Quilt Batting Basics

There are so many different kinds of batting that it can become overwhelming.

The one most important component of every project that no one but you ever sees is the quilt batting. This inner layer is an essential element in the finished project.

It is the batting that makes a quilt warm and soft.

It gives the rich looking surface and adds the special dimension that sets quilts apart from other needlework. Our pieced and appliquéd designs come to life when they are quilted.

Quilt batting accentuates your quilting.

Before you choose your batting, you need to decide if you want your finished project to look flat or puffy and how much quilting you want to do.

Do you want to make a wall hanging or use on a bed.

Then you need to decide if you will be machine or hand quilting.

Once you have made these decisions, you can always go to your local shop and they should be able to direct you to the right product. Most of the shops have samples available for you to see.

Beginner quilters should avoid purchasing rolls by the yard and stick with well know brand names for the best quality. Choosing the cheapest product can end up disastrous. There are many brand names to choose from like Mountain Mist, Fairfield, Quilters Dream and Hobbs just to name a few.

The traditional cotton batting is preferred by some because it is a natural fiber, not man made fiber. However, it may require quilting as close as two inches, depending on the brand you buy.

For hand quilters, polyester is good because it lets you make tiny hand stitches and works in everything from small projects to clothing. For some, polyester batting becomes slippery and hard to machine quilt.

Others prefer to use only the polyester batting. They say this allows you to be able to wash the quilt often and it will come out of the washing machine looking the same as it did when it went in. There is not any shrinking either.

Information about the density of the stitching that is required can be found on the packaging.

To find the quilt batting that you like best, try as many different kinds as you can find. Use every possible combination of washed and unwashed fabrics and quilt batting. Try your quilt blocks with hand and machine quilting. Then wash it to see how much bearding, puckering or shrinkage occurs and how the completed project looks.

The choice of quilt batting is a personal decision. You get to choose the look and feel that you want in your completed project.

Go to Basic Quilting Instructions from Quilt Batting Basics