Wool Batting questions

Well, Kate....Pittsburgh is not the Tundra. Regular cotton batting would be ok. It's warm, washable and not as expensive as wool. And some people are allergic to wool. You should check with your niece on that. But, I think any cotton or low to medium loft should be ok.

amy in CNY (where the winters are REALLY cold!!)

I have used wool batting. It washes beautifully if you wash on a gentle cycle and air dry in the dryer. It's the agitation and hot water that cause felting. Wool is warmer than cotton and much lighter in weight. And it gives the quilting nice definition........

I would just include washing instructions and your niece should be fine with it.

Laurie G. in CA

Kate,

I have used the Matilda's Own wool batting and it washes beautifully. It comes pre-washed and pre-shrunk but I washed it before use and just used warm wash and warm dryer and it looked almost the same after washing as before.

And since I bought it at King's Men's Quilting Supply it wasn't all that expensive. My local quilt shop has the Matilda's Own in a queen size priced at almost $80. I paid less than $20 but this was a few years ago, the queen size is now $23.50 plus $8 shipping. I'm not connected with King's Men but am a very happy customer. I always have my order from them in just a few days.

I used the wool for a quilt for my daughter in South Lake Tahoe, CA where it IS really cold. A lot colder than it is here in Western New York. When I first moved here I used to tell people that at "home" we measured snow in feet not inches.

Hope this helps,

Judie

Kate T. wrote:

Oh dear Amy -- have you ever *been* to Phoenix? Compared to Phoenix, Pittsburgh IS the tundra in winter :-). Remember, Lizard Land is

*really* dry for most of the year (allowing for the monsoon season) and average humidity is something like 12%! I know that Pati C. & B'fly are still living there but I am there at least 4 times a year so I haven't forgotten what the weather is like -- LOL! In Phoenix, you don't usually use a blanket in the summer unless you turn the air conditioner way down and that's just a waste of money! Winter weather means you add a regular of blanket -- unless you're sick (or the SMDGD), quilts are just for show *most* of the time -- not always but most of the time! Pati C. & B'fly might disagree with me on this a bit but likely not a lot. This is, of course, my opinion and one of the reasons DH and I will be retiring to the AZ mountains and NOT the Valley!! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

LOL You nailed it, Mary. A change from Phoenix to anywhere that has winter temperatures below 55° or so is way too cold. Snow is pretty to look at, and it keeps the economy going up in the mountains here, but is a real rarity in the desert.

As to the wool batting, it is actually a good batting for the desert, as well as elsewhere. As I frequently remind people, the Bedouins in the Sahara traditionally wear wool. I know people that love the wool batting, and am currently working on a small handquilting project with Hobbs's Tuscany Wool batting. It is a dream to quilt through. Most of the readily available wool battings have a bit of other fiber in them and are made to be washed and dried in regular equipment. Check the packaging to be sure.

Pati, in Phx who does not, yet, have a quilt on the bed. But do have some that see couch use occasionally in the winter.

Tia Mary wrote:

Kate, you can go to

and consider different brands yourself. I won't claim that you'll get the best price or fastest shipping there but I've been very pleased with their website and their batting. Polly

I was at the long arm quilter's house this week, admiring and holding quilts. She showed me one she recently quilted with Quilter's Dream Wool Batting. It was lovely to see and to feel. I like the hand of the batting sample she showed me, too. It was soft and light as a cloud. The quilter was delighted with how it handled in her LA machine. That's all I know about that, except I'd like to point out that Quilter's Dream is a Virginia Product!

PAT in VA/USA

Thanks, Judie. Yes, we do measure snow in feet here in Central New York also. Syracuse actually gets more snow than Buffalo, but that's neither here nor there. Back to Batting...i guess it's a matter of preference.

and yes, i have been to Phoenix in the winter.

amy in CNY

OK.OK.OK. I give up.

amy in CNY

Wool is like other natural fibers in that it allows the body to "breathe". The key is that you use **lightweight** wool for summer use

-- ESPECIALLY in PhoeniX :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

No sane person goes to Lizard Land (AKA Phoenix) any other time of year unless it's an emergency or for work -- LOLOL! I have finally realized that it's not the actual temperature that bothers me, it's the SUN! Even here in Magnoliaville, I can't take the sun beating down on me unless it's really cool outside. I wear a hat at all times and drink lots of water but the sun and I just don't get along too well -- LOLOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

LOL We've met, Mary. I am a redhead and don't "do" sun. I agree, Phoenix is not a real comfortable place in the summer. It is either Hot, Too HOT, or Hot and Muggy. Most of the time the heat is dry, which is a good/bad situation. Every thing dries out. (Unless you have a swamp box cooler, in which everything stays sort of damp.) Make a sandwich and by the time you have it assembled and the mayo back in the 'frig the bread is beginning to dry. However, sweating works... it evaporates and cools. I don't go out much in the summer, except evenings sometimes. I go when I have to go teach a class, or such. But do errands in bunches and then stay home.

Not sure that all of us who live in Phoenix year round are totally "sane". But, we manage.

Pati, > No sane person goes to Lizard Land (AKA Phoenix) any other time of

OK,OK,OK...i give up! Y'all win. sheesh.....

amy in CNY

I usually say that the weather in Lizard Land is either Hot, Hotter or OH MY GAWD! :-))) CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Sorry Amy -- it's a desert sort of thing -- didn't mean to drive you crazy :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

I have been away and am slowly trying to catch up with the posts...

I love wool batting and we don't live in a snow area...lol

None of my wool quilts have kept on shrinking/ felting, just a little on the first wash.

To wash, I just throw mine in the machine and line dry.

I will never use poly batting again.

Wool will always be my first choice.

I am currently quilting DD queen size quilt using a wool silk batting which I am happy with but so far I haven't tried washing it.

Dee in Oz

Those of you who love wool batting-- You've never had trouble with bearding? That's the main reason I've avoided it and used Warm & Natural instead.

--Lia

No Julia I have never had any trouble with bearding.

Dee in Oz

Kate, just my personal experience, but I made a couch-sized quilt, handquilted it with wool, I think it was Hobbs. This quilt gets used *a lot*. Plus we have cats, so somebody is always on it. It gets washed a lot. I just machine wash it on delicate, and dry it ouside. It honestly looks just as nice as it did the first time I washed it. Absolutely no felting, no shrinking. It comes out nice and puffy every time. I just adore wool batting. I like the pretty loft and the way it defines the quiltingI don't think it's that hot, because it's light. It hand quilts like a dream, too.

Sherry