What to pad a patchwork quilt with? Advice from crafters please!

[Cloudia]

I am making a patchwork quilt and am unsure what to use as the padding section.

Is it best to use cotton heavyweight batting (the sort that is woven, soft, feels like a blanket and is used as the middle section for curtains) or should I use the polyester type "puffy" wadding (the sort that comes on a roll, not the loose sort for stuffing toys)?

Any advice is welcome! I also don't have a quilting machine but my own machine will go through the three layers ok, except it might get a bit bulky when I'm trying to machine the middle of the quilt. Should I just hand-sew stabilising stitches here and there or not bother at all?

TIA

Hi there!
It depends on what type of quilt you have made (& your budget!) as to what wadding I would recommend.
Is it ornamental, for a LO's bed, or for an adult bed. Is it a winter or summer quilt etc.

I normally use the polyester lightweight wadding off the roll. Although, for my last quilt I scrimped and brought a polar fleece blanket from Ikea for under £5 which was about the same thickness, but MILES cheaper!

I have a normal domestic sewing machine, and it works fine through 2 layers of cotton and the wadding. I always do plenty of loose tacking to secure the layers before machine quilting though. Plus, I only do basic quilting (lines) to empasize my patchwork.
My Mum does fancy quilting, and she does it by hand. Although a friend of mine does hers 'freestyle' on her sewing machine. She is much more adept than me though!

HTH - do a post a photo when you've finished! x

Thanks so much for your reply Lizzzombie!!

The quilt is to sit on the top of a day bed, so more ornamental than to be snuggled as it were.

John Lewis sell the polyester wadding on a roll but in two thicknesses - one is about say, 3/4 inch thick and the other is 1/2 inch thick (but a nicer texture, is smoother).

The cotton batting is in their curtains department and is about £4.95/m which isn't as cheap as the polyester, (but not that much difference - I think the polyester is £3/m). What would you use? I don't mind paying more for cotton batting if it gives a nicer effect.

Also JL do a thinner cotton batting (which is like brushed cotton but a bit thicker). When it comes to a baby's quilt, would you use the heavyweight (which is still only blanket thickness) or the lighter one?

Sorry for all the q's but I have searched and searched on Google and can't seem to find the answers I am looking for!

Thanks again oh and I will post a pic of quilt! I am really loving quilting!

PS is "freestyle" when you have a machine that you let go crazy on its own doing loops and circles? I just have a decent Janome but it doesn't do anything fancy.

How do you manage to machine the middle of the quilt? does the excess all just bunch up under the arm? Have heard of quilting machines but haven't even gone there (sounds expensive!!)

Glad you are enjoying it!
I'd kill for an extra day a week so I could actually got some done these days!

For an ornamental quilt I'd just go for a lightweight polyester wadding. Although, it may hang nicer if its a heavier weight cotton batting. Hmm...have you got a local quilting shop you could pop in and ask their advice? Generally they can be quite helpful.

For a babies quilt I'd use either lightweight cotton or polyester wadding. Even though it may end up as more ornamental, it will probably end up being washed alot, and you want something which will keep its shape and be easy to wash and dry.

Have you looked for a quilting forum chatroom type site? I bet there are a few American or Australian ones around. They may be more experienced than me x

Your "freestyle" description is about right!
You can learn to control the loops and circles with practice though.

With the middle of the quilt, you just have to fold it up and bunch it up under the arm yes. Not that easy to do, hence keeping the quilting easier in the middle of the quilt and fancy towards the edges. Or, hand quilting in the middle.

Also, have you seen those plastic quilting stencils around? They may give you some ideas.

The quilting arm machines are amazing looking. But I think you'd need a lot of room to house it!

Thanks for the advice.

I know, it is so difficult to squeeze quilting in at weekends and evenings but it's so satisfying!

I started off on square patchwork but now prefer strips. Love doing log cabin designs, but in a mix of brights & pastels rather than the traditional colours. Have only made cushions up to now though, this is the first actual quilt!

