I am a beginner quilter and have made 10 quilts so far. Have used a white sheet, a mattress pad, a flannel sheet and regular 80/20 batting. All purchased from thrift stores. All turned out amazingly beautiful and low cost. I was even complimented by a teacher at the local quilt store. Remember that quilting done years ago didn't have strict rules. Use what u can afford and enjoy it.

My first quilt was a box of scrap fabric left over from other sewing projects. I've been sewing my whole life...well about as long as I can remember. I sew crafts and clothes. Anyway I had a box of fabric that i didn't have any other use. I was going through a hard time physically, mentally and financially. It was a dark time. My neighbor lady was older and very kind to me she offered to teCh me how to quilt. I took my box of fabric most of it was cotton and cotton blends and started cutting it up in 4 1/2 inch squares. I had no rulers. No ctting mat, no rotary cutter nothing but a sharp pair of fabric scissors and some pins. All of my sewing supplies were from sewing patterns for tops and other general sewing. I made a square out of a cardboard cereal box and traced squares on my fabric and cut them individually with scissors. It was actually fun. My neighbor gave me the fabric for a boarder and binding and taught me a lot about how to put it all together. The back is a thrifted sheet. I spent less than $20 on the whole thing. I used polyfil batting. I still have it. I still use it. It was about 11 years ago. I've come around since then and am in a better life situation. I have a lot of quilting tools and rulers since then. Ive also made other quilts. I've gotten better. I can afford new fabric now. In sharing because I hope someone reads this and gets encouraged to just try with whatever he or she has on hand. You don't have to spend a lot of money to make a quilt. You will learn a lot by just trying a first one. Better tools and fabric can come later, just dont give up.

Bought an antique quilt at a flea market, my lifelong quilter mom started to make repairs and discovered there was an older quilt inside they used as the batting, just made a new top when the old one wore out. she ended up separating the tops and restored them both as finished quilts AND she made me a version of the original older quilt in reproduction fabrics. It’s a 16 patch half square triangles block.

Flannel fabric also makes a good low-loft batting.

I have used an electric blanket that no longer worked. I took out the electrical parts and found that there was 2 thin blankets in the 1 electric blanket. There was stitching that held it together so I cut that. I bit of work but worth it I think. Not a summer quilt but not real heavy either. Worked out nice. I quilted it kinda lightly -medium.

I use wool frequently. I find it lightweight, cool in summer, warm in winter. The quilt on my bed has been washed and dried in the dryer many times without any adverse reactions. I have used flannel yardage and flannel sheets for a thin batting too. I often use batting scraps pieced together for batting. I’ll cut a straight edge along two pieces and zig zag them together. Bonnie Hunter calls this “Franken- batting”😊

I love bamboo batting! It’s warm and quilts like a dream. I’ve used fusible batting for placemats and small projects. Currently I am working on a summer quilt. I saw an example that had no batting at all. The back of the quilt was hand stitched to the quilt top and folded over instead of binding.

I use sheets between for quilts. Also if I use fleece I use it more as a backing and watched several videos where its suggested not to use a batting if using fleece. I've personally tried both ways with my fleece didn't make much of a difference. Also I have never used real batting before. I have now made about 10 quilts. All a bit different because I am learning which techniques I may like or dislike. This is why I am taking my time and learning something new with each quilt.

A "quilt" with no batting is a coverlet and coverlets have been made for centuries (Jane Austen and her family made one that's in her museum). The 2nd "quilt" I ever made was a coverlet for my bed, it had no batting and was queen sized. For batting you an use wool blankets from a local Army/Navy store or from thrift stores/garage sales - always wash due to shrinkage (as you said to do). You don't need batting though - fleece or wool can be used as backing eliminating the need for batting.

I save ALL of my fabric and batting scraps no matter how small..These make for awesome fill on my puff quilts..I perceive myself as being frugal, though some folks I know think of me as being cheap!!!

As one in a hot climate - fleece is the WORST as it traps heat awful because they’re usually poly. Flannel is okish, but it’s still warm. A wool blanket works vastly better. But I accept the cost and pay for the wool batting. It’s expensive, but it’s comfortable and usable. I do have a fluffy bamboo silk blend that’s cooler but that’s more expensive than wool.

Drapery interlining makes a great batting. I deconstructed some custom drapes to use the interlining. It’s a little heavier than regular flannel and feels great.

