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    Home » Blog » tutorial

    Quilting Tips: Choosing Batting For a Quilt

    August 3, 2022 by Amy 63 Comments

    Ever been overwhelmed by the variety of batting (or wadding) options available or which batting is the right choice for your quilt? This post will discuss how to choose batting for a quilt, including the different kinds of batting options.

    This post is part of the the 2022 Sumer Sampler Quilt Along series – and originally part of the  Beginning Quilt Series (or How to Make a Quilt from Start to Finish), but options have changed a little since that time and I wanted to update the post.  As always – feel free to weigh-in and share your thoughts in the comments. I love when you do because I haven’t tried every product or technique. 

    Basically the definition of a quilt is a blanket made of a top (front) and back with a layer of batting sandwiched in between and held together by some kind of stitching through all three layers. Today we are going to discuss choosing the right quilt batting and backs.

    How to Choose Batting for a Quilt

    There is a wide variety of quilt battings available on the market. Like everything else, the variety can get overwhelming so I’m going to break down some of the differences so that you can pick the batting best suited to the project you have in mind.

    This post contains affiliate links

    Factors to Consider When Choosing Batting for a Quilt:

    The two most relevant factors in choosing a batting for a quilt are Loft and Fiber

    LOFT

    This means how thick or thin your batting is.

    Low Loft = thin and High Loft = thick.  

    Low Loft batting makes a thinner quilt (obviously) but it is less bulky and works much easier for a running stitch whether done by hand or home machine – particularly if you are quilting it yourself.

    Custom Quilting by Melissa at Sew Shabby Quilting

    High Loft batts are best for a thicker, comforter-type finish where the quilt is going to be tied (typically by hand) or if you really want to show off the quilting.

    FIBER

    This defines what the batting is made of.  The three most common types of quilt batting are Polyester, 100% Cotton, and Cotton/Poly Blend and each has its own pros and cons.  Wool, Bamboo and Silk have become more available in recent years. These other natural batting options have wonderful qualities, but are usually more expensive. 

    Cotton Batting vs Polyester Batting for a Quilt

    Polyester – Pros: Less expensive, lightweight but very durable. The Low Loft options are better for hand-quilting, doesn’t need to be quilted as closely together. The Higher Loft versions are good for those who want their quilting to really stand out. The Highest Loft polyester batting is good for a thicker quilt – probably easiest to tie. Polyester batting options are often warmer – providing insulation without a lot of extra weight.

    Cons: Tends to shift when not densely quilted and ‘beard’ (which means the polyester fibers migrate through the fabric to the outside of the quilt). 

    Cotton – Feels like a thick flannel.  Light and breathable natural fiber. Heaviest weight batting. Better option for machine quilting. Generally must be quilted closely. Washes better without pilling. Shrinks slightly – especially if it’s 100% cotton. (This can be good or bad, depending on your personal preference. I personally like when the batting shrinks after the first wash because it softens the quilt and gives it a softer, more vintage appearance.) Generally softens over time and ages well.

    How to choose batting for a quilt

    Cotton blend (usually 80% cotton/20% polyester). Very similar to the cotton option, but is less-expensive and doesn’t shrink as much. Good for machine quilting.  This is what I use most often.

    • What is Scrim – Cotton and Cotton/Poly blend battings sometimes come with a feature called Scrim. This is a thin layer of stabilizer on one or both sides of the batting to prevent the fibers from separating or stretching.  Scrim is often needle-punched onto the batting making it stronger and more stable. The benefit of this is that you can place your quilting stitches further apart—as much as 8-12″ apart, versus a maximum of only 3-4″ for batting without a scrim. Batting with a scrim is great for machine quilting, but it is too dense for hand-quilting. 

    Wool – 100% natural fiber, but it can shrink so if you buy it, make sure the label states if it’s been pre-shrunk. Resists folding and creasing and has great stitch-definition for showing off fancy machine quilting. It’s also beautiful to hand quilt through. Wool batting is warmer and at the same time lighter-weight.

    Drawbacks: higher price and potential allergic reaction for some people.

