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My son says quilts are not soft like other blankets, like those super plush thick blankets they sell all over. My DD used to say the same thing. They are nice to look at but not cuddly. I know I like quilts, they are cotton-y and get softer with more washings and are lightweight.

Have you ever discussed this or heard people say quilts are or are not soft?

I think it has a lot to do with the batting that's used, as well as the closeness of the quilting. Unless they are backed with flannel or something, I don't think a quilt will ever have that same tactile softness that a blanket has, but then they aren't intended to.

When I made my son's first quilt he wanted it cuddly so I used a thick poly bat and tied it. That was thirteen years ago and he is still using it so it must have been cuddly enough for him. sandy

My experience is that the batting really makes a difference to the cuddly factor. The cotton batting quilts that I have made or seen just don't have the same softness and draping or tuck around you feel as the ones that I made with Thinsulate. I have done a bamboo/cotton and it is not as cuddly as my Thinsulate. I am checking into the wool battings to see if they work similar to the Thinsulate.

The minkee style quilt is soft and cuddly but I have found that those also hold in enough body heat to make it sweaty when the temps are just cool instead of really cold.

There's a "soft" difference between the micro-fiber throws/blankets & a quilt. The micros are stretchy and have almost a limp feeling. If that feels more comfortable to some, i think it's a personal preference, just as many quilters prefer cotton batting over poly or blends, thin over fat.
Maybe some of our preferences are a result of our experience sewing the diffent materials, not just the way they feel.

My quilts are soft and flexible, I am referring more to the actual tactile quality of cotton (which I love) to the blankets that feel like fur almost. (With the fuzzy minky type stuff but for adults.) My son is 17. You know those blankets they sell at T arget and K ohls and such especially around Christmas, that are so soft (I agree they are soft) so I think they just can't get used to the feel of a quilt. I might not be explaining it well sorry!

I agree with Florida Farm Girl. That's the first thing I thought of..the density or loft of the batting and then how tight the quilting was. Not soft per usual but I DID make one for a baby with high-loft and quilted in the ditch and that was soft.

I see what you are saying about batting and loft. My quilts are "soft" in that way but my kids specifically referred to the touch part vs those furry ones that are so popular. I see the. Lankets at T arget and I can't help but run my fingers through the blanket!

It is definitely in the batting. I have a quilt on top of the toy basket (for the grands) in my living room. It is thrown on the floor for the grands and I have wrapped up in it on the couch. DM had some of my GGMs quilt tops. My neighbor quilted several for her. It has poly batting in it. When I first started quilting, I used poly batting. Now I use cotton. My first quilts are softer than my current quilts. However, I expect the cotton to get softer as they age and are washed. Theoretically I expect the all cotton quilts to last longer than those with the poly batting.

I personally don't like poly batting or the really tall batting, reminds me of those "quilts" you buy in the store

Mine are so soft, great for cuddling, we all use my quilts. They get softer with use and washing, we use them in the car, on the floor, outside.

I guess I am not getting my point across, but interesting discussion I am talking about the OUSTIDE material of blankets in the store that are made with that furry stuff vs a cotton blanket/quilt.

The ones I use on our bed are lots softer, after being washed many times, than the ones not used very often. I also find that newer quilts that have few washings are cold to the touch and take a while to warm up if I'm wrapped in it. I usually reach for a crocheted afghan when I watch TV or nap.

Ali....I think you are making it clear. My one niece and nephew say the same thing...they love that soft silky feel....but they still ask for my quilts. My favorite quits are my vintage utility quilts,that have been washed so,so very much...just like my favorite long sleeve T shirts,the more you wash the softer and more faded they get.I don't think any batting or quilt can compete with the soft silk throws and blankets.

I know fleece blankets are softer for the kids they can wrap up in them. I have seen my ggk do this. but their is nothing more comforting to me than the wrap up in a cotton quilt made with love and care. As the kids get older they have reached for a quilt made for them it like a hug from me to them.

I think the fabric is what they are talking about more than the loft/batting/quilting. There is a wide range of flexibility (vs. stiffness) depending on the batting and density of the quilting but you can't make a typical cotton quilt "feel" like minky.

If you made one from cotton velvet (oh the fraying!) it would be soft. But HEAVY!

Oooh a velvet quilt!

My quilts are used A LOT around here, so I am not complaining. Just interesting what kids like or don't like, different tastes. I like to wash my quilts all the time, they get so comfy

This thread made me think of my son. When he was little I had a HUGE old velour(?) waterbed spread, I believe it was a California king. Anyway, the back was some kind of smooth, cool, polyester; it had super hi-loft batting, almost like stuffing instead of batting; & it weighed about a zillion pounds. He called it his squishy covers & drug it all over the house, from room to room with him. He spread it & played on it on the floor & if he wanted to lay on it he would wrap a portion around him & roll & roll & roll till that Huge spread was coiled like an 8' long cocoon around him and across the floor. Like a giant snake, lol. He slept like that most nights and I can't count the times he'd lay down in front of the tv wrapped in his 'squishy cover' cocoon & fall fast asleep. His little head would be purely wet with sweat but he wouldn't have it any other way, lol. He's still a very tactile person, the 'feel' of things is very important & off-putting in some instances.