Thanks to all for the advice and links!

My unfortunate turquoise quilt was made with bamboo-cotton Naturfil. Before layering,I did not pre soak the batting. I washed the finished quilt in hot water and dried it in the dryer 3 times. :shock: (!) It crinkled up quite a bit but help up fine otherwise. I've used it in other quilts that haven't receive such hard treatment and it's been fine after machine washing also. I noticed on those care instructions that were just posted, it says that it shrinks about 5%, which seems about what happened with mine.
kathy

found these washing instructions for bamboo batting - if you want the antique look - you've done right...
http://www.fiberco.com/care/bamboo/bamboo.htm

and some comments about its use:
http://quilting.about.com/b/2007/12/10/i-think-youre-going-to-love-fairfields-bamboo-batting.htm
http://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/bamboo-quilt-batting-for-hand-quilting.html
http://www.all-about-quilts.com/bamboo-batting.html

I have used Bamboo batting. I soaked it before using it, so I can't tell you what happens when you don't. But I loved to quilt on it. When I washed the quilt after finishing it it did not pucker very much.

crocus999 wrote: You should be able to ask the shop you bought it from for it's details, unless they have more than one sort, then it will get a bit tricky.

Maybe, if you know the brand, you could go to their site and find info.

Thing is, I bought it off a large roll

I'd check the pkg instructions...usually they give you the pertinent details.

Thanks for the advice about wool batting. I really enjoy your comments.

Now, another question: Has anyone tried Bamboo batting> I have finished a quilt top and bought some, because it was a good 'deal' (I hope really ). I just sandwiched it and then some one asked me if I washed it first...........? Duh, any experience with bamboo batting? I have already begun stitching it (by hand) and so far no trouble - seems easy. Will I have a big mess if I wash the whole quilt? Sounds like it shouldn't be harder than your advice on the wool - Cool temperature and gentle agitation, no?

I made a queen size quilt with a pieced cotton top and back with two layers of Hobbs wool batting. It has been washed on delicate and cold water in my HE front load washer and dried on low heat three times now. No problem whatsoever. It is machine quilted 1 to 2 inches apart. I love the loft and there is hardly any weight to the batting at all. I will definitely do it again.

I guess ignorance is bliss. I used wool in my BOM(don't remember what year). I soaked it in cool water to get the glue and marking out then I soaked it in warm water with Syntrapol. Cold rinse and then a low temp. dryer. No problems. I did use the Quilter's Dream wool and I did machine quilting on it. Loved the puff of the batting when it was quilted.

I've used wool batting several times without a problem..But I can only speak to experience with Quilters' Dream
brand: Always with cotton tops,2 hand quilted ,1 machine quilted...washed gentle and cool...machine dried low/cool.
I followed the instructions on the package . It is "superwash" wool and resists shrinkage and felting and is
thermal bonded as well. I would say to never to use a hot iron on the bare batting to remove a wrinkle
..a bad outcome for sure...need I say more ! I love this batting.

I've just started using wool battings, so hopefully other people with more experience will chime in. My understanding for the washing, though, is that it depends on the batting and you should read the instructions on the package carefully. I was really worried about the wool batting I used for my wholecloth quilt when it came to soaking to get out the markings and trapunto thread. But then a lady at my quilt guild meeting told me that because I used the Qulter's Dream wool batting, I should be fine. She said that's the only wool batting that says on the package that you can put it in the dryer. I would definitely use cool to warm water (I used warm water for soaking with no problem) and little to no aggitation in the washer, then low heat in the dryer if you decide to use one. But wool battings are used frequently in quilts with cotton fabric to get the nice puffiness, so that should be fine. I plan to do that a lot in future quilts.

I have heard that wool batting is the easiest to hand quilt. However, I would like to ask how a cotton-topped and cotton-backed quilt with wool batting should be washed? : Or maybe one should not use cotton tops with wool batting? I like hand quilting, but also like cotton and batiks for tops.