    Quilting using Bamboo batting

    Bamboo – eco-friendly, natural fiber. (Typically blended with Cotton which makes it great for breath-ability.) This Maple Leaf quilt was made with Bamboo Blend batting and the texture of the quilting as well as the drape of the quilt are amazing, even for a quilt that is densely-machine-quilted.

    Fusible Batting is made with a fusible resin on both sides of the batting. This allows you to “baste” a quilt by simply ironing the three layers together. This is a temporary fusing and typically works best on smaller scale projects. You can find Fusible Batting here.

    How to Choose Batting for a Quilt – Advice from a Long Arm Quilter:

    Sew Shabby Quilting Astral kit

    I reached out to Melissa Kelley – a Long Arm Quilter at Sew Shabby Quilting for some of her insights and recommendations on batting choices:

    “The first thing I always ask a client when trying to choose a batting is what their budget is for this specific quilt.   Some quilts, for whatever reason, we don’t want to spend a lot on. For these quilts, a basic 80/20 works great.  Not all brands are created equal, so making sure that you get a good brand will be something to keep in mind.  We use Winline and Quilters Dream 80/20.

    How to choose batting for a quilt

    If you have a special quilt that you want to invest in, I think batting is an important thing to consider.  I always recommend 100% wool if you want to “show off” the quilting.  I mostly recommend this for custom quilting because it really makes the quilting POP!   This is a great choice if you plan to display or enter a quilt into a show.  We use Quilters Dream 100% Wool.  I have tested it in many of my personal quilts and it washes and wears well. 

    If you want to spend a few extra dollars for a special quilt that needs to be extra cozy, I recommend a bamboo or a bamboo blend.  After trying many types, Winline 6oz 100% bamboo is AMAZING!   I actually put this in most of my quilts. You want a quilt to be a family favorite?  Add this batting!  It also gives the perfect crinkle.  If you want to go an extra special – combine the 6oz 100% bamboo and cotton voile fabric for the backing.  It’s dreamy!”

    Thanks Melissa!

    How and Where to Buy Batting for Quilts

    Batting Options for Quilts

    Batting can be purchased by individual size – typically based on the traditional bed sizes (crib, twin, queen & king) you can buy it by the yard off the bolt (typically available in big box stores like JoAnn Fabrics). Batting is also available to purchase in bulk by the entire bolt – which is a great option if you use a lot of batting. Batting goes on sale often at the big box stores. I always stock up then – or use those 40% off coupons. I’ve also bought it by the bolt from Overstock.

    Lots of Quilt Batting options are available by the roll (or off the bolt) or pre-packaged individual sizes. Connecting Threads has a huge variety of batting choices and frequent sales. (Connecting Threads also has a helpful info page about what size and kind of batting you need.) You can also find batting on Amazon.

    Save your Batting Scraps

    Don’t forget to save your large batting scraps. It’s very easy to whip-stitch (largish) scraps together. (And even easier to use fusible Batting Seam Tape to join smaller pieces together side by side.) Or you can use your scraps to make an easy table runner!

    Or use those scraps to make small ‘quilt-sandwiches’ to practice your machine quilting on your own machine.

    What Size Batting Do You Need?

    You want your batting to be larger than your quilt top (front) by about 4″ bigger than the length and height and slightly smaller than your quilt back. In other words the backing should be the biggest of the three layers.

    Let’s talk Quilt backs:

    If you are following along in the Beginning Quilting Series baby quilt project you will need 1 ¼ yards of fabric for the back. This should be roughly 42″ square.

    Most fabrics come 42-44″ wide which is perfect for baby or crib quilts.  For larger quilts you will need to piece your back – meaning you will need to sew yardage together.

    Some fabric companies do make Wide Back Fabrics (90″ – 108″ wide) so that you don’t have to piece a back. In addition to saving time, it’s often less expensive to buy the yardage using a Wide Back option.

    A pieced back can be as simple as one seam, using the same fabric for the whole back or complex with multiple fabrics and seams. Just so long as it’s a few inches bigger on all sides than your front, you’re fine.  The reason a back needs to be bigger is because you’re usually quilting from the top of the quilt and the batting and backing can shift slightly underneath. The extra inches are your insurance policy that your back doesn’t suddenly become smaller than the front.

