Bamboo batting -

[Judy M.]

Has anybody any experience of using bamboo batting? A friend of mine has just layered up a large quilt with bamboo batting - tacked it to death - and is finding that it isn't going through the sewing machine very well. I haven't seen it, but apparently the fabric is 'creeping' and the underside is puckered. I wonder if it is because the bamboo batting is very 'clingy' ? Would appreciate anbody's suggestions -

[Paula D.]

Well, my thoughts about bamboo batting can be summed up with the following ...you first! :wink:

[Paula D.]

I wonder if the backing fabric is the culprit, not the batting. If she used white tone-on-tone fabric, it has a tendency to stick to the machine bed. Just a suggestion...
Brita

[Robin G.]

I have been tempted by the bamboo batting but have not used it yet. I have tried, however, some light-green colored batting that is made from recycled plastic milk bottles. It has a nice feel and worked well with my domestic machine quilting. It is fairly low loft, so that look might not be for every quilt. So far...so good.

[Margo C.]

After checking the price of bamboo batting, I'll pass until I hear that others think it's worth the extra expense!

[Margo C.]

Most people want to try the bamboo for environment reasons I assume. However, I heard that the chemicals used to break down the bamboo fibers are bad. On the other hand, many chemicals are used in growing the cotton plants. I'd love to hear from a true environmentalist about which is the better choice.
Barbara

[Margo C.]

I used bamboo batting in my LeMoyne Star Variation. I loved the feel of it! It wasn't as bulky as cotton, so I was able to a queen sized quilt in my domestic machine fairly easily.
I machine basted along the seams of the quilt with water soluble thread (because I wanted to try quilting without the spray) and then just quilted. I only straight line quilted the quilt to emphasize the geometric pattern, so I don't know if stippling might be different, but I has no issues with it bunching or anything like that.
I will add that I pre-washed the batting, as the manufacturer recommended that, or washing the finished quilt. I don't know if that makes a difference.
I will use it again.

Jean in Windsor, ON

[Lynn K.]

I, too have been told that bamboo batting can't even be made in the USA because the chemicals used to soften the tree fibers are so caustic, only Third World countrys will allow it.

For that reason, I've chosen not to try it.

It's probably also true for sheets, yarn, other 'fabric/fiber' things we see.

Now a bamboo FLOOR doesn't sound like such a stretch from forest to floor.

Lynn

[Lynn K.]

Yes, Lynn I have read the same information about bamboo fibers. I also remember reading about China using some chemicals that we would not allow in the US to speed the growth of the plants. That is not taking care of the environment. I will not support that with my dollars.

[Lynn K.]

I've used a 50/50 bamboo/cotton wadding (made by Sew Simple, I suspect this is only available in the UK under this name, but it's come from the US originally) which I like, it's very soft and the finished quilt has a nice drape. I didn't pre-wash it, though the instructions suggested I should. I'll expect some shrinkage off the cotton part of it when I do wash it. It's a sample quilt and I'm doing this as an experiment, but I don't want to wash it until after an exhibition in June (at The Bramble Patch), just in case it all goes bad . I sandwiched the quilt using my beloved 505 spray adhesive, quick and easy and no problems with fabric creep or puckering.

[Betty J.]

I'm interested to hear about these disadvantages as to bamboo batting. I must say it didn't make as much sense to me as the bamboo flooring, for instance.

There are cotton battings that have been grown and made in eco-friendly ways. I bought a bit to try it--it isn't as even as some batting, but it would be fine for purely utility quilts.

Also, I wonder if wool batting is not even more eco-friendly than some of the so-called "green" battings, and it would seem to me to work well for more artistic quilts.

Anyway, I think for now I will continue to use 80/20 for most of my quilting. It works so well for me, though I might try the wool batting sometime soon--it has such a nice hand to it, and it's also a fully natural product.

[Lorna B.]

I bought some bamboo batting (with a 50% off coupon) and did not have any problems with it. I usually pin baste my quilts about a hand width apart and then quilt on my domestic machine. The quilt feels soft and wonderful.

[Robin G.]

I saw an ad today in the latest issue of "The American Quilter" for Kyoto bamboo batting that specifically mentions that NO toxic chemicals are used to manufacture it. If this is true, and I have no reason to doubt their claim, this should allay the fears that some have expressed about the harsh chemicals.

[Lynn K.]

That is indeed, great to hear!

[Lynn K.]

I've used the Kyoto batting and it was very nice to work with. No bearding and it needled very easily. Marge