I will look for a quilting forum, excellent idea!

Can I just ask two more q's: What size would a standard baby's quilt be (roughly) and also, when machining the quilt do you then put an extra backing on the quilt or just leave it with the backing that has been machined?

(I have never actually seen/owned a quilt so have no point of reference other than photos!!)

Thanks again x

Hi There,

The cotton batting for curtains, often called Bump or Domette, depending on type and thickness is not washable, as it can shrink, so I would go for the polyester wadding or a polar fleece blanket as Lizzombie has. HTH, Would love to see a pic when you've finished.

Hi Cloudia I made my whole quilt by hand and put lightweight wadding in from a quilting shop in North London. Actually the quilting stitching was the hardest and if I could use a sewing machine I would have !

I always buy proper quilt batting at quilt shops. It might be more expensive, but it washes beautifully! They will also tell you how far away your quilting lines need to be to hold the quilt's shape with wear and tear.

Here's an online example - I've used the Hobbs brand many times, both cotton and cotton/poly mix but I've never bought from these people, just in shops.

www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/Wadding.html

A standard baby's quilt would be around a cot size - smaller or larger is fine, as is different dimensions (I like square ones for lying on the floor).

And I'd not put an extra backing on the quilt. I normally hand quilt mine but my MIL is keen on machine quilting and it looks fine from the other side. Do you have a good reference book or online instructions for binding and finishing?

I have just bought some thing called Quilter's Dream Poly in mid loft for a throw.

As the name suggests it is polyester, but it looks and feels like a natural cotton filling and is a lot cheaper.

I got it from my local quilting shop but you can get it here

Warning - Do NOT venture onto the rest of the site if you have a fabric addiction - very bad for the bank account

Thank you all very much for your kind advice!

womblingalong good point re washing, I checked the label from the curtain lining I bought from JL for curtains which I was thinking of using, and it is Domette and although cotton, it does say dry clean only!

glitterfairy my goodness all that hand sewing! you must have been so pleased when you finished!

aberdeenhiker have had a look at the website, thanks for that! There is lots of choice, I will invest in a sample as I haven't seen natural quilting wadding before (mmm, silk wadding - luxury!) I don't mind paying a little more because I think if you've invested so much time in creating something beautiful it is lovely to finish it off as best you can afford (unless its for someone else of course then they get the cheap stuff)

Niecie too late! I have looked!! It is a great site. I do already have a terrible fabric addiction which is why I have started quilting! I usually dressmake but find myself attracted to bright, pretty print cottons which are not always suitable for clothing except for maybe a pretty summer top but that's about it, and I have made loads!

Hence recently I got ALL my cotton stash out of the cupboard, threw them all on the sofa (and the floor, and the table...) and picked the ones that went well colour-wise for patchwork. Some of the fabrics I've had for 5 years + so it's really nice to put them together now - I knew they'd come in handy, one day!

That Quilter's Dream product looks great and just what I need.

There is no such thing as a stash that is too big.

Quilt fabric is gorgeous, isn't it? I think it is colour that draws me. That would also explain the collection of wool, embroidery silks and beads that I seem to have accumulated as well.

I bet you had fun getting all that fabric out. I do that and find things I had forgotten I had - it is just like going into the shop and discovering them all over again except I don't have to pay for them! Result!!

Exactly, Niecie!

I have made cushions, needlecases, pincushions and patchwork bags for Christmas presents this year although the quilt is for me/DC1 who is on the way!! It feels like I have saved money but then I think about what I spent on the fabric in the first place (but hey, that was years ago so doesn't feel like it cost anything!)

I have a beautiful bolt of 8m of pale green and gold original 60's fabric found literally on the top shelf of an ancient old sewing shop, collecting dust, which I have had for about 3 years now but haven't made anything with/cant bring myself to cut into!! The shop owner only charged me £15 (she gave a discount because the last metre was marked, which you would expect being so old!!) also because the original price was in shillings/pence and she couldn't be bothered to work it out into today's money!!

