The drapiest batt that I've worked with was an 100% bamboo one. I have also noticed that the cotton/bamboo mixed ones drape pretty good as well. Just remember that the amount that you quilt your quilt affects the drapiness, too.

I have also found that the "stiff" quilts soften up with use. The quilt my friend gave me was very stiff when i received it and it now has a significant amount of drape to it. I imagine when it gets washed that will increase significantly, particularly if I put it in the dryer for any amount of time.

Also, my mom made me a quilt when I was little that had polyester batting in it (double thickness and entirely hand quilted), bearded significantly almost from day one. Only reason polyester was used was because it was the only batting available in the area. If you want to see a picture of it, it is the green and white Holly Hobby picture in my profile.

The cotton Quilter's Dream batting that I used, which made stiff quilts, was the lightest weight (and the thinnest). The most drapey quilts that I've made were with thin 100% polyester batting. I think the key is air spce between the fibers...the more air space, the drapier the finished quilt.

Not much air space between the cotton fibers in Quilter's Dream batting, but lots if air space in the some of the lightweight poly battings.

Personally, I'm not usually a fan of the poly battings, because they are difficult to machine quilt...no body, so they flop around as I try to quilt them. I like the firm feel of the cotton battings, for my wall quilts. Not trying to convert anyone here...just sharing my experience and preferences.

Quilter's Dream batting, like most battings, comes in several weights. If you want you quilt to have a lot of body, choose the heavier weight.
If you want it more drapey, choose the lighter weight.

It's always a good idea to make a small test sample to see how different battings will behave after quilting. Use the same fabrics and threads that you will be using in the finished quilt for the best test results. You can also test battings for shrinkage by washing your samples.

To add to the discussion on drapey quilts....

When I've used cotton batting, my quilts were stiff...not what I expected from cotton. I think that batting was Quilter's Dream...the batting that looks like felt.

When I've use 100% polyester, my quilts were soft and drapey. Those battings were Mountain Mist (the very thinnest one), and Fairfield. Those battings don't look like felt.

Margo and Kathy, Thanks. I think you must be right. Kathy I encourage you on the machine quilting. I have come to love it as much as the rest of the quilt making process. I think I'll make some samples and see what works best for soft and drapey for me. Even a wall art quilt needs to hang right and not be like a piece of cardboard. Also I'm going to make some quilts for home use. I have some new living room furniture on order and decided I need a lap quilt or two to go with it.

Betty Jo, I think that Margo was on the right track. The batting is thin flat batting, not puffy at all. I noticed that she was using cotton thread and some that looked almost like Rainbows. Most of the quilting was 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart, pretty evenly quilted throughout. She had one quilt that was large square blocks, each one quilted with a different filler pattern! It looks like they were washed too.

She doesn't have a website but I googled her name and she shows up as speaker or teacher locally here in Southern California. She is inspiring me to go for it on the machine quilting, which I love to do but want to really bring it up a notch!

Plus I love those boots!!!!
Kathy

If you're interested in seeing a pair of these shoes in action, (here on the TQS site) go to Features --> Articles --> Pam Holland: Cincinnati Quilt Sshow. That video is where I first saw these great shoes! Yes, I'm obsessed with them!

Sewdreamy wrote:

I'm not familiar with Mary Ellen Sakai, but if she uses very fine threads (silk?) and silk or very thin polyester batting, it could help make her quilts drapey.
Of course the weight of her quilt fabrics would affect it too. Lightweight cottons or silks will drape better than homespuns or upholstery fabrics!
I also find that my quilts are softer and drape lots better after they are used and laundered a few times.

kathyst2 wrote: Wow I wonder how she keeps them soft and drapey even with dense quilting? Any idea?

Our Guild speaker last night was Mary Ellen Sakai, who wore a pair of the Mola boots that she got at the Long Beach IQF a couple of weeks ago! Wow! Those look like such fun to wear. Her quilts were amazing too, she quilts very densely but the the quilts are soft and drapey.
Kathy

ritzy wrote:

Give it a try...you could probably find a lot of buyers for them on TQS and I would love to be one of them.

I was just wondering if I could make some like I did for the grands.

Way to go, Sandy!! The shoes look fabulous! Ritzy, these shoes have your name all over 'em!!

I found the site for the colorful shoes! It's Kuna Prints. The company which produces the shoes sounds very PC....Fair Trade, no animal products, etc. Most of the women's shoes are around $95 (US), and boots are a higher price.

http://www.kunaprints.com/

The tops of the shoes are made from molas, which are made by the Kuna people of Panama and Columbia. Wiki has a lot to say about the people (not the shoes), and shows a photo of a woman with a mola.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuna_people

I haven't ordered any shoes yet because I haven't decided on which pair I want. I hope y'all find what you're looking for!

Sandy, The Shoe Detective