What about ordering from an online shop like Hancock's of Paducah?
I haven't used poly for batting since I was told it doesn't breathe. I have enough trouble with my "personal summers" without adding a quilt on top of it.
eileenkny[/quote]

What a lovely phrase! 'personal summer', one I shall now use often, sounds much better than 'sweaty'!!!

On the subject of batting, I have used poly, cotton and wool. My favourite is wool, lovely to quilt, the cotton was good too, I have only used the poly for one quilt and it was ok ish! I always machine quilt so have no experience of hand quilting, but assume the JoJo would be right, the cotton is firmer so might be difficult!
PS. JoJo, when are we going to be getting the new video! waiting with bated breath!!!

Lynn

ritzy wrote:
What about ordering from an online shop like Hancock's of Paducah?
I haven't used poly for batting since I was told it doesn't breathe. I have enough trouble with my "personal summers" without adding a quilt on top of it.
eileenkny

ritzy wrote:
Oh darn... I'm sorry that you are having issues with the quilting on your beautiful quilt. I, personally, do not like polyester batts but I know others who swear by it. I recently ordered samples of several batts of different batts offered by Quilters Dream. I did not like the feel of the poly one when I was sampling needling it. I think I must be a batt snob though!

I'm on the hunt now for the Tuscany so I can try it before making a batt decision on my newest quilt, but here are ones that I just received on Saturday.

Quilters Dream Orient: Silk, bamboo, tencel, and cotton
very soft and easy to work with. It's a mid-loft

Quilters Dream Wool: blend of fine domestic and merino wool
can be washed and dried with no shrinkage (according to the package--I have not washed my sample)

very light and airy

Quilters Dream Cotton
was a little difficult for me to needle but I think would machine quilt well

I wanted to use wool bat for my 2009 BOM but couldn't find it around here and didn't want to wait until April and the IQF to get some so I bought polyester and I wonder if that is some of the reason I am having the problem with pleats on the back of my quilt. I usually use cotton and spray adhesive and never have any problems. The only thing I do know is that I having to do way too much "unsewing".

Oh man this is such a timely discussion for me too! I'm looking for batting for my quilt now and have been stumped on which to choose. Thanks for the information.

JoJo

Thanks for the info!

I have had both. They both handle beautifully, though from my layman's experience, the Tuscany feels feather light and the Heirloom feels a bit more dense. I don't know if the Tuscany is spun any finer but I seem to prefer it and try to order a king size of Tuscany when I need it and cut it to my size needed. I piece odds and ends together and have not noticed any down side to pieces quilted with the scraps.

I even use the real small pieces to put into a pantyhose for felting. Nothing goes to waste with this batting.

The advantage for the customer is that you can purchase just the yardage that you need, providing it is 90" or less.

There is also a Hobbes Heirloom, packaged in sizes, that are rolled up into a tighter bag. I am using up an order of 6 of those and I really prefer the Tuscany over those. The tight folding process seems to create a bot of thick & thin places in the batting.

Tuscany RULES!

I am planning to hand quilt my 2009 BOM and use wool batting. My local quilt store owner suggested using Hobbs. Our dilema is whether to use the TUSCANY or the HEIRLOOM. the Tuscany we can order by size and the Heirloom on a roll for which there is very limited space in her small store.
Do these two have same loft and qualities?? any suggestions?
thanks
Jeanine in cold Nova Scotia