My Batting Won’t Stop Slipping!

Ask an Expert Banner NQC


Question text

My batting is always slipping and stretching when I use my regular sewing machine. I’ve tried a walking foot, even lowered my dogs, but still the batting squishes out. I’m only using 2–3 layers of fabric. HELP PLEASE! What am I doing wrong?

Submitted via email


NQC Answer

Hi there! Another thing that can help keep all of your layers even is if you can lessen the presser foot pressure on your machine. If your machine does not have this capability, I would recommend basting the layers together with pins every couple inches or so to make sure the batting doesn’t slip.

Hope that helps!

Ashley

Interested in learning more? Check out this free video All About Quilt Battings

You might also like:
Different Types of Quilt Batting
Piecing Together Quilt Batting
Clever Uses for Quilt Batting Scraps
How to Choose the Right Quilt Batting
Fake Trapunto Quilting with Wool and Cotton Batting

Tips for Selecting Quilt Batting Do you have a quilting question you’d like answered by an expert? Email your question to editor@nationalquilterscircle.com or reach out to us on Facebook.

Please note: questions may be edited for clarity and relevance.

Make a comment
  • (will not be published)

11 Responses to “My Batting Won’t Stop Slipping!”

  1. Nancy

    Can I mail you a cheque for three dollars, as I do not send my emails with my credit card,as I have been hacked too often, I am eighty years old and still sewing quilts, only now there are so many easy ways to do different to do quilting, I learned with sand paper backing on my templates, so I would enjoy some of your hints and methods

    Reply
  2. Kat

    I would like to have my quilt finished by a Longarm quilter. What do I need to know. Do I give them the quilt top, batting & backing separate? Do I supply the thread?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Kat,

      Thank you for contacting us.

      All of these questions depend on your longarm quilter. For example- when I send my quilts out to be quilted, I send only a quilt top and binding. My quilter provides the batting and backing fabric (and adds that to the bill). However, some quilters prefer that you send everything to them. You will need to reach out to your quilter ahead of time to know what they are wanting.

      If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3538, or chat with us on our site.

      We greatly appreciate your business!

      Sincerely,

      Lindsay
      National Quilters Circle Video Membership

      Reply
  3. Carol Kelliher

    I have a question. I’m a beginner at quilting. Why do you cut the batting larger than the quilt? You have to trim it anyways so why not cut it to size?

    Reply
    • Karen

      When you are quilting the batting and backing can pull together a bit and seem to shrink. If you cut the batting to the size of the quilt top, you will likely not have enough batting to reach to the edge once it is quilted.

      Reply
  4. ann fox

    maybe the person whose batting is slipping could also try “505 spray glue” lightly between the layers ? ? should help a bit. AF

    Reply
  5. Lisa

    Has anyone tried a light spray of spray starch?
    Just enough to have it ‘tacky’ enough to keep
    the batting in place? It’s just a thought. :-)

    Reply
  6. Mary Miller

    I came across 20 12×12 quilt blocks that were hand sewn by my husband’s grandmother. I am unsure what to do with them next. Is there a specific video or other instructions that would help me with the next steps in making a quilt?

    Reply
    • lorraine M steiner

      need some advice on putting strips horizontally and vertically between fold and sew blocks. It is for a lap quilt.

      Reply
      • Customer Service

        Hi Lorraine,

        Thank you for the question, I received this question in a email earlier today and am waiting for the answer. Once I get the answer I will forward it to you via email.

        If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3538, or chat with us on our site.

        We greatly appreciate your business!

        Sincerely,

        Joan
        National Quilters Circle Video Membership

        Reply