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Wool.....amazing stuff

I've had an epiphany that may make it possible for me to consider hand quilting a very tiny quilt some day. It's all about wool.

I signed up to take a class at the LQS because my friend wanted to take it but didn't want to be alone in the class. It's all about hand work, embroidery stitches, ribbon, beads ..... not really my forte. But I signed up, paid for the class, bought all the supplies and now my friend is not going to be able to take the class. She's out of the hospital but not up to class time.

So I went to the first class and struggled with stitches on the practice piece I brought. It seemed like I had to fight the needle through the fabric every stitch. I went home dreading the homework of putting the stitches on the grid. Hand work is hard for me. I have diminished feeling in my fingertips and have to use a bigger needle than is normal. I'm not very deft, either.

I marked up my fabric and reached for batting and then, for some unknown reason, I stopped and pulled out the wool bat I've been saving since I splurged on it a year or more ago. I hadn't even opened the bag. It's full sized and I have just looked at it and felt like nothing I have made deserved a fine wool bat. I think maybe I just had a brain bloop because I opened the package and took scissors to that wool bat.

Well, I cut a piece to fit my fabric, basted, hooped it up and sat down to stitch. Oh my. It was like stitching through butter. Soft butter. No resistance except what was comfortable and necessary to hold the thread. My stitches look good. My hands aren't sore. I had no idea that using wool would make such an incredible difference.

I can't imagine hand quilting a large quilt. But maybe that baby quilt I have ready to go?????

Sunny considering the impossible

Reply to
Sunny
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I agree that wool batting is wonderful stuff. I have gone over to it for virtually everything I make. I have been buying the larger rolls and using the cut-offs from quilt projects for small projects that can utilize those sizes. I still use cotton for some baby quilts, because it will be treated rather roughly during the course of it's life with a growing child, but for the keeper things, I do prefer wool batting. I like the way it looks when quilted more than the cotton batting. It has been a couple of years since I have used poly batting, as I don't do many wall hangings these days. But it does work for those applications.

John

Reply to
John

So very glad to hear you've had such a happy discovery, Sunny. Sounds like stitching with wool is a grand journey. Do stay with the class as long as you can; there might be a crazy quilt in your future and you can use all your new skills to make it really special. Polly

"John" wrote >I agree that wool batting is wonderful stuff. I have gone over to it for virtually everything I make. I have been buying the larger rolls and using the cut-offs from quilt projects for small projects that can utilize those sizes. I still use cotton for some baby quilts, because it will be treated rather roughly during the course of it's life with a growing child, but for the keeper things, I do prefer wool batting. I like the way it looks when quilted more than the cotton batting. It has been a couple of years since I have used poly batting, as I don't do many wall hangings these days. But it does work for those applications.

John

Reply to
Polly Esther

I'm glad the wool worked for you and John. However, if a quilt is to be given as a gift, one should find out if the recipient is allergic to wool. If I had a quilt with wool batting, it would leave the house the fastest way possible. I'm so allergic to it that even being between 2 layers of fabric, I'd be in trouble. I truly wish I could sew with wool, but that will never happen. Gen

I agree that wool batting is wonderful stuff. I have gone over to it for virtually everything I make. I have been buying the larger rolls and using the cut-offs from quilt projects for small projects that can utilize those sizes. I still use cotton for some baby quilts, because it will be treated rather roughly during the course of it's life with a growing child, but for the keeper things, I do prefer wool batting. I like the way it looks when quilted more than the cotton batting. It has been a couple of years since I have used poly batting, as I don't do many wall hangings these days. But it does work for those applications.

John

Reply to
Gen

Sunny wrote:>

I'm happy for you! Wool realy is a dream to handquilt with. Had you been something denser like Warm & Natural? You may want to think twice about using it in a baby quilt. It is a little more fire-retardant than polyester, BUT enzyme cleaners like Biz and Oxidol will dissolve it. I'm making a baby quilt for my new grandniece, and I'm using poly 'cause I KNOW that stains will happen, and DNiece lives where the water is hard and they routinely add an enzyme cleaner to the wash. (Didn't we have this thread a week or two ago? Or is my rememberer faulty?)

Monique in TX

Reply to
monique

Yes, we did; and it is a really good job the subject was aired when it was - I was just about to use some silk to do some appliqué, when I remembered the enzyme 'bit', and switched quickly to cotton. . In message , monique writes

Reply to
Patti

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