Great ideas ! Thank you ! I have used a thin flannel blanket in a small quilt. Worked pretty good !😊

I have used a quilted mattress pad. I was working within a tight timeframe. The quilt was for a toddler, not an heirloom quality quilt. So I cut it up into 10" squares and used a QAYG pattern. It worked great. Because it was quilted, the thickness was easy to work with. I would use it again.😊

Could I use a thrifted wool blanket (washed of course)? I love 100% wool bc it's breathable and helps regulate body temperature so if I make a quilt that's all cotton and put a wool blanket inside, it seems like it would be light & slim yet warm, but will it mess everything up in the long arm? Making my first ever quilt presently & trying to do it with 100% non-new materials (except thread & a bit of interfacing in a couple spots)

Thanks for the info on a summer quilt. I’ve heard the term but wasn’t sure how one would be made. I have a couple of worn out blankets which are in my mending pile. Interesting thought to maybe use them as batting instead. Might just do that.

My first quilt I used felt from a Christmas project. It's for my little boy, used flannel for backing fabric. My other baby quilts were poly/cotton blend batting with flannel backing.

great video. I loved the part about using old quilts.

I want to know what you use for cost-effective batting for your quilts! My go-to is the $3 fleece blankets from Walmart

DRYER LINT@!@! It's clean and gets sewn up sandwiched between the dryer sheets that come out with the dried clothes. I am currently testing this by making potholders in various thicknesses of "lint-a-batt" to hand quilt and machine quilt to see if its viable for a larger project. Otherwise it's just more fodder to clog up the landfill. Not to mention shipping proper materials to Panama is an additional $4 per pound. normally I do prefer Quilters Dream Natural Cotton Request Batting.

I've used old blankets that had where full of holes. I sewed up the small holes and the larger ones I "stuffed" with some stuffing. Once it was quilted you had to really look to find where the stuffing was. It didn't feel as dense but only because I new what I was feeling. Couldn't tell by looking at the finished quilt.

Currently using a worn fleece blanket. It's fairly easy to hand quilt through.

I’ve use flannel sheets for the batting as well

If there is not middle it is not a quilt a quilt has 3parts. 2pieces serene together is called a coverlet. For baby quilts flannel is a great alter ❤

A friend of mine has used mattress pads that she picked up at a garage sale.

I have used fleece yardage for the backing to my repurposed shirt quilts. No batting needed. very economical quilt and so soft.

I keep an eye out for used baby blankets at thrift shops for batting. They are usually cotton/polyester blend. ALOT cheaper than buying by the role.

Most of my quilts are made with Warm and Natural Batting, I have a couple child quilts of Polar Fleece backing. I'm looking for alternatives with mostly cotton with higher loft.

Thanks for sharing

I have used a lot of different batting’s. I was wondering about the backing can it be a silky, smooth texture like satiny smooth My granddaughter wants something that smooth up against her skin. And I don’t know what to do or use ❤. And should I send it out to the long arm? I enjoy your videos They are so helpful and down to earth. Thank you for all you do😊

I want to try the minky type blanket without batting. So just as a backing. I heard a you tuber say that she goes to good will and purchases a blanket there and washes it. Once she bought 2 identical soft blankets and sewed them together to make it larger. I am going to go to a discount store like Home Goods. You can get a soft blanket for 11.99 - 19.99 there and it would also be sewn together. Fingers crossed it works

❤

I usually use 80/20 due to the cost. I need to consider the fleece sheets.

Fleece blankets make an excellent bedding I have made a couple that way and the hand after it is sewn it’s just absolutely soft and wonderful. Also, I prefer to use a fleece blanket that has been used for a while and is pilled up, that way it’s really like free and you’re not buying anything new, then the new fleece blanket can go on your bed, L O L

Can we use a plush blanket as the backing for a quilt top?

For placemats, bags, etc I have used rumple felt. Its polyester , fused denser than polyester batting. It may have other names. Your wine glasses wont tip over.

Whats a good polyester batting for quilted hand bag. Maybe something i can get at Walmart or Michaels? Thanks

can you use felt instead of batting. I have a bunch of the 72 inch felt

What about muslin?

I am thinking of making a quilt batting g using hand towels we no longer use, zig zag stitched together, has anyone else tried this.

Minky as a backing with no batting.