Good Morning, Quilters!
Today’s topIc: Understanding quilt batting for better quilts.
I know it doesn’t seem like an exciting topic. However, if you’ve ever been disappointed by the look or feel of your quilt, you’ll realize the importance of the middle quilt layer!
Manufacturing Process
All batting begins as individual fibers of cotton, wool, polyester, bamboo or silk that are processed into a sheet which can then be used for quilting. The fibers are processed either by bonding or needle punching.
The processing method has an effect on the way the batting feels and the maximum spacing between quilting lines. For example, batting with scrim has a wider maximum spacing than batting without scrim. Bonded batting is lighter and loftier than needle punched batting.
Bonding
Bonding is a method of combining the individual fibers by adding heat or resin or both.
Needle Punching
Needle punching is a process where hundreds of barbed needles compact the individual fibers. Scrim, a very tiny layer of polypropylene (similar to interfacing), is sometimes added.
Bleaching
Many manufacturers create a bleached version of their battings for use in white or light quilts.
Combining Fibers
Most manufacturers combine fibers into blends to take advantage of the properties of the fibers. Popular blends include cotton/polyester and cotton/wool.
Fire Retardant–Quilter’s Dream Angel is specifically engineered to be inherently flame retardant without adding chemicals.
Batting Characteristics
Drapability/Feel-Each batting has its own characteristic “hand”-the way it feels when combined with fabric and quilting. The hand of the batting is determined by the fiber used as well as the manufacturing processes. For example, cotton fibers needle punched with scrim will feel different from cotton fibers needle punched without scrim. Likewise, cotton and bamboo fibers processed in the same way, will likely have different hands.
Bearding-Loose fibers can migrate through the top and backing fabrics. Some fibers, like cotton, are less prone to migration than others (polyester). Consequently, cotton fibers are more likely to be needle punched without scrim and polyester is more likely to be bonded.
Loft-The resilience of the fibers as well as the thickness of the batting. The loft is determined by the layers of the fibers. More fibers yields a higher loft batting, while less fibers produce a thinner batting. Most manufacturers offer a range of lofts.
Washability/Shrinkage-All battings, including wool and silk, are washable. However, some batting fibers shrink more than others. Cotton batting shrinks the most, while polyester batting results in very little shrinkage.
Warmth-Fiber and loft determine the warmth of the batting.. Some fibers, like cotton absorb moisture well and offer warmth in winter yet feel cool in summer. Other fibers, like polyester, lack breathability and are warmer.
Resiliency-Resiliency refers to the battings ability to retain its natural shape without creasing. Cotton battings tend to show more creases than polyester or wool batting. Consequently, cotton is often combined with polyester or wool for more resiliency.
More Batting Topics Coming Soon!
Now that we have the basics covered, we’ll explore the subject in depth over the next few weeks. I KNOW you are as excited as….and will be as attentive as….
A) a second semester senior high school student,
B) parents at the fifth grade Christmas concert
C )most husbands at a quilt store
D) fill in the blank____________________
May there by JOY in Mudville today!
Lori-Casey-at-the-Bat
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30 comments
Marta
Still visiting son in Nevada and sleeping under the best quilt feel ever!!! It has wool batting. I am astounded at how light and fluffy but not high piled it is ! The comments here on the blog and this life experience have convinced me to try wool asap !
Margaret Margy Severson
Lori, this is off topic but I am searching for your Holly Leaf Free Motion Tutorial to finish up a Christmas quilt I’m making. I’ve used the snowflakes motif on the body of the quilt. I’m looking for a design for a 4″ border. Is the Holly Leaf tutorial still available? Thanks for your many helpful tutorials.
Arvilla
Lori, I would like to know what batting your recommend for high-loft detail without resorting to trapunto? I am doing some wall quilts and lap quilts as Christmas gifts, some of which are the Dream Big panels. I really want high detail on those, but there is just too much for trapunto, even if my arthritic hands could survive it. Thanks, Arvilla
Katherine Cronn
Maybe batting isn’t quite as exciting as your wonderful quilt designs, but it does make a huge difference in the final product … Can you explain how to determine the “right side” of batting and should that be facing the top?
Helen Dobby
belly laughed as Casey struck out. As for batting in the 80s and 90s my group used fat polyester from a mattress manufacturer as it is all we knew about! Very clumsy but the quilts have lasted well.
Lillian K - Texas
I have enjoyed using wool batting in my quilts. I chose wool because it is loftier and lightweight on the bed, but it keeps me warm on cool/cold nights.
Karen
After layering a dark quilt with white batting the white lint all over the quilt top was just awful. I unlayered it, de-fuzzed it, and bought black batting for the first time. It eliminated the snowy look and made a beautiful quilt.
