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I am not an expert on sewing with gauze. I don’t understand the weave of the gauze or what gives it the texture it has. I have sewn three baby sized blankets using gauze, and I am going to share with you what I have learned.
Each one of the blankets I made is a bit different. I had read a few times that cotton gauze quilts were quite dreamy. I was skeptical.
I have now learned first hand that a cotton gauze blanket really is quite dreamy, and they possess a texture that is hard to match with quilting fabrics. It depends what kind of ‘cuddle factor’ you are looking for, but if you are looking for super soft and super crinkly, I recommend giving the gauze a try.
One of the blankets I made I gifted for a baby girl. It had cotton quilting fabric on the front, gauze on the back, wool batting in the middle, and gauze for the binding.
Another one I sewed with gauze on both sides and wool batting. I use this one almost every day. I hand quilted this one.
The other one has cotton quilting fabric on one side, cotton batting, and gauze on the other side. This one I also use quite often but not every day.
Here is my short and skinny conclusion:
I absolutely love the texture, feel, look, and drape of a cotton gauze blanket with WOOL BATTING and gauze ON THE FRONT AND THE BACK. I think the hand quilting is extremely appealing, and I would definitely do it again, but I don’t think it’s needed to achieve the amazing texture. I also enjoy the gauze binding.
Look at the blanket below. This is the blanket with gauze on the front, gauze on the back, wool batting, and hand quilting. Look at the way it has crinkled.
Look at the picture below. This blanket is made with cotton gauze (the triangles) on the back with cotton batting. The green is cotton quilting fabric on the front. Compare it to the blanket above. Note the texture difference…which I believe is mostly a reflection of the difference between the wool batting and the cotton batting.
Take note that the above blanket is also more densely quilted and done by hand. The bottom one is quilted rather sparingly and done on the machine.
Here are the blankets side by side:
The blue blanket is: gauze + wool batting + gauze.
The green blanket is: gauze + cotton batting + cotton quilting fabric.
The pink blanket is: gauze + wool batting + cotton quilting fabric.
Since I gifted the below pink blanket a long time ago, I can’t lay it side by side with the above. Note that the above blankets have been washed many many times. The below picture was taken after one wash.
In case you were curious what wool batting looks like and what cotton batting looks like, see the below picture. The wool is the poofy batting on the left, and the cotton is the flat tightly rolled batting on the right.
One more question to talk a bit about. How well does a cotton gauze quilt hold up? Are they prone to snagging? The fabric seems so thin? Do they easily fall apart?
I had all the same questions and concerns.
Look at the below picture. I COMPLETELY understand why we would all be concerned about snagging and holes. Look how loose that weave appears. You can see lines that almost look like a run you’d get in your panty hoes.
But remember what happens after washing. All the fibers gather closely together. It seems that wash after wash continues to bring the fibers closer and closer together. I don’t treat this blanket as though it’s fragile. It’s had held up very well to wear and tear…especially through this winter season where it goes everywhere with my little one.
Am I concerned about snagging or holes?
Not anymore.
Where did I buy my cotton gauze?
The white gauze I can’t seem to find anymore. I believe it was a Bambino brand from Fabric.com. The blue is painted gingham in mist by Sarah Jane / Michael Miller. (very hard to find now) I remember when I received the blue gingham, and it felt so stiff. If you have the same reaction upon receiving your gauze, just remember that a few washes changes all the texture.
The triangle gauze pictured above is an older print by Shannon Fabrics.
I have heard lots of great things about the Japanese lines of gauze…even though I haven’t tried them yet. :(. I have bought fabrics before from Miss Matatabi from Japan. From what I remember, her shipping was very reasonable, and she has lots of options for cotton gauze.
I also recommend typing Nani Iro Double Gauze into Etsy to see some of the beautiful florals available. I have heard the Nani Iro selections are beautiful, but I have never sewn with them either.
Field and Cloth has a superb collection of gauze too.
So I know I have to be missing something. What have you learned about sewing with cotton gauze. Enlighten me, please, on your insights!
Thank you for the info! It sounds like no to prewashing gauze – but if you were to use a quilting cotton or flannel on one side, would you pre-wash that? I bought some gauze fabric to make some baby quilts, but was thinking about using it only on one side. Not sure how it would wash up if I pre washed or didn’t prewash the other fabric first but not the gauze.
