Comments on: notes on stuffing

By: Laura Lake

Laura Lake — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:26:09 +0000

Beaverslide Drygoods has a quilt batt that is domestic. They have a web presence. Also, Frankenmuth woolen mills sells quilt bats and these have worked well for me for pillow dolls. I like the wool stuffing not only for the warmth and the weight, but also because needlefelting on the surface of the doll is quite successful if the doll is stuffed with wool. This seems to hol true even if the doll is not made of wool fabric. You have a great blog, and I really admire your dolls.

By: Softie Making: resources for making handmade softies » Blog Archive » Tip #6 Notes on Stuffing by Mimi Kirchner

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:14:55 +0000

[...] Read it here: Notes on Stuffing by Mimi Kirchner [...]

By: Capella

Capella — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:31:56 +0000

I am so excited to see this thread! I love keeping it all recycled.

I want to try Earl Mill when I run out of the huge garbage bag of polyfill at a discount fabric store in SF on Mission and 17th that I just got. I should have a holiday line that will feature wool stuffing.

The other possibility, that I like even better, is wool fiber reclaimation, a topic which was in one of the earlier comments someone was discussing. I found this company through one of the comments on a blog. His material for the mixed colors currently runs about 2.45/lb! It is coarser, and not good for fine stuffing, but looks good for general use. Tell him fixedgeargal sent you.

CONTACT:
Paul L. Dunster
Washtucna Fiber Regeneration
P.O. Box 458
Washtucna, WA 99371 0458
pldunster@centurytel.net

By: Alice

Alice — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:29:46 +0000

I have made many stuffed toys, and I have used old nylons (pantyhose) for stuffing. The toys dry quickly after washing, the nylons are free - just snip into managable pieces, and use the waistband (and control top) for other uses (big elastic bands are great for holding over stuffed scrapbooks together). I have kept my light coloured stockings separate, for use in pale dolls. Polyester batting wrapped around the nylons can reduce bumps if you are stuffing bigger items like pillows. Try shredding thin cottons too.

By: anne

anne — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:09:22 +0000

Found you on whip-up — wow! Your blog rocks. Thank you!

I got some non-spinnable wool scraps nearly free from the shepherd down the road. It was mostly second clippings, so the fibers were too short for good spinning. Some of it was already felted and there were a few clumps with too much vegetable matter to bother reclaiming. I wouldn’t have bought it from a store, and there was some work involved and a lot of waste, but it worked out great for me.

The bamboo stuffing Vesna mentioned sounds great — I’ve never seen it at my Jo-Ann’s, though. Rats and mice.

I will have to read through more of your blog, as you’ve probably already dealt with cotton stuffing. I like it because it packs hard.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:46:50 +0000

Thanks for this information on stuffing. I have a question: I have been trying to track down the collective name for the wool scraps, thread bits, yarn pieces that are leftover from projects. I collect them and use them in different ways and would really like to ‘remember’ what they are called. There is a term - but I have forgotten it. Can anyone help?

By: e.v.lowi

e.v.lowi — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:15:42 +0000

West Earl wool batting changes all the time. Maybe it will change back to what you liked about it in the first batch. The second batch sounds perfect for what I like to make and how I use it- rolled around a chopstick. The long fibers sound dreamy . I hope they still have some! I try to purchase smaller amount through the seasons, just in case a batch is not to my liking.

The oily or slippery polyester stuffing is probably silicon coated. Polyester stuffing also comes in short and long staples and different deniers. It’s frustrating when the quality you are used to changes, isn’t it.

The price of polyester fibers are directly tied to the price of oil, since they are petroleum resin based. It’s no wonder the quality has gone down. : (

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:21:36 +0000

Mimi, I can relate - a few months ago I bought a large amount of toy stuffing, but it is terrible, I don’t know what it is supposed to be used for - it’s both far too loose and bouncy but also has hard lumpy bits! Ah well, this is proof to me that you can’t buy unless you’ve handled it first:) I used to make tiny teddy bears and would use glass beads to get them very firmly filled. I like the idea of using wool clippings.

By: Vesna

Vesna — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:24:04 +0000

Mimi, I just started using bamboo fill ( you can buy it an Joanne’s), and I like it. It stuffs pretty hard, more like woold would do, I guess. It is messy (lint pickup needed) but oh so pleasant to work with - very silky feeling. Also, it is not puffy. This fiber is made in the USA, and of renevable material. Of course, it is pricier than regular synthetic fills, but they always have coupons there for 40% off, so maybe it can work for you.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:07:51 +0000

I’ve recently had the same issue. I’ve been using Mountain Mist for years and loved it, but recently it has changed and is very stiff, sort of scratchy, and hard to work with. I also use lots of wool stuffing which has seemed pretty standard over the years but I’m due for a new batch so we’ll see… sigh…why do they mess with what works fine?!