How to Choose Quilt Batting
Today’s Topic: How to Choose Quilt Batting
Welcome to Week Thirteen of The Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.
Find all of the previous Lessons HERE.
Sign up for emails of the class HERE.
Good Morning, Quilters!
Today we will continue our discussion about batting and how to choose quilt batting. In addition, I have samples of two variations of the Sunburst Quilt we started yesterday. See instructions for the Starburst Quilt HERE.
And don’t forget to sign in to the FREE Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. My class, Easy Machine Quilting airs Saturday, September 12 from 1-145 and is followed by a LIVE Q & A!
Please drop in and bring YOUR questions–I’d LOVE to see some familiar LKQ faces!!!
Tips on How to Choose Quilt Batting
First, review the lingo and the notes on how quilt batting is manufactured.
Then, when choosing batting, ask yourself a few questions:
Do you prefer quilts wrinkly or smooth?
Cotton batting starts out smooth and flat, but shrinks when washed. As a result, cotton quilts look wrinkly-which many quilters love–it feels cozy. Therefore, choose polyester or wool batting if you will wash the quilt and you prefer a smooth finish.
DO YOU LIKE FLAT OR PUFFY QUILTS?
This is known as loft. Some quilters like high loft quilts, others prefer a flatter look. Choose polyester or wool for high loft and cotton or polyester for lowest loft. Most manufacturers offer a range of lofts for each fiber type.
Do you want a lightweight or heavy weight quilt?
Weight and warmth are not necessarily the same. A thick cotton batting may be heavier than a thinner wool or polyester batting, but they all may provide the same warmth. Warmth of a quilt has to do with the density of the fibers as well as the breathability of the fibers.
Cotton batting is more breathable than polyester.
So cotton batting and polyester batting of the same “weight” may provide different feelings of warmth.
How far apart do you intend to quilt?
Carefully review the stitch distance recommendations on the batting label. The label usually says something like “Stitch up to 3 inches or 10 inches apart.”
It is okay to stitch closer than the recommended amount, but if you stitch farther than then stitch distance, the batting will tear within the layers when washed.
(Stitch distance is determined by fiber and manufacturing method.)
What colors are in your quilt?
If your quilt includes a lot of white or very light fabrics, choose a bleached or white batting. Natural colored batting shows through and may make the quilt look dirty.
On the other hand, if your quilt is very dark, try to find a dark batting. If the fibers migrate through the stitches (bearding) the dark fibers will be less noticeable.
MOST IMPORTantly–make samples!
Make batting samples! Samples are the cure for disappointing results! Don’t ask me how I know!
When your quilt top is complete, YOU will be so glad you took the extra time!
My Favorite Battings
Here is a list of battings that I use regularly and highly recommend.
- Warm and Natural (Cotton, natural color, low loft- I use this for most of my small projects)
- Warm and White (Cotton, white, low loft)
- Warm and Plush (Cotton, medium loft and weight)
- 80/20 Warm (Cotton/Polyester, medium loft and weight)
- Tuscany Wool (Medium/high loft–great for showing off machine quilting!) I use this for most of my bed type quilts. Washes beautifully and gets softer and softer over time!
- Tuscany Cotton/Wool (Feels like cotton, but doesn’t show creases!)
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YOUR Favorites?
Please tell us about YOUR favorite battings–and why!
Do YOU have a batting horror story? I’ve heard a few….
Will YOU be attending the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show????
See YOU there!
Your Batty friend,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thank you!
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In Australia, we love our local Matilda’s Own Batting made by Victorian Textiles. My favourite is 80/20 Wool Poly it is warm with nice loft, but not too bulky. They make a wide range of batting, all of them are great.
I LOVE Matilda’s wool and sadly, cannot find anyone in the United States that is still selling it. This is the absolute best batting I have ever used. I have 2 queen sized Matilda’s left, which I am saving for very special quilts. If anyone knows a place to purchase in the US, please post! I put Matilda’s wool batting in a 1300 flannel quilt I made for my husband – he knows the value of that Matilda wool, so he calls his quilt “Matilda”. Yes, it is that wonderful. I can immediately tell at a quilt show, if the maker has used Matilda wool.
I love the Quilters Dream battings. I use Request for hand quilting and Select or Orient for machine.
I’ve not experienced any batting horrors, but I’m especially grateful for your list of favorite battings – it’s a big help.
Thanks Lori!
i have one quilt with wool batting that my sister made. It is infinitely warmer than any of my other quilts with cotton batting. this is the one we grab on those cold wintry nights. Cotton is great for pretty bed coverings, but wool wraps you in warmth and love.
Looking forward to seeing your presentation at the Wisconsin Quilt Show! I’ve already registered and viewed the gorgeous quilts.
My favourite batting is Warm and plush! Unfortunately can’t always find it. Wool is wonderful to work with. Have used black batting, l prefer it to be cotton/ wool. Have also used bamboo for small projects, as well as polyester. Would like to try the cotton/silk.i
Still learning about it. So far like Hobbs have recently purchased some others waiting to see how they work. I really have a hard time finding batting without too much warmth but gives me the loft.
My mother in law who got me started quilting, swears by bamboo batting. Any thoughts?
I have only tried bamboo once and I think it was unremarkable-not good or bad. I will try it again!
Quilter’s Dream Poly is my favorite. I’m textile artist. I don’t need warmth. I do need something that doesn’t wrinkle or creased when shipped to and from exhibits, hangs nicely on the wall, doesn’t beard, doesn’t shrink, doesn’t need pre-washing, can stitched intensely or loosely, and can be layered for trapunto. Don’t ask much. 🙂
So, I agree that wool is just wonderful for bed quilts. It’s amazingly light weight yet snuggly. It also has nice loft so you can quilt close together or not and the quilting really pops. But I’ll admit to being a cheap skate and I have used Toasty Cotton that I buy by the bolt from JoAnns. It costs around $85 for 20 yards and is 90” wide. Can’t beat that. It can be somewhat uneven but is light weight and works great for table runners, charity quilts, practice pieces and things that I don’t think will be used or washed extensively. It can be quilted up to 8” apart and shrinkage is 2-3%.
WhenIstarted quilting I made a very pretty quilt, pink and blue and all hand embroidery, the batting started getting lumpy after a few years, and just bunched up in different places, it was awful!!!! I sadly had to throw the quilt away as it was not laying flat and I did not know how to fix it!!!! To this day I remember that quilt and how much I would like to still have it!!