You have all inspired me! I want to make my first patchwork cushion cover for my sister's 50th birthday in December. Now I will def get off my bottom about it. Cloudia - with your cushion covers, do you use wadding behind the patchwork or just a lining fabric?

Right, am off to finish the flipping curtains that are currently sat on my sewing machine (hate working with blackout fabric and so have been avoiding them!).

Hi Wilbur

Yes I used some of the Domette that I bought for curtain linings (although it says dry clean but cushion covers not generally washed too often so no matter)

It definately gives a more professional finish to the cover, it sort of plumps out the patchwork and makes it all smooth and substantial.

I did a log cabin design - these are sooo easy but sooo effective!!! honestly they look super professional, more so than squares, because with squares it is really hard to get them all lined up. If you don't, the effect is still charming but it doesn't look as good.

With log cabin designs you only need cut on square for the centre then lots of strips and then each piece is added at a time so you can "correct" as you are going along (too late with squares as you end up with strips of squares and tough if they don't line up perfectly).

What I end up with is: top piece of patchwork, then wadding, then lining fabric - sew them all together to make one piece. For the backs I made them "no zip" - two pieces overlapping by approximately 4". It stays in place perfectly and doesn't gape or strain against the cushion inner at all. Really quick too.

For the inners I bought duck feather ones from JL, the smallest one is 25x25 cm, cost £2.95 and is perfect size for a gift cushion. I cut the log cabin strips 2" then gave them 1/2" seam, so the finished effect is the "logs" are only 1" wide - really dainty and pretty on a smaller cushion.

I should just try and post a pic of the one I made hey!!

Cloudia - thank you!The log cabin idea sounds lovely, I had been wondering about my ability to line up squares perfectly... I do no-zip covers for cushions too, so much easier. I recently made two huge floor cushions (my first attempt at doing box cushion covers so they are somewhat askew, but look ok) with no zip backs and they are fine.

I really am off to finish those curtains now. No, truly, I am.

I am still wading through quilt, its currently taking up all of the dining table... good luck with the curtains!!!

I too am in the middle of making my first "proper" quilt. Is is Amy Karol's Easy Lap Quilt from her Bend the Rules Sewing book. The design is made from 5" wide strips of various fabrics in various lengths. I am about to quilt it.

There is a group on Flick called Log Cabin Quilts if you need some inspiration. There are also lots of other quilting and patchwork groups on there.

There are some instructions on how to make mitred corners on the binding here

Hi dizzyday07! thanks for the links, they are great. Some of those quilts are mind-boggling! The mitred edge link is very clear and concise too.

Haven't got the Bend the Rules book but have heard lots about it - it seems really popular.

You'll have to post a pic of your quilt when it's finished, too!!

Have you got your wadding yet? Lots of links on this thread to useful sites such as Cotton Patch where they have umpteen varieties of wadding/batting! I have my eye on the silk one but will probably end up with the polyester, this quilting malarky could be an expensive hobby but it's so good and I'm enjoying it so much. I have definitely found my niche with the log cabins though - I must have been an American quilt maker in a past life!

dizzyday - is the bend the rules book good? What level is it pitched at? I'm by no means an expert but very basic books bore me.

Cloudia - your lucky DC1 My DS1 got a lovely quilt too but DS2 got a knitted blanket instead. I find it hard to quilt around a toddler and I'm looking forward to when my boys are old enough that it's safe to get my machine out again.

aberdeenhiker, I imagine I'll be quilting all the time whilst the LO plays nicely and quietly with an educational toy in the corner, helpfully picking up stray pins for me...

What do you mean, it's not like that? What's those baby cages play pens for, if not to keep meddling little fingers away from precious craftwork???

if only my DS1 would have put up with the play pen - he's more of a climber than some kids and was into everything very early!

Thanks Cloudia. I read a book once which said that there was a lot of grief in a quilt and I made it when my boyfriend I had been living with for 6 years and I broke up and somehow yes it did help and was something positive that I now look back on and think anything is possible.

I like the stories associated with quilts as well.