Unique Features of Each Loft of Quilters Dream

We frequently get calls from customers when placing orders that will say, “I would like to order the Dream Cotton in the pink label” or “what’s the one I always get that has the blue label?”  

These customers are simply referring to the loft/weight they prefer in a particular line of Quilters Dream Batting carried. In an previous blog-  A Good Foundation ,we explained the importance of choosing the right batting or foundation for your quilt. Now we will go into a little more detail as to why you may want to also consider which loft will be perfect for your special project!

Request™: Thinnest Loft- Blue Label

Lightweight and consistent, Request™ was developed especially for hand quilters who love this weight and rave that it is a ‘dream’ to quilt through. It is ideal for micro-stitching, and has an exceptional drape. Also very good for short arm machine quilting. The Request loft was not developed for use on longarm machines; however, many longarm quilters love the soft drapey effect and successfully use the Request™ by ‘floating the top'. Are you not sure what that means? Click here!

Perfect for: Warm climates, antique restorations, lightweight summer quilts, table runners and wearable’s.

Available in:  Dream Cotton (Natural/White), Dream Poly (White/Black), Dream Angel and Dream Fusion (Natural Cotton)

Hand Quilting: Recommend

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommended (With floating the top)

Select ™: Mid Loft- Pink label 
(with a few exceptions)

Our most popular loft, Select™ is versatile as it is great for hand quilting as well as long and short arm machine quilting. Wonderful mid-weight imparts a very nice definition to your quilting while keeping a soft, lovely drape.

Perfect for:  All quilted projects, especially medium weight quilts, wearables and wall hangings.

Available in: Dream Cotton (Natural/ White), Dream Poly (White/Black), Dream Angel, Dream Fusion (Natural Cotton/ Poly White), Dream Blend, Dream Green, Dream Orient

Hand Quilting: Recommend

(Except for Blend, Poly Fusion & Cotton Fusion)

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

 Deluxe™: High Loft- Purple Label

A wonderful heavy yet drapeable batt. Provides extra warmth and volume offering extra emphasis to your quilting.

Perfect for: Show quilts, wall hangings, cold climate quilts, bags, and craft projects.

Available in: Dream Cotton (Natural/White), Dream Poly (White)

Hand Quilting: NOT Recommended

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

Supreme™: Highest Loft- Yellow Label

This hefty dense batt has a full ½ pound of cotton per square yard! Used by machine quilters for show quilts and special projects requiring thickness, weight & volume.

Perfect for: Kitchen crafts, ironing boards cover, craft projects, or extra warm heavy quilts.

Available in: Dream Cotton

Hand Quilting: NOT Recommended

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

Dream Wool™: Blue label with the little sheep

A light airy batting of approximately ¼ + inch of loft that flattens down nicely while hand or machine quilting. Although light weight, Dream Wool imparts excellent definition to your stitches.  The curly wool fibers will give extra texture to beautifully accentuate your quilting designs while remaining soft and cozy. Resistant to creases and folds.

Perfect for: Heirloom quilts, show quilts, stitch definition - very functional for all seasons.

 Hand Quilting: Recommend

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

Dream Puff™: Blue label with the little ducks

Dream Puff is light as a feather yet 1.5 times warmer than down and 2 times warmer than most high loft polyesters. 1/3+ inch loft imparts volume and definition, yet is very soft and drapeable. For those special 'puffy' quilts, Puff will layer easily for sumptuous loft. We have heard from many quilters who love to layer the Dream Puff™ with Dream Poly Select™ for extra warmth, volume, and definition.

Perfect for: Trapunto, wearables, t-shirt quilts, & light lofty quilts.

Hand Quilting: Recommend

Short Arm Machine: Recommend

Longarm Machine: Recommend

That was a lot to take in...we know. Keep in mind our staff is ready to answer any of your questions or provide you with samples.