    Next in our Quilt Along Series:  we’ll talk about basting and quilting – putting all the layers together. Once again there are lots of options.

    Here are some other helpful tips for basting your quilt layers together:

    Pin Basting a Quilt shortcut from Pat Sloan

    Spray Basting a Large Quilt using a Design Wall

    Baby Lock Sewing Machines

    This post is sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing Machines but all content, thoughts and opinions are my own.

    I have been a Baby Lock ambassador for over 6 years now and have loved every machine I’ve worked with.

    What is your experience in choosing batting for a quilt? Share your favorites in the comments below.

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    Filed Under: Beginning Quilting, Tips and Tricks, tutorial Tagged With: quilt tutorial, quit batting

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jan Hatchett

      October 19, 2010 at 3:44 pm

      Hooter Hider??? Gotta love it!

      Reply
    2. The Tulip Patch

      October 19, 2010 at 3:46 pm

      I finally decided to look at the prepackaged batting at Hobby Lobby the other day. I thought it would be more expensive, but I found this stuff called Mountain Mist Cream Rose that is 100 percent cotton (unlike Warm and Natural…total false advertising I think) and it ended up being 4.99/yd with the coupon. I am going to try it…it's thinner but we live in Houston so that might not be a

      Reply
      • Amy

        January 20, 2014 at 11:53 pm

        Actually, in order to go into my longarm quilting business, I had to send in batting samples to the State Laboratory in Reynoldsburg, Ohio and have them test the batting that I intended to use. Warm & Natural came back as "blended cotton", their blended product Warm Blend came back at 54% cotton and 46% polyester (the pkg. states it's 50/50), the Warm & White came back

        Reply
      • Andrea

        January 24, 2014 at 7:43 am

        Interesting!!!!

        Reply
    3. Lee Ann

      October 19, 2010 at 4:11 pm

      Yes! I get overwhelmed with all the batting options out there. Thank you for the link to your article!

      Reply
    4. Marg

      October 19, 2010 at 4:39 pm

      I wish I had half that to choose from, we just don&#39;t have that many options here.<br />Hooter Hider…now that&#39;s a great name, congratulations on being featured at Sew Mama Sew.

      Reply
    5. Theresa

      October 19, 2010 at 4:41 pm

      I&#39;m still laughing. I thought this post was going to be about Halloween….bats….get it?!

      Reply
    6. Jennifer

      October 19, 2010 at 4:50 pm

      LOVE bamboo batting!! It&#39;s all I use. It&#39;s a little pricey but not too bad with a %40 coupon…plus the crib size is a generous 60×60.<br /><br />It quilts and washes nicely…<br /><br />Jennifer 🙂

      Reply
    7. natasha | sohobutterfly

      October 19, 2010 at 5:28 pm

      I&#39;ve used the bamboo batting and I quite like it too. Surprisingly, it&#39;s cheaper than the cotton batting in our neck of the woods. I also like that it&#39;s eco-friendly.<br /><br />Question for you (or others): Do you ever double up the batting? Hubby wants an extra-warm quilt for winter snoozes on the couch and I was thinking of doubling up on a low-loft batting to keep the quilt

      Reply
    8. Cindy

      October 19, 2010 at 6:20 pm

      Never sleek or sophisticated…that&#39;s what I like about you Amy, you&#39;re just an average everyday person (with loads of quilting greatness:) just like a lot of us!(the everyday part not the quilting greatness:) I love your blog and check in every morning with my coffee. Thanks for sharing what you do with all of us!!<br />orr20004@msn.com

      Reply
    9. Crafty Mama

      October 19, 2010 at 6:25 pm

      Lol, love the hooter hider ☺<br />I only ever use warm and white, but am definitely interested in what other people use!

