I consulted my Facebook Quilt Club Australia on whether to go with a red border or black/white and the vote was unanimous. I tried mitred corners for the second time ever (first time was about 8 years ago and it didn't go so well. I used Amy's tutorial this time - link on my tutorials page and it worked quite nicely). So back to the batting... I taped the backing to the tiles and cut my batting to size. I didn't anticipate any problems, but well...
Wool batting is stretchy.
I didn't know this.
HOW are you supposed to lay it out?
It was a bit creased from being rolled and shipped. I wasn't sure about ironing it, so I didn't. I just smoothed it out, sprayed the backing and laid it down. Smoothed some more. But it STRETCHES. Still didn't twig that there was going to be an issue. I think I stretched it out more in some places than others.
Sprayed the batting, laid the top out, smoothed it out and put a few pins in.
Basting spray does not stick so well to wool I discovered.
As I was being daring, and have been reading a bit about alternate quilting threads (I always use Gutermans hand quilting thread - it's just what I was taught), I decided to try using perle cotton in red to complement the border.
I'm pretty happy with the effect. Uneven stitches are going to drive me nuts, because you can REALLY see them, but I figure it's a good way to teach myself to be more even and less blase about it. I was a good girl and used my quilting hoop and did the first couple of circles.
But it's PUFFY. I don't like puffy. And it feels uneven - like the top and bottom are going to move as the batting stretches or shrinks. And I'm not sure about washing it... As I've only done a little, I'm tempted to unpick, replace the batting with old faithful cotton (will have to grit my teeth and pay $30/meter or order from the States and wait...) and start again.
What do you think? Any tips for using wool batting?
By the way, I LOVE how the quilt has turned out. I am really, really happy with it, in case you think I'm being too complaining. But it deserves to be quilted beautifully and I won't be happy with it if it's not. So, help!
Hope the weekend's going well!
x Laura
PS - still 3 days to enter the fabric giveaway See last Wednesday's post. :)
I don't like puffy quilts, either. I hope you come up with a satisfactory solution because that quilt is too beautiful to go with "second best"!
ReplyDeleteI havve never tried wool.I don't like cotton to quilt ... especially when it is humid. Now I use thinsulate made by 3M. I like it because it is slightly tacky and doesn't slip. I buy a whole bolt in several different lofts which is cheaper than buy as you go. It is nice and warm and so easy to quilt and the fibers don't migrate to the surface like the polly bats I have used in the past. I have heard that 3M does make quilt bats but I just piece the size I desire as they seem to only be selling local products in Japan.
ReplyDeleteI have picked a 80 / 20 cotton / poly batting for my first quilt... I hope it'll be trouble free because I haven't the foggiest idea what I'm doing... I mean I'm learning it as I go :)
ReplyDeleteMy backing fabric is 43" and the quilt top is 48" so I'm just sewing some extension strips in a nice tan colour which should complement the colours on the quilt top and the owl-themed backing... when I do the binding I think I'm going to try to mitre it... I googled "quilting 101" and found a good step-by-step tutorial on Instructibles.com which I think I can follow!
I hope you get your woolly situation ironed out, orr manage to swap it for some better behaved cotton batting!
Giles (Touch And Sew / touchandsew.blogspot.com)
I have used woll for three quilts and I have to say like it. The quilts are lighter and very comfortable. The wool is more fluffy to work with and it requires a a more tight quilting than cotton (max 3 inches apart I think). I spray baste my quilts - not sure if it makes a difference. The first two quilts were perfect. The last one I made with woll I didn't like though... not because of the wool but because I made a messy quilt pattern.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have to quilt with wool for someone else, I through it in the drier for a few minutes to get the wrinkles out. If any are left I iron it with a wool setting and steam. Wool has a great memory and the wrinkle will stay forever if you don't get them out. It has a wonderful loft and drape, but the washing instructions are was in cold and lay flat to dry. Not great for a quilt you will be using often. I usually try to talk quilters out of using it, unless it is for a wall hanging. Hope this helps with your decision.
ReplyDelete