Batting for a White Quilt

[Wendy P.]

My stash of batting is all natural (in color). I'm finishing up a mostly white quilt and wonder if I should use a white batting. Any opinions/experiences with natural batting under a white top?

Thanks- Wendy

[Geneva C.]

Hi Wendy.

I use natural colored Warm and Natural for everything. I've never had a problem with color issues.

Please post a picture of your quilt!

Geneva

[Nancy R.]

Hi Wendy -
It really depends on your fabrics. I would sandwich them together without basting and see how it looks. If the whites seem at all dulled to you, I would go to a white batting. You are most likely fine, but it's better to at least take a look at it and if you are really worried, since after quilting there's a slightly better chance of seeing shadowing, you might as well start with a white batting and then you know you don't have to worry about it. Like Geneva, I almost always use unbleached Warm n Natural and haven't had a problem, but I have heard of others having trouble sometimes so they might have lighter fabric or be more sensitive to this.

[Judith A.]

Hi Wendy,
I have had some natural battings show through white fabrics on top. The seam allowances of the white fabrics in the top showed against the natural colored batting. It depends on the fabrics and the batting. Finer fabrics will have more see-through.
I did one baby quilt with natural bamboo batting that really showed through.

I suggest you layer one of your quilt blocks with the backing and batting you would like to use and look at them in natural light. Hopefully, it will be fine.

[Wendy P.]

Thanks to everyone for the tips. I did the test - natural batting behind one side and white Insulbrite (the only white thing I had) behind the other. The proof is in the photo post! (Credit to Alex Anderson for the pattern. It's from her scrappy quilts book.) I'll be ordering some white batting right away...

Wendy

[Lois B.]

Thanks for the photo. I will remember that. I have a white top nearly finished. I don't think I'll even bother with the test. You've done it for me.

[Lois B.]

Thanks Wendy for doing the test something to keep in mind!
Barb

[Lois B.]

Something to be cautious with when using warm and natural,,, every so often a darker fragment shows up. It will look like a stray thread. That's the other thing about white backgrounds. If there are any stray threads they will show through. So being meticulous before quilting is important. And any won kinds to your seam allowances can draw the eye. I love white backgrounds and I think they are worth the extra effort they require.
I think your quilt is going to be lovely.
May God bless you with no thread breaks this week,
Luann

[Wendy P.]

LuAnn - Thank you for the caution. As this is my first white background I hadn't thought through the whole thread issue! hmy:
God bless,
Wendy