Happy Quilting!
~The Dream Team
Unique Features of Batting - PDF

A Good Foundation

I could talk all day about batting, and if you have called Quilters Dream Batting with a question, you might already know this.  I just got off the phone with a customer who was trying to decide which batting to choose, and it was quite a discussion.  The choice of which batting to use is pretty darn important, as the batting is the foundation of your quilt.  And since there are so many batts to choose from, it is best if you can make an informed decision.  Batting has come a long way, baby!  Here are some things to consider when making this critical decision:

·       Dream Cotton Batting – Dream Cotton continues to be the most popular batting of all! Dream Cotton is incredibly drapeable, beautifully soft, 100% natural, and quilts like butter! Available in four lofts, Dream Cotton is exceptional for all your quilting needs. Because of the natural, traditional fiber, Dream Cotton is recommended by the Restoration Society, but it is also great for today's modern quilts. We use a very high grade of USA cotton and the longest fibers in the industry. This is important because longer fibers mean minimal shrinkage, less bearding, and virtually no lint on your machine. The longer the fibers, the more places the fibers will intersect, making the batting so strong that you can stitch up to 8 inches apart! With our unique processing using no scrim, glues or binders, Quilters Dream Cotton remains soft, huggable, and beautifully drapey.  Choose Request weight for hand quilting, Select for hand or machine quilting, Deluxe for machine quilting a heavy quilt, Supreme for machine quilting a very heavy quilt or craft projects.

·       Dream Poly Batting -  Available in Request, Select, and Deluxe weights, Dream Poly is made 100% from polyester microfibers. The poly microfibers mimic the cotton so you get the same look and feel of the cotton.  However, it has the benefit of no shrinkage, so it is perfect if you want to keep that “just quilted” look, even after multiple washings.  Dream Poly does not hold a crease, so you can fold it and store it (or ship it to a show) and not worry about lines or wrinkles when you take it out.  The request and select lofts are light, breathable, and drape beautifully.  The high loft, deluxe, is perfect for wall hangings that you want to lay flat without curling corners, and will shows off your stitches wonderfully.

·       Dream Blend for Machines – Note here that this batting is “for machines” – it has a light scrim, so you won’t want to hand quilt this batting.  However, because of the scrim, it is very easy to handle and work with, so it has become an all time favorite for the long arm machine quilters.  You can tug it into place without worrying about stretching or leaving hand prints.  It is slightly heavier than the cotton or poly, but the scrim is so light that it still has a very nice drape.

·       Dream Angel – If you are concerned about flame retardancy for your quilt, this is the batting for you, and as a bonus, this batting is wonderfully soft and drapey!  Unlike most flame retardant products, this batting was NOT chemically dipped or treated – the batting fibers were specially engineered to be flame retardant.  The fibers are inherently flame retardant so the flame retardant quality will never wash off.  An excellent choice for baby quilts, dorm quilts, nursing home quilts, etc. (It is available in both Request and Select loft)

·       Dream Wool – This is a very soft wool that is very breathable and light weight with a nice loft of about 1/3 - 1/2” to emphasize the stitches (or hide those slight piecing imperfections).  It is thermally bonded, so can be machine washed and dried (on cool settings) without much shrinkage at all. More and more people are telling me that this is their favorite, both for hand or machine quilting; they’ve convinced me – I’m going to give it a try on my next quilt.

·       Dream Puff – This is another batting with a very nice 1/3-1/2" loft - just enough for a slightly "puffy" quilt.  It is made 100% from poly microfibers, and, like the Dream Wool, it is thermally bonded to hold the loft without being scratchy or stiff. It is soft, breathable, and very affordable.  Dream Puff is a great all around snuggly modern style batting for quilts. Layer the Dream Puff with a Dream Cotton for a perfect  faux trapunto - the cotton will shrink slightly when washed making the Dream Puff really "pop"!

·       Dream Green – Could a batting from recycled bottles be soft and snuggly?  I was skeptical, but Dream Green proved me wrong.  This batting is exactly the same as Dream Poly select, with the exception that the fibers were once soda bottles, and it has a green tint of color!  If you are eco-conscious and going green, this is the batting for you - each pound of Dream Green batting rescues 10 bottles from our landfills.  You won't believe anything this soft, cozy, and breathable could come from recycled bottles, but it is true!

·       Dream Orient – This is the softest and silkiest batting available.  It is made from a blend of silk, bamboo, cotton, and botanic tencel that is simply scrumptious to work with.  Your finished quilt will absolutely hug you.  Beware – this batting is highly addictive!  
 

Okay, now you have an overview – if you need more info, please check out our website:  www.QuiltersDreamBatting.com