Needle-Punched Polyester Batting For DCO

Shayla

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We're doing a DCO, sized 56 x 77, and are ordering needle-punched polyester batting.
Do you have a favorite brand? And, medium or high loft?
 
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I've always been a fan of high loft poly-fil. I don't mess with batting too often though, so I suppose loft largely depends on the project. More often than DCO, I use it behind puckered embroideries that stretching alone will not lay flat, so I need a good pillow behind it to puff it out. Regardless, I find myself using multiple layers to get the result I need and I figure with high loft, I need to layer less.
 
I've always been a fan of high loft poly-fil. I don't mess with batting too often though, so I suppose loft largely depends on the project. More often than DCO, I use it behind puckered embroideries that stretching alone will not lay flat, so I need a good pillow behind it to puff it out. Regardless, I find myself using multiple layers to get the result I need and I figure with high loft, I need to layer less.
I agree, about using multiple layers. I've also made the one closest to the art smaller than those behind it, as recommended by Jim Miller.
 
High loft, needle-punched, 100% virgin (not recycled) polyester batting. Usually I've used 1/2" thickness in multiple layers. And yes, the "pyramid effect" helps to make the support from the batting more consistent over the entire surface.
 
interesting... well that certainly makes things a little more expensive... It looks like the quilt batting industry is largely moving to 100% recycled polyester. The only way to source 100% virgin is to go through one of the conservation geared material suppliers like university products
 
High loft, needle-punched, 100% virgin (not recycled) polyester batting. Usually I've used 1/2" thickness in multiple layers. And yes, the "pyramid effect" helps to make the support from the batting more consistent over the entire surface.Univer
University has this, at 3/4" loft and 40" wide.


Gaylord has this, at 1/2" loft and 45" wide.


My usual approach would be muslin behind art (and writing this reminds me to rinse it thricely), then a piece that's a bit smaller than the art.
Since this piece is 56 x 77, my non-expert self would usually make the top layer of batting about a few inches smaller on each side, but since the
batting only comes 45", is it okay for the top piece to be that much smaller? It would mean 5 1/2" smaller all around, which sounds like a lot.
If it needs to be bigger, would I just fill out with an extra strip of batting, and maybe attach both batting pieces lightly to the backing, with a few
dabs of fabric glue?
 
I didn't get the memo about thickness. Last one I did was a 36" square silk scarf.
Base was ACM panel with rag mat face.
I used .1" batting in and inverted pyramid (smallest first, 8 layers) and washed, unbleached muslin.
That was the one I let static help position the scarf.
 
I didn't get the memo about thickness. Last one I did was a 36" square silk scarf.
Base was ACM panel with rag mat face.
I used .1" batting in and inverted pyramid (smallest first, 8 layers) and washed, unbleached muslin.
That was the one I let static help position the scarf.
Static positioning works great! We did it with a silk scarf, and so much easier.
 
I've had good luck with Soft & Bright poly batting from the Warm Company. They advertise it as free of glues, resins, or silicone. I just checked with the maker, and it's all new polyester fiber, as well.
Thanks. On the site, I see a weight-per description, but do you know how high the loft is?
 
The loft is not much! Maybe 3/16" with no compression. But my local fabric store has it in bolts 90" wide so it's been essential for some large projects, with lots of layering.
softbright.webp
 
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