Lulu
Another vote for white cotton flannel. After my first quilt 3 decades ago where i used poly batting and saw bearding, i looked inside a damaged quilt from many decades before. I saw cotton flannel. Ive never turned back. I even used two layers of flannel in a cold climate quilt and it was heavy but drapy. No regrets😊
Randi
Just asking..flannel I have seen isnt very wide.i am thinking you must have to piece it to make it big enough to put in quilt?
Marta
To throw my 2 cents worth in, I purchase 108″ wide flannel. Several places online have it…just type in “108 inch wide white flannel ” in search engine and see who had best price at any given time..
Pamela
Thank you! I always learn something new when I read your blog!
Brenda Perry
Great information Lori! I would like to reiterate the importance of using bleached/white batting with white quilts. I am currently quilting a top with a white background. I used 80/20 batting which is beige and thought for this particular quilt it would be fine if it made the top look off-white. Well, it looks off-white everywhere except for where seams are and those look stark white in contrast – not a great look! So I’ve learned a lesson – bleached white batting for quilts with white background, unless you want every seam to show!
MaryB
I agree with Lori’s post above. I have an Irish Chain quilt that my Mother and Grandmother made for me. It was made in the early 70’s. I’d love to know what batting they used. I’m guessing Mountain Mist was probably the only thing around back then. It’s been washed a few times and I haven’t noticed a lot of shrinkage. It ‘s never bearded and has still retained its beauty. I consider it my most cherished quilt.
Ruby Wooden
What is best batting for a So and snugglely quilt machine pieced and machine quilted!!!!
Eva
Batting is so important! I’m looking forward to more info on this subject. How do you get your quilting to “pop”?
Sue
Lori you always make me laugh!!!! I think batting. While maybe not exciting, is a very important topic. Thanks !!!
Marta
I hope you might address using white flannel as a batting. After using it for my husband’s double bed quilt, I began to use it more often. He loves it and many folks have told me they like it for its “cuddly” capability. However, the only experience I have with washing and drying it, is with my husband’s. Perfect, after 8 years of daily use. I had such trouble with puckering and “fold overs” where stitches crossed each other with my other battings, I changed my way of quilting, as well as the change to flannel. Thanks!
Arvilla Trag
“As attentive as a cat in a fish market.”
Chela's Colchas y Mas
Thank you for this information. Your posts are always so informative and helpful.
Laura Casey
I love your sense of humor, and look forward to your next “installment!”
Jackson M. Watkins
Hi Lori,
When I was 5-6 yrs. of age, my Grandmother made me my very own little quilt that I still have today. I’m now 62 years of age. I would say that single act of kindness was the reason that I became a quilter. My question is this: What batting would the “ladies from 1962-1963” use for quilts. That little quilt she gave me was and is the softest little quilt that I have ever felt. It is hand pieced and hand quilted of course. Unfortunately there are places where the stitching is coming apart and I can look at the batting and I haven’t a clue what it is. Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Kari
I enjoyed reading your story Jackson! I too have this similar gift. Have it wrapped around me as I write this with my coffee! THE BEST simple quilt ever. Mine is very old, thin and ripping, the batting is thin…I hesitate to wash. Would love a reply Lori. Many Thanks.
Kari
Jackson, I think the hand quilting as in the ties of yarn as to machine quilting it together is more old fashioned and I love the look and feel. What a fun surprise you had with that bag of treasures! Enjoy!
Jackson M. Watkins
Thanks so much Kari. I don’t even consider washing the quilt from my Grandmother. Recently my Mother told me that she had some things for me if I’d like to stop by. While visiting with my Mother she brought out a plastic bag with 9 quilt tops in it that she and my Grandmother had hand pieced together at least 50-55 years go. I’m not big on a lot of hand-work but have decided that I will do exactly what my Grandmother intended for the quilt tops and that is to “Hand Quilt” them. I feel very blessed to have those in my possession. I actually need to put that on my “bucket list” for next year. Enjoy your quilt…..
Kathy Z
To me, batting is a very important part of the quilt process. Thank you for enlightening us with this information.
Kat
Very informative. Thank you for sharing.
Aileen Kline
Thank you for the batting information. Quilters Dream and Hobbs are the ones I use mostly.
I read the “Casey at the Bat” poem. I said AWWW when I got to the end. LOL!
Thank you for the great tutorials!
Sylvia Lewis
What is your favorite batting for a large bed quilt?
Teresia R Chase
Wool. It’s light, fluffy, and washes well.
Alice Strieter
Are manufacturers required to print on the outside of the package that the batting contains scrim? I have purchased batting in the past and did not know it contained scrim until I started to work with it and a quilting friend explained to me what scrim was. Thanks for all this good info.
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