Hi Marianne, I don’t know if I can make an exact recommendation, but I usually wash all or wash none on my project. Once you wash and dry the fabric, it will shrink a little, as you know. I’m not sure of the results of going into a project where some fabrics will already have gone through the dryer and others will then shrink after being sewn together.
Thank you!!
Kelli, I want to do a gauze x wool x gauze. This is my first time and feeling ambitious to tackle this baby car seat blanket. I have a solid color on one side and an animal print on the other. I want to do ties on all the bunny tails to attach the quilt together. I’d say the bunnies are 6inches apart from each other in every direction. With shrinking and puffing do you think this would work and still hold shape well?
Ashley, from what I understand, I think this should work. My only hesitation would be to double check if the batting has an indication that the quilting (or tying, in this case) should be closer that six inches. Maybe check the package that your batting came in. From what I understand, some batting is going to hold up a lot better when the quilting is denser (closer together). I know I’ve read in a couple places that 4 inches (or less) is a good standard rule for how far apart quilting should be. I believe the batting can more easily compromise when the quilting is far apart, but I have not witnessed this yet in my personal experience.
Excellent info on the various methods and combinations when using double gauze!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
Just Started Quilting, First Grandchild on the way this summer!. Wanted a lightweight quilt, thought about gauze but thought it may be too lightweight. Am using light flannel for squares and may put cotton in between. Found this article after cutting and basting was done. Hopefully a sibling is in the future and I can sew another quilt! I love gauze and did sew some swaddle blankets. Thank you
Where did you get your wool batting? Was it “superwash”? I’m having problems finding anything locally.
Hi Susan, I purchased mine at our local quilt. I bought it off their huge role. So I have no idea what brand it is. 🙁
I found Wool Batting prepackaged for a baby quilt at Joanne’s Fabrics. Can also find it at most of the larger mail order companies (Example….Fat Quarter Shop, Missouri Star, Jordan’s,…etc). Good luck with the gauze…looking forward to hearing about your results.
Hi Kelly- I’m ready to try this with gauze on each side and bamboo batting. Have you ever worked with bamboo batting? Also, I have wool batting, but the package says not to put in the dryer…do you think it’s because it would shrink too much OR possibly felt? I’m not sure what to do with it if I can’t wash and dry. I do like the crinkled look of wool batting, but maybe it would just shrink too much!
Also, I’m planning to quilt with Presencia no 12. I have a friend who says the #12 glides easier through the batting. Now that I think of it, she has used wool batting in her cotton quilts (front and back) and I’ve never felt such a soft cushy quilt with cotton. It’s dreamy too.
Hi Rita! I have never worked with bamboo batting…so I don’t have any experience. As far as wool batting, it has a high shrinkage rate. Maybe the package is warning you. I have put wool in the dryer, but it’s because I’m attempting to use the shrinking to my advantage. Does it say on the label how much it will shrink?
I would agree that the #12 would likely glide better. Size 12 is going to be a smaller thread. I enjoy size 8 just because I like the chunkier look of the thread. Size 5 thread is going to be the thickest.
I would agree that the wool batting makes for a soft cushy quilt! I hope you love how your quilt turns out! 🙂
What if I’ve already washed and dried my double gauze? (I did it before I read any tutorials…) I have wool batting – is the batting going to shrink and ruin the quilt when it gets washed? Should I just stick with a couple of layers of well washed flannel as batting? I’d really like to use the wool but am worried it will shrink too much.
Good question Renee. Since I’ve never prewashed gauze, I’m not entirely sure what the best answer is. I personally used wool batting because I WANTED the crinkled up look. Since the wool shrinks more than the gauze, I was prepared for the ripples in the quilt. If you want a crisper look, I think maybe the flannel or even cotton batting would be a safer option for you.
On the blue checked baby gauze quilt I sewed, I do remember the blanket shrinking multiple inches. So I also understand your concern of the blanket just getting smaller and smaller.
What do you think about gauze on both sides with a cotton batting? Or even (and I don’t love this idea but am considering everything) one of the fluffier synthetic battings? I adore the wool one, but I don’t think the gift recipient I have in mind would want wool.
Hi Kristen, I think gauze on both sides with cotton would be great. Since cotton doesn’t shrink as much as wool, the gauze won’t crinkle up as much, but the cotton won’t sacrifice quality or anything. You also mentioned the synthetic batting. I honestly have never used it before other than for stuffing a pillow occasionally. So I have no idea how it holds up or what happens to it after a few trips through the washer and drier.