      Reply
    10. Mary

      October 19, 2010 at 6:57 pm

      I have used bamboo batting and it is very lovely to quilt, both for hand quilting and for machine quilting. My only complaint with bamboo (and it is not much of a complaint) is that it does beard a little. This can be somewhat annoying when working with a dark background fabric. But by no means is the bearding a deal breaker. I also use wool and 100% cotton. If I use cotton, I love Quilters

      Reply
    11. Dree

      October 19, 2010 at 11:21 pm

      I use Quilters Dream 100% cotton. That&#39;s it. I like it. Prefer the Select loft, but can&#39;t always get it.<br /><br />I haven&#39;t tried bamboo because it&#39;s $$ and my 2 favorite stores (both locals) don&#39;t carry it.<br /><br />I&#39;m allergic to wool, so won&#39;t do wool, period, any percentage. Don&#39;t do polyesters (any percentage) either.<br /><br />I like my quilts 100%

      Reply
    12. Babs

      October 20, 2010 at 1:46 am

      Hi Amy!<br />I became a follower a while back just because of your &quot;hooter hider&quot; (GIGGLE). Bought my fabric and boning for mine a couple weeks and can&#39;t wait to make it!<br />Thanks for your awesome tutorial. I am really loving your blog :)<br />-Babs<br /><br />P.S. Congrats on the feature!

      Reply
    13. Sew Create It - Jane

      October 20, 2010 at 3:30 am

      Batting is a mine field. I recently tried a bamboo and cotton blend batting and that was lovely to work with.

      Reply
    14. Blogless me

      October 20, 2010 at 4:04 am

      There is a blog of a very brave lady that has set herself the task of systematically comparing different battings. It seems a lot of work, but it makes for some useful reading. You can visit her blog appropriately called &quot;I&#39;ve gone completely batty!&quot; at:<br /><br />https://quiltersbattinguniversity.blogspot.com/<br /><br />I hope this helps!

      Reply
    15. searchfamilies

      October 20, 2010 at 6:46 am

      I wish i could jump in to the photo of all that wadding, locally don&#39;t have choice i am making a book of samples of different waddings/batting so when i need some i can choose which is best for the job that said sometimes even then can&#39;t get it lol<br />Hugs Janice

      Reply
    16. Dresden Quilter

      October 20, 2010 at 3:18 pm

      I have used bamboo batting before and really like it.

      Reply
    17. Layne Bushell

      October 20, 2010 at 5:30 pm

      I use Hobbs 80/20 because it&#39;s the least expensive for me. But I think I&#39;d prefer 100% cotton. A local quilter told me that bamboo is warmer that cotton. <br /><br />If you want a thin bat and warm, try wool.<br /><br />I also learned years ago that warm and natural keeps has the natural cotton seeds in the bat. These seeds contain oils. So she suggested to never use the warm and

      Reply
    18. Quilter Kathy

      October 21, 2010 at 9:01 pm

      I did try the bamboo batting and liked how it quilted, but haven&#39;t washed it yet, so don&#39;t know if I&#39;m totally sold on it!

      Reply
    19. Annette

      January 30, 2011 at 4:20 am

      HI again AMy,<br />I am so lazy… Just found some info on battings right here on your blog. Think I got the answer… Sorry wasting your time.

      Reply
    20. Laura

      March 09, 2011 at 7:11 pm

      my quilt store recommends the fuseable poly/cotten blend but after reading many quilting blogs I have never seen anyone mention the fuseable batting. It seems so much easier than pinning or spraying, is there a reason not to use it?

      Reply
    21. amy smart

      March 10, 2011 at 4:24 pm

      That is a great question! Honestly, I don&#39;t know enough about it to give a knowledgeable answer. Thanks for bringing it up! Anyone have any insights on fusible batting?

      Reply
    22. Anonymous

      March 27, 2011 at 7:38 am

      I&#39;ve used the bamboo batting that iron&#39;s on. I was a bit skeptical to use it at first but after the quilt was washed it looks great and is nice and soft. I have to say I use it every night as I am always cold. I actually get hot under it. The bamboo is definitely the warmest quilt I have. I will use it again in my next quilt project 🙂

      Reply
    23. The Family of Three

      August 27, 2011 at 10:01 am

      Thank you so much for posting this about batting. I wonder every time I look at this isle, which is best and why. I love that you described &quot;why&quot; these things make a difference. Very helpful tutorial! I also made your nursing cover for my soon to come baby! Thank you!

