Preparing cotton batting?

Hi Sparky.

I use Warm and Natural and I have no problems ironing mine. None of this lightly stuff either. I just slap it on the ironing board like I do the fabric and away I go.

Jenn > Dear all,

"None of this lightly stuff either. I just slap it on the ironing board like I do the fabric and away I go."

Wow, I like your attitude. I iron fabric like a teamster, too. So maybe I'll try it with the batting. It's Heritage something or other.

If you have a front loading washer, wash it on the gentle cycle and tumble dry it. Spread it out when totally dry but still warm. I do this to all my batting before I make any quilt, even when I don't wash the fabrics! :)

To round out the suggestions... I use warm and natural cotton batting and I put it in the dryer (maybe spritzing it a bit first) with a wet towel. I've never ironed it (the wrinkles always come out in the dryer

- at least enough for me).

Lynn

i've never ironed batting. i'd think it would squash it taking away some of the warmth it provides with the air pockets when unsquashed. if that makes any sense, lol. jeanne

Howdy!

Damp or wet towels go into the dryer w/ the batting. This gently steams out the wrinkles, softens the batting, results in very little batting shrinkage. No ironing.

To pre-shrink, wash the batt first (esp. good in front loaders, Jessamy, no spindle to stretch the batt), then into the dryer w/ the towels.

I really prefer the batt go thru' the dryer before I pin baste. The towels keep the batt moving and tumbling, not wadding up and dry in some spots, damp in others. And, of course, this is Hobbs Heirloom, 80% cotton.

Ragmop/Sandy--professional handquilter

That's what I do, too. Works fine for me.

Have any of you used Dryer Balls? I'm making a quilt now that I wanted to preshrink the batting (it's Hobbs 80/20 - my favorite batting). I put it in my front loader washer & washed it on delicate, then put it in the dryer on air fluff with the two dryer balls & two tennis balls. The batting came out of the dryer so nice - soft, no wrinkles. I just love the way it feels.

One of my Project Linus volunteers told me about the Dryer Balls. I had seen them advertised, but figured they were like my DH says - made to sell, not to use! That's all I use in the dryer now. We never use perfumed dryer sheets for Project Linus blankets because some of the kids that receive our quilts already have compromised immune systems & don't need the added perfume. These Dryer Balls are wonderful for that situation - makes the blankets fluffy, but no added chemicals.

Yes! I bought some of the Dryer Balls at a local "Home Show" last spring. I thought they would be worth trying. I love them! I use oxygen base detergent with no scent and now with the dryer balls, all of my laundry smells "fresh", not "perfumy". I do note that some things, like my all-cotton sheets feel sort of spongy (bad choice of words but I can't come up with another one). Everything else is as soft, or softer, than it was with the dryer sheets I used to use. I bought another set as backup in case I lose one of the original ones :-)

Rita L.

D> Have any of you used Dryer Balls? I'm making a quilt now that I wanted to

thanks Sandy!