Because batting comes in various thicknesses and fibers, it can make a quilt flat or puffy, stiff or drapable. It is available by the yard or packaged to fit standard bed sizes.
The batting you use should complement the nature and use of your finishes quilt. Check package labels, talk to other quilters, and test samples to find the batting with the qualitites that are important for your project.
GENERAL BATTING CHARACTERISTICS
Batting Type: | 100% Cotton | Cotton/Poly Blends: 80/20, 50/50 | Wool and Wool Blends |
Advantages: | Natural fiber so batting breathes. Resists fiber migration. Readily available. | Some natural fibers so batting breathes. resists fiber migration. Easy for hand quilters to needle. Readily available. | Natural insulator. Preshrunk. Available in black. |
| Disadvantages: | May have seeds that can release oils and stain the quilt. Often cannot be prewashed. Shrinks 3 to 5% when washed. May be too dense for hand quilters to needle. | Some shrinkage, which can be avoided in many cases, if desired, by prewashing. | May have inconsistent loft. May need to be encased in cheesecloth or scrim if not bonded. |
| Characteristics: | Puckered appearance if washed after quilted. Soft drapable. Good for expereienced quilters' fine, hand-quilting stitches or machine quilting. | Low to medium loft. Drapable. Good for hand quilting and machine quilting. | Blend of fibers from different animal breeds. Resiliency enhances quilting stiches. Soft, drapable. Good for hand and machine quilting. |
