots of reasons for threads breaking when machine quilting - perhaps one of those was to blame. I have used it for years, and I love it; but I most often make wall hangings. For those, it hangs beautifully flat; and, of course, there is the less troublesome way of fixing it. One thing I do which the instructions don't say (or they didn't the last time I saw any) - I do press on both front and back, with steam, but holding the iron so that there is barely any pressure on the quilt at all. I do this to retain the maximum loft.

Did you press it on an ironing board, or something flat? I have pressed large quilts on the floor (carpet).

Was your experiment Hobbs fusible? I don't know about other makes. . In message , dealer83 writes

The fusible washes out completely. However, reading this list it sounds like a lot of quilters don't wash their completed quilts. HObbs fusible is exactly the 80/20 batting and is equally as cuddly once it has been washed. I don't always wash completed quilts - unless I'm using a fusible, then I always wash the quilt.

marcella