Replies

1. 
   fabricholic | Oct 27, 2006 05:40am | #1

   Hi Wanda,

   I have bought low loft batting at Hancock.  They only had 2 kinds:  the polyester and the cotton.  I don't know if you would need to stay with all natural materials or not?  Sorry, I can't be of more help.

   Marcy

2. 
   MaryinColorado | Oct 27, 2006 06:33am | #2

   Warm and Natural makes different weight battings depending on the desired purpose.  I have used it in clothing and wallhangings.  Joannes has them in packages that explain thier use.  http://www.warmcompany.com 

3. 
   Alexandra | Oct 27, 2006 07:33pm | #3

   Duponi and batting is going to make this garment VERY stiff.  Sorry if I'm stating the obvious.  Is batting recommended on the pattern?  An option is to use flannelette, prewashed and dried several times, less bulky.

1. 
   dotty | Oct 27, 2006 09:02pm | #4

   There was a great Threads article not so long ago about which batting to use for what. It was one of those articles that I think we all want more of ---- info you can't get anywhere else and lots of it.There was a stunning green jacket in it that I'm still puzzling over how it was contructed.

1. 
   WandaJ | Oct 28, 2006 01:46am | #6

   I remember that cover. I believe I have this edition here (somewhere). I will pull it out tonight. Thanks for the reminder.

2. 
   Josefly | Oct 27, 2006 10:36pm | #5

   I like the idea of flannelette, too. It works very well to give just a little more body, and shows up the quilt-stitching enough too. I've only used it for soft placemats, but was very pleased and resolved to use it the next time on a garment.

1. 
   WandaJ | Oct 28, 2006 01:49am | #8

   Thanks for the reinforcement of the use of flannelette instead of batting. Do I use one layer or two, or more?

1. 
   Josefly | Oct 28, 2006 07:27am | #9

   I've used only one and been satisfied with it. I've never used two. I'd love to see a photo of your finished jacket. Looks like a fun pattern.You know, I think if I were doing this I would buy a little of the flannelette and a little of the recommended "low loft batting" (which I've seen at Hancock's) and which is a little thicker than the flannelette, and do some stitching on each with my fabric to see which weight I prefer, how it affects the body of the fabric, and how the quilt or channel stitching is impressed in the fabric.

   Edited 10/28/2006 10:36 am ET by Josefly

2. 
   Alexandra | Oct 28, 2006 07:16pm | #10

   I'd only use one layer and I can't emphasize enough about washing and drying the flannelette at least 3 times before using it.  Also, channel stitching as opposed to a curvy quilting design will make the garment even more stiff and board-like.  Hahahaha, Wanda, have I talked you out of it yet?  I just see red flags and wanted to point out how the garment will turn out so you won't be disappointed in your effort.  I made a pieced jacket out of duponi scraps I had, I didn't quilt it and it hangs very straight.  If you are good with stiff and boxy, you're good to go.  Best wishes, let us know how it turns out.

1. 
   WandaJ | Oct 29, 2006 01:23am | #11

   Thank you for these last two suggestions. On today, I made a trip to the local Hancock Fabric Store. While there I took a look at their low loft batting. They did not carry the flannelette but, they did carry 100% cotton flannel.  I thought about the suggestions I received in this forum and decided against getting the low loft batting.  I did buy the pattern as I am not yet turned off by the concept of making the jacket. What I want to do first is 'read' the pattern through to determine its difficulty, if any; then, try various weights of the suggested interfacing with the dupionni, which I do have in my stash.

   I will let you all know if I proceed and how the jacket turned out. I guess when thinking about the jacket I had visions of sugar plums and the cherry red / black threads quilted jacket running through my head :-}, as I could visualize it with a beautiful black silk knit skirt I made last summer.

   I do more visualizing these days than sewing. I told the lady at the checkout aisle that I believe I'm becoming a patternholic as I cannot seem to resist the sales, especially, sales of Vogue Patterns!

    

2. 
   Josefly | Oct 29, 2006 08:47am | #12

   On looking at the pattern again, I see that the fabric recommendations are for shantung, taffeta, and broadcloth. Your dupioni sounds right in line with that, to me. The jacket may be stiff, but if so, it was designed to be. The red and black sound beautiful together. I can see how you'd get excited about this jacket and the color combination - lots of opportunity to be creative. Have you decided to do the channel stitching, as shown on the vest, or the random "doodling" shown on the gold jacket? Do you have to use a nap lay-out with the dupioni? Seems I've read other threads that mention a color difference, but maybe that had to do with right-side, wrong-side. I, too, do more "dreaming up" (and reading about) than actual sewing - trying to reverse the ratio. I'm eager to see your results.

3. 
   WandaJ | Oct 29, 2006 07:52pm | #13

   Thanks for your encouragement. I would love to do the vest, but my initial choice is the jacket. While I purchased the pattern on yesterday, I have yet to read the directions, so I'm in no position to answer your question.

   However, I had not thought about dupionni's face running similar to velvet. I hope to keep that in-mind when cutting so that it will all look the same and not one piece going one-way, and another going the other way! But, with this jacket I'm sure that no one would notice except me, as the detailing (channel sewing) would throw them off and they may think it's supposed to be made that way.

   As far as dreaming about sewing versus actual sewing, I decided to 'read, study' one of Claire Schaeffer's patterns (Vogue 8333) on yesterday, as I really fell in love with the pockets on this jacket -instead of reading about the Marcy Tilton jacket that I first questioned in this thread.

   I'm not sure whether this is laziness (i.e., not sewing versus reading - studying patterns), or if it's because my some of my sewing things like my dress form and a few others are in storage with my furniture, combined with the lack of cutting space is what deters me.

   So, as of now, I dream on :-}, and have vowed to engage in a long winter project like the Marcy Tilton Jacket and a couture jacket. As said by someone else in pattern review's forum, 'If it's worth sewing it's worth sewing well.' I will undoubtedly continue to dream, read and study in preparation for 'doing' well :-}

   Now, if I can just get this fitting down....

    

3. 
   WandaJ | Oct 28, 2006 01:48am | #7

   Thanks for this heads up. Obviously, I had not thought about the stiffness issue as I've never made clothing using batting.

4. 
   WandaJ | Oct 31, 2006 03:29am | #14

   After purchasing the pattern, and reading Marcy Tilton's jacket directions I found that she recommends padding called "Hobbs Thermore Padding: 4 packages." What of course is not printed or published is where to buy this product. Since she recommended the Hobbs Thermore Padding I went online searching for it. What I found is not necessarily what I was looking for, but I have attached it for readers that may be interested in using this product in garment quilting. Hope this helps.

   
5. 
   Teaf5 | Nov 04, 2006 01:22am | #15

   I agree that flannel will make the best batting for this design, which seems to be based on the traditional Japanese quilted jackets. You need the batting to give depth to the stitching, but you don't want any unnecessary bulk, especially since you will be overlapping it in the front.

   On a similar project, I had good results from a lightweight polyester bathrobe fleece; the slight nap allowed for the depth/dimension of the stitching, yet it was thin and light enough to retain flexibility and drape.

   Let us know what works...

1. 
   WandaJ | Nov 04, 2006 05:48am | #16

   Thank you for your input. Will you please provide more specific information about "...a lightweight polyester bathrobe fleece..." you used?