      Reply
    24. Anonymous

      November 04, 2011 at 10:09 pm

      The fusible batting I&#39;ve used was awesome. I&#39;ve only used it once (the last quilt I made) but I will definitely use it again.

      Reply
    25. Serena

      December 21, 2011 at 10:43 pm

      stumbled upon your blog while searching for reviews on a particular batting. I exclusively hand quilt and fusible batting is absolutely horrible for the job! The warmth of your hand applied to the batting is actually enough to stick the fabric to areas while you are quilting causing small puckers….also while hand quilting with a hoop a little movement in the layers is essential to really

      Reply
    26. artsyfartsyweirdo

      February 08, 2012 at 11:30 pm

      I like to find flat bedsheets at thift stores (good condition, clean, not wearing thin, high thread count, fun pattern, or plain white) for $2 as my backing, instead of 4.99$ a yard or more, and having to piece it together. I just get one size bigger than the bedsize of the quilt I&#39;m making. Even ebay is a good way to do this if you don&#39;t want to get a used piece of fabric

      Reply
    27. Katie

      March 19, 2012 at 8:41 am

      I have used fusible batting in a baby quilt, and it is a nightmare! It make the quilt very stiff, and doesnt allow movement in the layers, creating puckers that aren&#39;t pretty. Also, it comes undone over time, meaning; as you quilt, the more you move it around, the faster the layers separate making quilting even more difficult! It is also very difficult to roll or wad on the right side of the

      Reply
      • amy smart

        March 19, 2012 at 12:38 pm

        Katie – thanks so much for sharing your experience!

        Reply
    28. Maggie Herbert

      November 03, 2012 at 5:30 am

      I adore bamboo batting for both hand and machine quilting the quilts are awesome , lovely finish.

      Reply
    29. city

      February 03, 2013 at 9:07 am

      thanks for share<a href="https://www.justdetective.com/&quot; title="徵信社" rel="nofollow">.</a><a href="https://www.cool007.org/&quot; title="徵信" rel="nofollow">.</a><br />

      Reply
    30. Sandy Bandt

      January 20, 2014 at 6:40 pm

      I wish you had discussed wool, bamboo and silk battings as well. There&#39;s nothing new here.

      Reply
    31. MamaDoc

      February 13, 2014 at 3:23 am

      When I started quilting polyester was all the rage. It is easy to hand quilt, warm, light and cheap. It beards through dark fabric but I would still consider it for a utility quilt of denim, suiting, or courdoroy,. Cotton poly blends, with and without scrim came next, but I have found a lot of variability in drape and the amount it shrinks. Poly doesn&#39;t shrink at all so it doesn&#39;t crinkle

      Reply
    32. Steve Coren

      August 10, 2014 at 11:58 am

      Check this unique article that they created http://www.rosemonttextiles.com/weldable-webbing/

      Reply
    33. Morgz

      October 29, 2014 at 10:54 pm

      Hi there, <br />I am a first time quilter-sewer and I was wondering if someone could help me out… <br />When I&#39;m putting this batting stuff in my quilt, am I supposed to sew through the&#39;back&#39; cover, the batting and then &#39;front&#39; cover? I get that I join my squares and everything, but once that is done is this the next step? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

      Reply
    34. Joseph Main

      November 14, 2014 at 1:18 am

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Reply
    35. Joseph Main

      November 14, 2014 at 1:24 am

      Good to know this thanks! I love <a href="https://www.fiberpartner.com/products/fibers/bicomponent-polyester-fibers/&quot; rel="nofollow">Low Melt Fiber</a> which is commonly used as a binder fiber! Polyester have always proved to be the best in producing fibers materials. We get our all fibers from Fiberpartner Aps a worldwide supplier of staple fibers, yarns &amp; plastics etc. If you anytime need

      Reply
    36. Mindy Kshywonis

      January 06, 2015 at 7:44 am

      How do I handle the huge 10 quilt size bags. Do you cut off pieces or unroll under long arm and nibble away at it?<br />

