. . . and that brings me to a weighty (no pun intended) decision: what batting to use?
You see, this will be a humongous wall-hanging in a loft apartment with a nice, tall ceiling. I don't know if I should stick to a cotton batting like I'm accustomed to, or if I should go with something that won't be so heavy?
After all, this is going to hang on three hooks that will support a hanging rod in the hanging sleeve; the wall is a standard drywall number. I'll be trying to hit the studs in the wall, but I'm still worried.
Anyone out there have experience with hanging large quilts? This one will be queen size.
I've been looking around, and there's a dizzying array of options.
There's a batting called "Air-lite"....
There's my old faithful, "warm-n-natural"....
And there's even some with bamboo in them!
Help!!
Love,
No opinion on the batting, but your Swoon is just lovely.
ReplyDeleteWow - that will be a stunning wallhanging! Warm and Natural of any sort is awfully heavy - so I've found from laundering and lugging around my queen size quilts. Wool is amazingly and it shows quilting well. Poly would be a lighter, less expensive option. Edie McGinnis (KC Star Quilts) told our guild that silk is lightweight for toting quilts around to lectures. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI've never hung a Queen, but cotton would make it really heavy. A poly or as Kris suggested - silk - would be the better choice.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any helpful hints...just wanted to let you know how gorgeous your quilt is!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt top is lovely! I have made a quilted wall hanging where I used punched poly. The punching makes it less puffy, which I think worked well for my quilt at the time. It was light, and quilted really well. If you want more loft, wool is lovely, and quilts beautiful, too. But I'm not sure how suitable it is for a wall hanging. Cotton will be really heavy, so thinner is better.
ReplyDeletedo an 80/20. Just make sure to hit studs
ReplyDeleteI love Warm and Natural but if you are really concerned about weight, use flannel for the batting. I actually think wool is lighter than the cotton and it is my very favorite batting to use (when I can afford it!) but I have done a couple now with flannel and they look great.
ReplyDeleteHey! You should be fine with the cotton you're used to. I keep queen size quilts on one wall with several changes during the year, and one of them has heavy embellishments on it. Scott installed a pulley/curtain rod system for me in Sep 2012 on our 15-ft wall. It's anchored on either end with an eye screw rated for something like 75 pounds each, in the studs. We hung pulleys from each screw and strung decorative rope that is long enough to allow me to lower the rod to working level. I've hung large queens quilted in cotton as well as wool on that rod. And the act of raising/lowering adds more force than simple hanging. No problems at all so far. No wiggling or pulling on the drywall.
ReplyDeleteYou can sorta see what I'm talking about on this post: http://whatahootquilts.blogspot.com/2012/11/wip-yeah-yeah-yeah-havent-i-learned-not.html
Although I think I need to do a better post about that hanging system. And between then and now the cheap-o laundry line has been replaced by some pretty trim rope that looks great on the wall instead of glaring at you. But that *is* the heaviest queen I have that you can see up on it at that time.
The bamboo/silk combo shows the quilting beautifully too. I would use what you want as it may not always be used as a wall hanging.
ReplyDeleteI;m no help with the batt; never hung one that size....but it looks just like mine...hahaha....Don't we love those kits. I love your quilt!!
ReplyDeleteI have a 80x80 on my wall... and several smaller quilts....i only ever use bamboo batting by pellon... and btw, your top looks great!
ReplyDeleteWow, all your swoon blocks together look so pretty! I love the color scheme you chose. I look forward to see the quilt all finished. I'm not help for your batting dilemma.
ReplyDeleteI used to make banners and wall hangings for my church, I always used poly. It's cheap and very lightweight. I also noticed it doesn't absorb moisture from the air as much as natural blends. It also doesn't sag over time like natural fibres. Good luck! Your swoon is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI have a quilting friend that hung a queen size and she used cotton batting. I really do not know what is best!
ReplyDeleteI would go with the lightest batting.
ReplyDeleteI would use "light but warm" what ever you choose. As someone said, it may not always be a wall quilt.
ReplyDeleteI would need to ask the same question if I was doing this. The quilt is lovely though. :)
ReplyDeleteYour quilt top is beautiful. Your daughter will LOVE this! Can't help with the batting question, but am enjoying reading other's opinions.
ReplyDeleteSilk, silk, silk. It is the lightest, and drapes beautifully. Stick with your cotton for binding. Make sure your hanging sleeve is well attached. Sewing it into the binding by machine and then handstitching the bottom with tiny stitches is best. Be careful that the slack is not so much that the sleeve shows. I was talking to Camille the other day and I think she would love your version! As I do.
ReplyDeleteI love the colors in this quilt. Everyone has great suggestions for battings and I'm sure you'll pick the right one for you.
ReplyDeleteAnother batt you might check out is Quilter's Dream Cotton (Request Loft). It is about the thinnest I have found and I use it in my king size quilts to keep them lightweight.
ReplyDelete