What a wonderful post! Thank you for your detailed descriptions and photos of the outcome of your different quilt materials and methods. I’ve been making baby quilts with flannel and quilting cotton and cotton batting for years, but I really want to branch out and try some new materials. I’m planning to use gauze and softened linen for my next quilts. I just bought a vintage wood scarf (very fine wool, not thick) and I washed and dried it and deconstructed it- removed the tassels and cut it down one side. It’s now the perfect size to be a layer of light wool batting for a baby quilt. I think my next quilt will have gauze on both sides and this thin piece of high-quality wool in the middle. Question- did you wash the gauze before you quilted? I kind of think it would be best not to.
Hi Patricia, gauze and softened linen sounds like two wonderful textures together! I did not wash the gauze before I quilted it. I’ve never tried washing it first, but I agree with you, it may be tricky to quilt once it’s been washed.
How was the bearding with wool with double gauze being such a loose weave?
Hi Stephanie, I’ve had a lot of others ask about bearding as well. I have not had trouble with this blanket in particular with bearding. You are correct that the double gauze is a loose weave. Just remember, after you wash and dry your gauze blanket, the weave tightens up so much. It doesn’t snag near as easy after being dried.
I’ve had many other questions from readers, though, who have had trouble with bearding with the wool + gauze combination. I have no idea why mine hasn’t. I made mine about two and a half years ago when our baby was born. It’s used regularly. The ONLY thought I have is that I used the wool batting from our local quilt shop. It was terribly expensive. That could simply be boutique pricing or maybe it was a higher quality wool batting. I really don’t know. (and I don’t know what brand they stock since it was off the huge roll.)
Nathalie Bearden from Field and Cloth sells a lot of double gauze, and it appears she sews with it a lot too. She may also have some answers.
I hope that’s a bit helpful!
This was very helpful! Thank you! I’m about to sew my first quilt with double gauze and have been nervous. I think I’ll stick with cotton for this one. 🙂 Your blog is wonderful!
I have quilted gauze before and I really like it. It is my favorite for baby quilts. I have hesitated putting gauze on both sides because of the grid lines that run through it. I try to quilt on those lines and I’m not sure how to match the lines on the front and back or maybe I am over thinking all of this. Thanks
When you quilted with qauze on both the front and back does it matter if you don’t quilt on the grid lines on both sides?
Hi Clarie, the printed grid lines were on the front of the quilt, but the back was solid white gauze. I followed the grid lines to quilt the front, but since the back was just solid white, it didn’t matter about the quilting.
Hi Clarie, I understand what you’re asking, and I don’t think you are overthinking it. I do think, though, that if you try your best to square both sides together, any imperfections wouldn’t be noticeable. But are you just referring to the grid lines created by the weave of the gauze fabric? Or is there actually a grid line design printed on the fabric?
If you purchased gauze with a grid line pattern printed on it, I could see how you’d maybe want to consider a grid on one side and a solid or other print on the back. I agree that the quilting may look wonky since one side will be neatly lined up with the quilting, but it won’t be on the back.
If you are just referring to the weave of the fabric, I would not worry about having those lines perfectly matched up. A trip through the washer and dryer after they’re quilted will hide any imperfections.
I recently saw one of these blankets displayed in my favorite fabric shop. It was gauze on both sides and they used cotton batting. It looked easy enough, so I thought I would give it a try. I was in need of a baby shower gift soon, and thought this would work up quickly, and easily.
What I found was, gauze fabric moves very easily. I used many safety pins but that really didn’t work well and was very heavy. I hand quilted it with Presencia thread #8, but kept it laying flat on my kitchen table because of all the weight from the safety pins.
I was pleased with the look of the “Big Stitch” hand quilting, and loved the feel of the cotton batting. I knew the fabric and the batting would shrink when it was washed and I couldn’t wait to see it all crinkled up.
Hours before the shower, I through it in the washing machine and then the dryer. I absolutely loved how it crinkled up, however, there were “pills” all over the fabric. It was washed and dried by itself, on a regular cycle.
I think if I do another one, I will try wool batting, use basting spray, and wash and dry on gentle.
Hi Sue, that’s really interesting. I’ve had a number of others ask about pilling on this blanket. I’m not sure if it’s a reflection of the batting or the quality of gauze. I’ve washed and dried mine for over two years now and have not noticed enough pilling to even make mention of it. I’ll have to keep an eye out!
Let me know if you come to any conclusions about the pilling! I know many others are curious too!