      Reply
    37. Rebecca Grace

      January 17, 2015 at 12:02 pm

      Amy, I love it that 90% of the time when I google with a quilting related question, up pops a tutorial on your blog! 🙂 Question for you — have you ever used any of the black quiltings? Any recommendations? I have an &quot;Amish Baby&quot; quilt with deep, saturated solids and a Moda Bella Solids black background, and I think a black batting is a good idea to prevent white fibers bearding

      Reply
    38. pJF

      April 16, 2015 at 8:11 am

      My grandmother used to order her batting via mail. I remember how thick the quilts used to be until washed several times over the years. I don’t see that type of batting sold in stores. Where can I find a thick poly/cotton blend batting? My grandmother hand tied her quilts.

      Reply
      • Amy Smart

        April 16, 2015 at 10:04 am

        I don’t buy the think batting, so I’m not on the lookout for it very much. My best suggestion would be the big chain stores – and asking them if they don’t have it in stock. You could check their online sites as well as they might have it there if it’s not in stock in the actual store. Good luck!

        Reply
    39. susan

      November 20, 2015 at 5:46 am

      I have lots of pieces of polyester batting that had been trimmed from previous projects. Is there any easy way to connect these pieces so I can use them in small quilts (20″ x 27″ blankets for preemies) — the hospital only wants the filling to be polyester. Handsewing the pieces is difficult — what about glue????

      Reply
      • Amy Smart

        November 20, 2015 at 12:30 pm

        Pellon makes fusible seam tape – you use it to piece batting together – it’s super slick! https://amzn.to/1S9o2C9 I’m sure you can find it at places like JoAnn fabrics as well.

        Reply
    40. Sandra Hlll

      April 24, 2017 at 5:44 pm

      I am making T shirt quilt for my granddaughter and my first.
      I want fusible batting, but my squares are 15×15″
      Want low loft, what is the best fusible batting I can use.

      Reply
      • Amy Smart

        April 25, 2017 at 11:32 am

        I’ve never made a T-shirt quilt, but I’ve heard people say they used Hobbs Cotton Heirloom fusible? One thing to consider is the printing on the t-shirts. Depending on what paint was used, it could melt with the iron set too hot (which is needed for the fusing part). Having never made one myself, I’m definitely not an expert – I would search more sites with t-shirt quilt experience. Good luck!

        Reply
    41. BARB GUENTHER

      February 27, 2018 at 9:37 am

      Any input on quilting very thick batting..1 1/2″ …and not on a square quilt.they are rather lima bean shaped. Machine quilting on my Pfaff ends up a mess and the batting does not agree with my large embroidery hoops…keeps slipping off…..HELP if you can please!

      Reply
      • Amy

        February 27, 2018 at 12:11 pm

        Thick batting is ideally made for tied quilts. I think it would be really difficult to quilt with a machine – especially a traditional sewing machine. My best recommendation would be using a thinner batting made for machine quilting.

        Reply
    42. BARB GUENTHER

      February 27, 2018 at 12:19 pm

      you are right – it is very difficult. What i am trying to do is for saddle pads and the ladies like them ‘puffy’ for more padding under the saddle. have to think out of the box I guess.

      Reply
    43. Connie Rogers

      April 08, 2019 at 10:29 pm

      My favorite batting is Bamboo. It is very durable over time and use and makes for a truly lively finished quilt.

      Reply
      • Amy

        April 09, 2019 at 9:33 am

        I LOVE Bamboo batting! It has the most beautiful drape!

        Reply
    44. gerald salvatore martire

      August 13, 2019 at 12:06 pm

      I am new to quilting and still learning . can you piece batting?

