I did a little experiment last week. And I experimented on a baby gift for a friend. I’m not convinced that was a good idea, but I think it turned out okay. 🙂
(Pink & Gold Wonderland fabric |  Bambino Double Gauze | Wool Batting)
I have never used wool batting. I was always convinced that 100% cotton batting was the best option in almost all cases. And maybe it is.
I was doing a bit of reading on sewing with double gauze. Double gauze is the thin muslin type material often used for a swaddle or baby blanket. (Think Aden & Anais blankets.)
I read that the combination of double gauze + wool batting makes for a super super soft and comfy quilt. Since I couldn’t find any double gauze in pink and gold, I used a print from Art Gallery’s Wonderland Collection in 100% cotton quilting fabric.
If you have ever sewn with Art Gallery fabrics, you may have noticed it has a smoother, kind of silky type texture. It’s not like the courser weave in a Kona Cotton solid. I think both textures have their pros and cons, but in this case, the smooth weave in the Wonderland fabric was perfect.
The above picture is after washing and drying the blanket. It crinkled perfectly on both sides, and I think it is a very cozy and squishy blanket for a baby. It feels thicker than the cotton batting, and it definitely has a poof that you don’t find with cotton.
Would I use wool batting again? Yes!
I purchased a bit more double gauze to try a baby blanket with double gauze on both sides and wool batting in the middle. I’m really curious how the texture will feel, and I want to test for myself how durable the double gauze on the market really is. It’s a thin weave, and I don’t want to be concerned giving it as gifts.
Maybe I’ll even attempt to hand quilt it. I’ve heard hand quilting and wool batting are a great combination.
So tell me. What is your experience with wool batting. This is my one and only project using wool batting, and I’d love to learn more. What do you know?
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Beautiful quilt. I’m starting one with gauze for the top and I want to know if you can recommend a soft cotton for the back? Thank you
Laurie, most quilting cottons will soften with washing. I have noticed a few differences between brands. For example, Art Gallery Fabrics have a smoother feel. Kona cottons have a crisper feel. In my experience, though, they all soften with a few washes. Here are a few of my favorite places to shop for fabrics: https://www.thewillowmarket.com/my-favorite-fabric-shops-and-stores/
I hope that’s helpful!
What wool batting do you use. I just finished this project and when I pulled it out of the dryer it has beardingðŸ˜. I have already started another one with wool batting and I don’t know that this one won’t do the same thing. Looking for advice!
Oh Amity, I’m so sorry! How frustrating. The only wool batting I’ve ever used was bought straight from the roll at my local quilt shop. So I really don’t know what brand it was, but I do know it was high quality, and that was reflected in the price.
I need help with the quilting portion. Did you quilt on the machine? Or by hand?
Feed dogs down or up, like I don’t know but I kind don’t have success with matching quilting.
Great questions Amanda! While I usually quilt anything with wool batting by hand, this particular one I did with my machine. I also had the feed dogs up. I, too, can get frustrated with machine quilting, and it’s honestly why I’ve switched to hand quilting a lot of my quilts. If it is a mechanical issue with your machine, though, I hope you can get that figured out quickly!
I just started sewing with gauze material, done 3 layers, & 2 layers of gauze, love them, now am making more for our 2 new grandchildren, one on March 2nd, next May 2nd. Ha e a couple orders to make for baby shower & a baby boy. Our grandchildren coming don’t know the sex, so I’m keeping them neutral & few girl colors. Where do you by your gauze material?
Hi Cindy! Congratulations on all your grandchildren! What a generous grandma to have homemade blankets. 🙂 So I have bought some gauze from fabric.com, but I have to say that my favorite place to browse cotton gauze is Miss Matatabi: http://tidd.ly/75de681a
Her Etsy shop is in Japan, but when I’ve ordered shipping has been reasonable and I don’t remember the package taking long. I think she has a really great selection of gauze.
Hopefullly that’s helpful. 🙂
Lovely blanket! Did you use the white gauze as binding? If so, did you cut it on the bias or with grain, and hand sew or machine sew it on? Attempting my own. Thanks.
Hi Shelly, I did indeed use the white gauze for binding. I did NOT cut on the bias because I was using scraps for the binding. I used the machine to sew it on and then hand sewed it over to the flip side. This is the second binding I’ve done with gauze and cutting with the grain. The one I made for my son is washed all the time and has held up just great.
OMG this looks so soft and cuddly! What brand wool batting did you use? I have been wanting to try wool out for my quilt but have been afraid of bearding. Thanks!
Hi Nara, I actually don’t know what brand I used because I bought it off the role at my local quilt shop. I love it, though, and highly recommend trying wool. It has such a different drape than cotton and is lovely. 🙂
Is there special washing instructions for wool batting?
Hi Donna, the baby blanket I primarily use with my little one right now has wool batting. I wash it like I do any of his blankets. It goes in the washer on a normal cycle and goes in the dryer on a normal cycle. I haven’t noticed major shrinkage or anything like that. The blanket crinkled up like cotton batting, but it wasn’t anything I didn’t expect.
That’s my experience with wool batting, but since I haven’t done an immense amount of sewing with wool batting, don’t hesitate to get some other opinions. 🙂
Hi! Did you pre wash the double gauze before quilting?
Also, what size are your blankets? Thanks!
Hi Kim,
I did not prewash the double gauze. I’ve made a few blankets now with gauze and haven’t noticed any consequences of not prewashing. When I make baby blankets, I tend to make them about the size of a yard of fabric (36 inches by 45 inches). It’s convenient to buy a yard for the front and a yard for the back, but I also think it’s a good finished size for a baby.
Hope that helpful! Thanks for stopping by!
Do you normally wash your fabric before quilting?
Hi Holly, as long as I’m not buying pre-cut charm packs or jelly rolls, I usually recommend prewashing fabric. I use a gentle and short cycle and a low heat in the dryer.
But, in my many years of sewing, I’ve grown a bit lazy with pre-washing as long as I’m working with high quality quilting fabrics. I’ve only paid the price once when a deep navy bled onto a white, and it was really really frustrating trying to get the bleeding out.
So, in short, I recommend pre-washing, but I don’t always follow my own rule. 🙂
lol thanks
🙂
This is perfection! Beautiful.
Thanks, dear friend. 🙂