I’m very curious to know more about wool batting. I’m just starting to piece quilts. I love the feel of old quilts that are soft. I don’t love them to be stiff. I’m giving cotton a try, but I’m very intrigued to try wool too. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Lucinda
Hi Lucinda! I wish I knew more! I’ve never sewn a traditionally pieced quilt with traditional cotton fabric and used wool batting. I just used up my HUGE roll of cotton batting, and wool is next on my list. I probably don’t know much more than you honestly. What’s intriguing to me, though, is the additional ‘fluffiness’ I’m hoping for with wool batting. I also really REALLY enjoy the soft and cuddly drape of any blanket I’ve ever sewn with wool batting.
I will be sure to let you know if I learn any more. And let me know if you try wool batting! I’d enjoy hearing your thoughts and insight.
Thank you! I’m definitely going to give it a try. Perhaps on a throw quilt.
I think wool batting is much better but remember it gets heavier with washings cause it goes together more. But next the wool is much much warmer. It’s the same to see with. But again remember who it’s going to an if they need all that warmth
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Thank you for your very information article and the posts. I have a linen quilt with wool batting and I love it. I am in Western Australia in a hot dry summer climate and my wool quilt is now too hot. I am wondering whether anyone has a view on whether cotton batting will be cooler? Usually through the hot months, we just have a light cotton blanket. I am wondering whether cotton batting is really pretty much the same as a light cotton blanket?
It is easy to make very expensive mistakes with bed linen and I have made plenty! Even a silk doona is too hot for me.
I wish I could give you a good answer Sally! But I don’t know either. Maybe someone else can chime in with their insight and knowledge!
the way I understand “batting” is cotton is denser than wool and keeps heat in just as well as wool. Wool is a bit fluffier letting air circulate around the fibers, but still keeping the warmth. For a summertime quilt I have used a light weight flannel as my batting.
I would just use the lightest cotton batting you can buy there. Also could use the lightest weight flannytoo. I would just use any lightweight 100% cotton sheet in between the two pieces of your material that you were using for front and back. Another good idea is only use one piece of the material you want to quilt and only use one solid piece on the back like a pretty sheet or one pieyof anything for the back. Won’t be as heavy but also won’t be a quilt that u can use either side. Will be much lighter weight an can use in the warmer months. A friend made me a quilt cause I don’t quilt and ask her to use an old sheet blanket in the middle. Came out beautiful but still heavy but not as bad as the wool or cotton batting. Good luck and hope these few ideas helped you. Please let me know what you decided to do and what you used inside or only did the quilt one sided. Good luck and keep in touch. Can email me if you would like to!! Momnvb@aol.com
Good night
Gloria Hendershot
How do you square up your gauze? The regular ways I rotary cut my fabric (ironing fabric perfectly flat) doesn’t seem to work because of the fabric being has so many crinkles.
Hi Trish, I’d agree that squaring up gauze is tricky because of it’s texture and lose weave. I used starch to help me out a bit with that. Keep in mind, too, that many of your imperfect squaring adventures with gauze will be forgiven and erased once your project has a trip through the washer and dryer.
What thread did you use to quilt with?
Hi Bonnie, I used Gutermann’s hand quilting thread. It’s coated, but it was the same size as standard sewing thread. If I did another blanket like this, I’d likely use a larger, thicker thread. A Valdani Pearl thread in a size 8 or 12, I believe, would give it a completely different look and emphasize the hand stitching in a beautiful way. 🙂
Hi, Kelli! Thanks for the informative post. I plan on giving this dreamy idea a try of quilting with gauze. Do you prewash the gauze before beginning the project?
Hi Debbie, I haven’t prewashed any of the gauze I have used. Washing and drying the gauze really changes (tightens??) the weave of the fibers much more noticeably than quilting cotton…in my experience. I’m not sure how the outcome would change if it was prewashed. Maybe the shrinking of the wool batting would gather it up anyway and the texture would be similar even if prewashed??
You’ll have to let me know what you find out!
Great analysis! Thank you. I too have now two time experience with double gauze. I used Nano Iro for these and both I hand quilted with Japanese sashiko thread. Both backings are good quality quilting cotton-I love the patterns available in the cotton to highlight the gauze. Both were small quilts made for adults and perhaps grandbaby cuddling too. Admit I’m a lil afraid to wash too often! Your article helps me in that regard. I used wool batting for the first time & am amazed! It’s cloud-like and fluffy!
