Quilt Tips From Quilters Around The World

Batting

I keep several rolls of batting on hand as I do a lot of charity or pro bono quilts. To store them I have used the heavy duty shower curtain rods from the discount store and put one through the cardboard tube that holds the batting and it goes above the unused bathtub in the guest bath. When I need a piece, I reach in the drawer at the end of the sink for my scissors and cut off what I need. - Gail in Arizona

When choosing batting for machine quilting on my home sewing machine, I choose ANY batting that is 1/4" thick or less (uncompressed). One-quarter inch is the space between my machine bed and presser foot (when it is in the UP position).

Even though the presser foot compresses the batting for stitching, it does not leave a "ridge" that I must "fight" when quilting. Although I *CAN* quilt with thicker batting, it just isn't fun when it's a struggle. - kiskat in Texas

I take a "hunk" of leftover batting and pin it over my shoulder when sewing. Then, as you snip off those threads. tiny fabric nips, etc. etc., you just put them on top of the batting where they cling very well. After your sewing session is complete. you simply unpin the batting from your shoulder and toss it all neatly away.. It puts an end to all those little thread nips. fabric snips, etc all over the sewing room floor, as well as the table top. - Kathi in Michigan

I have a ton of cotton batting. One night I was online with a friend complaining that I didn't have a design wall. She asked me if I had any cotton batting and I said of course. Well, the rest is history. My design wall is cotton batting on the only bare wall I have, right next to my cutting table. It is amazing how much easier it is to see what I am doing...lol. - Carol

I use small pieces of left over batt for dusting. At first it was just dusting around my sewing machine, but now I use it all over the house. I even cut the batt to fit my Swiffer. Batt picks up dust and holds on to it. - Betty in Virginia

My husband has a great tip to share:  When you get ready to sandwich your quilt it helps to use a large yardstick to smooth out the wrinkles in the batting.  It only takes a few strokes of the yardstick to get a smooth laying batting, the yardstick acts as an extended long arm and works like a charm.  Make sure your yardstick is smooth so that is can glide over the batting easy without any damage to it. - Angie in Georgia

Quilt Tip Categories:

Applique  |  Basting  |  Batting  |  Binding  |  Design  |  Fabric  |  Hand Piecing  |  Hand Quilting  |  Healthy Tips  |  Pressing  |  Machine Piecing  |  Machine Quilting  |  Marking Tips  |  Miscellaneous Tips  |  Needles  |  Organization  |  Paper-Piecing  |  Quilt Care  |  Quilt Labels  |

 We would like to feature your tips!  Use the form below to send in your quilting or sewing tip and be entered to win 5 Free Fat Quarters.  One winner will be selected each month.  Each tip will be considered one entry for the drawing, so the more tips you submit, the more chances you have to win!

Advertise on our site!