Polyester Batting, Adhesives, And Fusibles In Quilts: A Restorer's Perspective

A reader has asked me to explain a reference I make on my website to the deterioration of quilts caused by polyester batting. I’ll take it a step further and discuss fusibles and adhesives as well.

If you are not concerned about whether your work will last long enough to be enjoyed by your grandchildren, you can move on. However, if you’re working on a quilt you intend to be an heirloom, put your needle down and pay attention.

Polyester batting:
Most quilters know that they should use cotton thread in cotton quilt tops. This is because polyester thread is stronger than cotton and will eventually pull through the fabric. Polyester batting is also stronger than cotton and will, over time, abrade the fabric. The quilt top will wear out from the inside. This picture, which is also on my web site, is an example of how the batt will wear fabric down to the seam line.

This tied quilt was made in the 1980’s and did not receive hard use – nonetheless, there are five areas on the top that are showing this kind of wear. Fortunately, the owner of this quilt also had the scraps left over from the original construction of the quilt.

Adhesives and Fusibles:
The use of fusibles dates back at least to the 1970’s, with the advent of Stitch Witchery. Fusibles and adhesives tailored for use by quilters have been on the market for several years, but it would be incorrect to assume that just because they were made for quilters that they are safe for the quilts. The International Quilt Association and Quilters Newsletter Magazine sponsored a study on the effects of light- and heat-aging on quilt adhesives, including basting sprays, fusible webs, and fusible batting. Their conclusions:

• Most basting sprays cause significant yellowing and fabric strength losses over both the short and long term.
• Fusible webs are a little better – they are acceptable for quilts intended only to last the lifetime of the quilter (about 30 years), but they are not recommended for heirloom or masterpiece quilts.
• Fusible battings did not exhibit the same problems with yellowing and weakening. (This surprises me, but I’m hardly in a position to contradict the research.)

The average quilter doesn't think much about the long term future of her creations as she's working on them. We tend to be self-deprecating about our work and imagine that only our small circle of friends and family has any appreciation for our "humble" gifts. I'm working (still) on a Sunbonnet Sue that a woman made for her daughter sometime back in the 1920's. I'm sure it never occurred to her that this quilt would be handed down through four little girls and serve as the treasured memory of an entire maternal line. As fragile as the quilt is, the restoration is very straightforward. If the Sues had been applied with heavy fusible, the work -- and the result -- would be quite different.

So give the future restorer of your quilts a break: put away the glue.

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quilt repair, quilt restoration, quilting