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Batting - Tutorial and Options
Batting - So many Choices?
BATTING - SO MANY CHOICES?
What to consider when selecting batting –
* Who is the quilt/project for?
- How will the completed project be used and cared for?
- Will it be washed, tumble dry, iron, dry clean after the project has been completed? (*NOTE: do not pre-wash battings as they may be ruined in the process. More information at the bottom of this post.)
- Gift? – does the recipient understand the care instructions or value put into the quilt? May want to add care/ fiber content to the label.
- Charity organization - They will have their own guidelines that will need to be meet before accepting a quilt. This may eliminate some of your options.
* What type of quilt/project and the desired end result?
- Quilts - Bed, wall, show quilt, baby or child, throw,
- Show piece?
- Regular use and laundered?
- Accessories – table runner, placemats, coasters, pillows
- Oven or microwave use?
- Gifts - totes & bags, holiday stockings, wall hanging
- Clothing - jacket
- Finished result?
- Heirloom or tradition look
- Puffy / high loft finish
- Color of fabric can also change from batting showing/shadowing through.
- Does the batting breath
* When & Where will the quilt /project be used?
- When (time of the year) Where (location/climate)
- Used year round or in certain seasons?
* Washing – How will the quilt/project be cared for?
- While most battings may be washable AFTER they are in a completed quilt/project; Do not pre-wash battings as they may be ruined in the process.
- Quilts should be washed in cold water, on a delicate cycle without heavy agitation or spin.
- Air drying is the best, you can start OR end in a dryer on a cool or air-fluff setting for about 15 minutes.
Polyester Batting
Advantages:
* Soft and Stretchable
* Does not shrink
* Created from recyclable materials
* Resists mold, rot, pest damage
* Machine washable
* Durable – great for baby quilts
* Price - inexpensive
Disadvantages:
* Difficult to dry
Cotton Batting
Advantages:
* Renewable & sustainable natural fiber
- Cotton is a renewable
* Breathable
- Great for bed quilts – warm in winter, cool in the summer
- Drape well – this makes them nice for bed quilts.
- Absorbs moisture
* Great for machine quilting as well as hand quilting.
* No Scrim, resins, binders
* Available in a variety of loft and weights
* Heavier than polyester battings
* Quilting property - How far apart you can quilt using wool
- Knowing how far apart you can stitch can help you decide whether your desired quilting motif can be stitched. You can quilt as close as ¼” to 4”.
- Quilting will be flat, while the unquilted areas will leave a slight loft
* Machine washable.
* Cotton Batting is available in bleached (white) or unbleached (natural coloring)
Disadvantages:
* Allergies - If there are allergies, it is not a good idea to use in a quilt. Especially if you plan to gift the quilt.
- When completing a quilt– always label your quilt with the fiber content. This will be helpful for people with allergies.
* Creases – if stored folded over time, creases can develop in your quilt
* Shrinkage
* Pricing
Cotton/Polyester Blend Batting
Advantages:
* Pricing
* Most popular batting on the market
* Loft & Weight
- More loft than traditional cotton batting
- Less weight than traditional cotton batting
* Versatile – can be used for many projects/quilts
* Renewable & sustainable natural fiber
- Cotton is a renewable
* Breathable
- Great for bed quilts – warm in winter, cool in the summer
- Drape well – this makes them nice for bed quilts.
* Great for machine quilting as well as hand quilting.
* Quilting property - How far apart you can quilt using wool
- Knowing how far apart you can stitch can help you decide whether your desired quilting motif can be stitched. You can quilt as close as ¼” to 4”.
- Quilting will be flat, while the unquilted areas will leave a slight loft
* Machine washable.
* Cotton Blend Batting is available in bleached (white), unbleached (natural coloring) and Black
Disadvantages:
* Creases – if stored folded over time, creases can develop in your quilt
* Quilters may experience shrinkage: 3-5%
Wool Batting
Advantages:
*Renewable & sustainable natural fiber
-Wool is harvested from sheep; does not harm them and it grows back
* Warm, breathable
* Great for bed quilts
* Soft and drapes beautifully
* Great for machine quilting as well as hand quilting.
* Quilting property - How far apart you can quilt using wool
- Knowing how far apart you can stitch can help you decide whether your desired quilting motif can be stitched. (If you like dense quilting, this normally is not a factor)
* Wool has a medium loft (1/4” & 1/3”)
- Strong
- Great stitch definition – great for show entries
- Springs back, so it tends to resists creasers and folds
* Machine washable. (most of the wool batting today is machine washable)
* Wool fibers are bonded during manufacturing.
- Thermal bonded – heating process – environmentally favorable.
- Resin bonded – chemical treatment
Disadvantages:
* Expense – It can cost between 50-60% more for wool batting than for natural Cotton.
* Allergies - If there are wool allergies, it is not a good idea to use wool in a quilt. Especially if you plan to gift the quilt.
- When completing a quilt with wool – always label your quilt with the fiber content. This will be helpful for people with allergies.
- Never use wool in a baby quilt/blanket. Babies have delicate skin and you do not want to irritate it or cause an adverse reaction.
* Wool is naturally not going to be pure white. If you quilt has a majority of white fabric, the wool may cause an undesirable yellow cast to the fabric.
* Open Loft
- Consider the quilt top colors of the fabric and the intended backing fabric. If the top has light colored fabric and a dark backing – the backing may show through to the top, especially if you desire dense quilting.
Bamboo Batting
Usually blended with silk or cotton. Usually in a 1:1 ratio.
Advantages:
* Renewable
* Anti-bacterial properties
* Lightweight and soft
* Machine quilting or Hand quilting
* Good option for summer quilts
Disadvantages:
* Difficult to launder
Silk Batting
A great combination of strength and softness. Blended with polyester or cotton for batting purposes. Usually used in high-quality and decorative quilts.
Advantages:
* Lightweight and soft
* Easy to work with
* Flexible and easy to use
* Drapes well
Disadvantages:
* Difficult to launder, especially if blended with cotton
* Price – very expensive
Questions?
If you have questions about Batting - Please email us and we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. countryviewquilting@mail.com
Stories of Inspiration
Diane Gubbels shares her "Stories of Inspiration".
As her beautiful quilts unfold, so do the stories that lead to their creation. As a talented designer and applique artist, Diane allows her creative spirit to speak through her quilts, using fabric and design.
The wife, mother, and grandmother has been sewing as long as she can remember. It is one of the greatest joys to share the work of her hands as she unfolds the stories from her heart. Diane and her husband live on a farm near Coleridge, NE. They have seven children and seven grandchildren.
For more information about Diane's Stories of Inspiration - Click on the link below to reach Diane.
