Mountain Mist Batting Company has long been the standard of quality batting. Founded in 1846, they offer a wide range of thicknesses and fiber in both cotton, polyester and polyester/cotton blend quilt batting. Now, they have again met quilters' needs. In 2002, "White Rose" and its sister "Cream Rose" Battings were offered by Mountain Mist. A Paducah, KY focus group conducted a blind test comparing many cotton batting products. The result was that an amazing three out of four hand quilters preferring "White Rose" over any other! It was easier to needle through, yet provided a thin, opaque, flexible batting. Isn't that what all of us want, ease in quilting?

"White Rose" is a 100% cotton needle punched batting, named after a previous Mountain Mist product. "White Rose" has no scrim, making for easier needling by hand. It's not only a breeze to use for hand quilting; machine quilters love it, too. It is doesn't stiffen when used for heavy, dense stippling. It's opaque and so you can use a dark backing—nothing will show through.

While "White Rose" is bleached, washed and scoured; "Cream Rose," is unbleached but does go through a washing process that removes the oil that is found in cotton. This means that you won't have any stains appearing later in your quilt from cottonseed oil.

Questions regarding the future of Mountain Mist and its famous quilt collection have been circulating. Vickie Paulus, Marketing Director and caretaker of the collection, explains: "Leggett & Platt, Inc., known for their Buffalo Batt Division, recently bought Mountain Mist. The good news is that there will be no changes in the product line, including three thicknesses of polyester batting, and several cotton batts. And, we are keeping the famous Mountain Mist quilt collection intact." This is great news for quilters everywhere, and especially for Mountain Mist pattern collectors. Parts of that exceptional collection are used as backdrops at quilt shows around the nation and greatly admired.

Eight quilts from the Mountain Mist Collection were seen at "Quilts on Historic Main Street," in St. Charles, Mo. September 6, 2003, where they were on loan for the day. Those quilts included "Sweet Pea" and "Daffodils," treasured appliqué patterns that were printed on the inner label of Mountain Mist's packaging. The exhibit was extremely popular. Gwen Shepherd, of Mountaintop Quilt Shop in Leadville, Colorado, who sells vintage fabric, quilts, and patterns, said, "The best part of this exhibit is that it's a chance to see that fabulous quilting for free!"

When designing their packaging, Mountain Mist chose one of their historic patterns,"Rose Tree." Look for "White Rose:" it will aid your hand and machine quilting. Now you can replicate the "old" look without the drag on your needle or the stiffness that results in heavy machine quilting.

©2003 Hallye Bone

Mountain Mist:
www.stearnstextiles.com