This was a great post! I’ve made bibs and burp cloths from gauze, and now I’m inspired to make a quilt! I love handquilting baby blankets. Thank you for the inspiration 😊
You are very welcome Tressa!
Hi! I have no experience with actually sewing with gauze, but have purchased it thinking to use it for burp cloths. Since I don’t have a baby to try it out on I would really be interested in hearing your experience with how it worked out. I had been making them out of flannel with cotton batting in the middle, but I worried about the instant absorbancy factor. I thought about how much I loved my flour sack kitchen towels because they literally suck the water off my pans & thought I could get the same effect with using gauze. I was going to make them the same except replace one layer of flannel with a layer of gauze. Please tell me what you think of this idea, as the gauze was a lot more expensive than flannel.
Hi Linda! I’ve never sewn bibs with gauze, but I really like your idea. I have a few burp cloths made with double gauze, and they are my favorites to pull out for my little ones. They’re absorbent and soft. Not only do I think the texture would look adorable on the bibs, but I really think they’d work well.
If you do try a bib with gauze, be sure to let me know what you think!
I have bought new flour sack kitchen towels and used them as backing for gauze bibs! I don’t have any feedback on how they worked out, but they looked great after one wash!
Good to know Bertha! Such a great (and likely much less expensive) variation for the gauze quilts. I appreciate your tip!
I have seen and read quite a few tutorials on hand stitched double gauze quilt but I have not seen any of them show the fabric in a quilting frame or hoops while hand quilting. Did you use either of them to stabilize the fabric and help with uniform stitches?
Hi Robyn, I have hand quilted with a hoop and without. I would say the advantages and disadvantages of the hoop and/or without the hoop remain the same with the gauze quilts as they are with cotton quilts. That being said, I have only hand quilted gauze quilts that were baby size. Maybe a larger one would grow inconvenient??
I quilted all my baby gauze quilts without a hoop. I went through a phase where I used a hoop with cotton quilts, but I returned back to quilting everything now without a hoop.
You said gauze lines of fabric get closer over time when washing. Does this mean gauze fabric shrink on quilt after finished and pills and puffs.? Wondering?
I also loved your teaching in wool and cotton.
I assume that quilting with wool that u can puff the fabric in designing by stitch.
Thanks Carolyn
Hi Carolyn, so it appears that the gauze does shrink some as the fibers pull tighter together, but likely some of it is the result of having the wool batting. I know wool has a fairly high rate of shrinkage, and I think the wool batting helps the gauze along a bit. As for pilling because the wool shrinks at a higher rate than the gauze, I haven’t noticed any yet. We’ve been using the blue and white one a bit over a year now, and it is still holding up really well. Maybe it will be different in a year or so with additional use.
As for additional puffiness, I was hoping for some, and I believe I accomplished that with the wool batting. The puffiness, though, has not caused additional snagging or runs at this point.
Is that helpful?
Have you had any problems with the wool batting bearding – coming through the gauze. I had this trouble with a quilt I made of plaid fabrics that were more loosely woven than quilting cottons. If not, what brand of wool batting did you use? Can’t wait to try a gauze blanket! Love the look.
Hi Nina, my gauze blanket with the wool batting is a bit over a year old now, and I have not had any trouble with bearding. It gets quite a bit of use and lots of washes, but it’s still a relatively young blanket. I don’t know what brand of wool batting I used because I bought it off the roll at my local quilt shop. Anytime I buy from the quilt shop, though, they always have the highest quality (and most expensive) products.
🙂
Just curious, how do you care for your gauze and wool blanket? I am thinking of starting one, but wondering how hard it is to care for.
Hi Kersten, both the green and blue ones pictured above get washed a couple times a month on a regular cycle in the washing machine and regular cycle in the dryer. They just get thrown in with regular laundry. Since they are blankets for my kids, they get taken everywhere, and I regularly find dirt and such on them. If these were adult sized blankets that were used only in the living room, I’d likely wash them alone in the washing machine (to prevent any dingy color transfer from other laundry) on gentle and then I’d dry them on gentle too.
I’m in the middle of hand quilting a gauze blankie, just like your blue, but pink. I wish I had used wool batting, but I used cotton. We will see how it washes up when I’m finished. I’m glad it is stiff before washing because it’s easier to hand quilt! I love this post, sooooo helpful!
Hi Jenni, let me know what you think after it washes up! I’m curious if some cotton battings shrink more maybe depending on brand and such. I’m thankful this was helpful to you! 🙂