      Reply
      • Amy

        August 14, 2019 at 6:06 pm

        Great question – Yes! You can piece it together using a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine, or using fusible batting tape: https://amzn.to/2TvIIMG

        Reply
    45. Jackie

      August 22, 2020 at 7:27 am

      Thanks for the review of batting. I’ve never used bamboo but now I’m intrigued. I buy a roll of batting from overstock fast delivery and right to my door, Joann’s is still a quick and inexpensive place to get batting. Great coupons. Their fabric quality has really improved. I know some folks don’t like to use sheets as backing. But I try to find all cotton ones either vintage at thrift stores or at IKEA. Great for machine quilting. IKEA has nice fabric but limited variety. I buy my bleached and un bleached muslin there washes nicely and 59inches wide

      Reply
      • Amy

        August 22, 2020 at 10:33 am

        Thanks, Jackie!

        Reply
    46. jgrandf18

      August 22, 2020 at 8:43 am

      One reason a Long Arm Quilter requests the back to be 3-4″ larger than the quilt on all sides is because we usually attach the back at the top and the bottom, which usually takes up about 2″. Then you have to put the quilt about an 1″ away from where we’ve attached the quilt to ensure the machine doesn’t hit the clamp. That leaves about 3″ to ensure we don’t run out of space. Same with the sides. So, be kind to your longarmer and give them the fabric they need so we can quilt the best we can.

      Reply
      • Amy

        August 22, 2020 at 10:30 am

        Very helpful info!

        Reply
    47. Mrs. Plum

      August 22, 2020 at 9:47 am

      I recently used silk batting for a throw quilt. I wanted a natural fiber that wouldn’t beard, and silk was recommended. I found it on a good sale, so the price wasn’t too bad. The batting machine quilted beautifully. I’ve washed the quilt several times, and it washes well, with only a little shrinkage. My favorite batting for kid’s quilts is Quilter’s Dream Select Poly. It is white, quilts well, and holds up after many, many washings. One of the things I do with batting scraps is practice quilting motifs, try different threads, and check tension. I save some of the quilted pieces for inspiration when I am stuck.

      Reply
      • Amy

        August 22, 2020 at 10:33 am

        Thanks for sharing your experience with silk batting. I’ve never tried it – it sounds amazing. And thanks for sharing all of the other great tips too! Yes, batting scraps are perfect for practicing machine quilting. Such a good suggestion!

        Reply
    48. fussell

      August 22, 2020 at 7:20 pm

      What a great post! I will say that I’ve used poly batting for years, a high quality poly batt should not beard, I’ve never had an issue with bearding. I can use a high quality batting that’s half the price of cotton and still have lots of money leftover for more fabric! Bonus: poly quilts tend to dry much quicker in the dryer. I’ve always wanted to try silk or bamboo but the budget just isn’t there. Nice that there’s so much variety available.

      Reply
    49. Lee Ann Kittleson

      August 23, 2020 at 8:18 am

      I would like some information about batting color—natural, white, or black. How do you decide which color to use, particularly natural or white? I’ve always used natural for projects I’ve quilted at home. Recently, I used the services of a longarmer for the first time, and she suggested I use I white batting for it. My quilt was actually one of yours—Chain Link—although a substituted a dark gray for the navy.

      Reply
    50. Jen

      August 25, 2020 at 3:38 pm

      Backing also needs to be longer than the quilt top and batting because sometimes if you’re table-top pin basting on a narrow table, the layers aren’t quite parallel to one another. And/or the scrap-pieced backing isn’t squared. Ask me how I know!

      Reply
    51. buddhajames777

      August 06, 2022 at 2:53 pm

      I ran to JoAnn Fabrics recently when I discovered I’d run out of white batting (emergency!) and was only able to find something called “needled cotton” in white (Warm & White). I’ve never seen that before. Do you know what it is and what the advantages/disadvantages are? I was in a pinch and didn’t have much of a choice at the time, so I just decided to take the chance. But, actually, while making the quilt I had three cataract surgeries (NO they don’t always get it right the first time!!) and discovered I have the world’s worst sewing machine for patchwork. So, taking a chance on this batting didn’t seem like much of a gamble. But, the quilt I made for this 3-yr-old is now over 6,000 miles away, and I don’t know how/if it survived its first washing. Since, I’ve got a bunch of the batting left (I made a 48×60 quilt but bought a king-size package), I’d appreciate any insight you might have before I use the rest of it on things I’m planning to sell at the Church bazaar in November. Thanks!

      Reply

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