Get Beautiful Quilts With the Right Quilt Batting
Quilt batting is inserted between layers of your quilt to ensure it is warm and comfortable. The batting you pick can help raise certain parts of the design and give your quilt a beautifully textured appearance.
What are some of the most useful batting materials?Each type of fiber commonly used for batting has its own benefits, so this will depend on personal preferences.
- Cotton: Cotton is breathable and lightweight while still feeling thick and luxurious. Cotton batting is a favorite of many quilters.
- Polyester: Polyester batting is a synthetic material that is resistant to both mold and mildew while doing a fantastic job of holding its shape and resisting shrinkage.
- Bamboo: Bamboo batting is becoming more common because it is sustainable and eco-friendly. Just keep in mind it shrinks when washed.
- Wool: This natural fiber is very warm. Wool batting also has the benefit of resisting creases and keeping its shape very well.
Batting thickness is measured in loft. A low loft means that the quilt batting is thin while a high loft means the batting is thick. A higher loft batting is ideal for quilts or comforters that you want to feel fluffy, warm, and cozy. Low loft batting is useful for items like wall hangings or lightweight quilts, where you do not want excessive thickness. A lower loft batting does a better job of mimicking the look of vintage quilts.
What are standard batting sizes?You can buy bolts of batting and cut it down to size, but many quilters use precut batting in standard bedding sizes. Here are the dimensions for common bedding sizes:
- Crib size: 45 inches by inches
- Twin size: 72 inches by 90 inches
- Full size: 81 inches by 96 inches
- Queen size: 90 inches by 108 inches
- King size: 120 inches by 120 inches
“See the manufacturer site for details.”
What's the difference between fusible and bonded batting?Fusible and bonded batting are two styles that are specially constructed to make quilts easier to assemble. Bonded batting has adhesive on both sides, so it helps keep your quilt batting from shifting around or coming through the fabric as you sew it together. Fusible batting has a special layer that makes it adhere to the quilt when you iron batting and your top layer together. This keeps everything in place while you stitch your outlines. The style you choose will depend on your preference.