All you need to know about quilt batting!
November 30, 2016
Hey fabric lovers!
Don’t you think choosing the batting for your project gets confusing sometimes? For me, it does. Especially because there are so many options to choose from. So, I decided to research more about the different types of batting to help you understand how you can use them. Now, let's talk about batting!
How to choose the perfect batting for your project?
The batting can make a quilt flat, puffy, or stiff because it comes in different thicknesses. That’s why you first have to decide how you want your quilt to look. Also, make sure to always choose a batting that complements the purpose of your finished project because the type of the batting will affect the way your quilt looks!
For example:
Warmth: Since cotton batting absorbs moisture. This makes them cool in the summer and warm during winter. Also, you can use wool to provide warmth but they weigh more than the cotton ones.
Drapability: The density or sparseness of the quilting and the thickness of the batting will affect how your quilt will look when it's finished. Polyester and bamboo batting drape better than cotton and wool batting.
Washability: Be very careful with this one. Cotton and bamboo batting can shrink when washed while wool and polyester batting resist shrinking. It all depends on how you crinkly you want your quilt to look.
Resiliency: Is the batting’s ability to regain its original shape.
Fiber content: There are two types. Natural and synthetic fibers.
Price: Cotton and wool are the most expensive ones. Polyester batting is the least expensive.
Types of batting:
Well, since now you know some characteristics of the batting let’s get more specific and learn more about some different types of batting!
Cotton batting: It’s made with natural fibers and that’s what makes it very soft and comfort.
Polyester batting: Holds its shape and thickness. What’s good about polyester is that it keeps you warm but it doesn’t weight. It also resists mold and mildew, but it’s non-breathable.
Wool batting: It’s used for warmth. This is a natural option just like cotton. Wool is crease resistant it holds its shape and springs back.
Bamboo batting: It’s breathable and machine washable but it shrinks a little bit, about 2-3% shrinkage.
Fusible batting: This batting has a fusible web so you can baste the layers together. When using this type of batting make sure to put the wool setting on your iron. This type of batting is great for small projects it can be ironed to temporarily secure it into the middle of a quilt and it will save you time basting.
Oh! There are some popular question you guys might be interested in…
How should I wash my quilt?
In my opinion, all quilts should be washed with care. It doesn’t matter if they are old or new. It’s better if you wash them by hand or in a washer on the light/gentle cycle and using cool water and also when drying the dryer should be on the lowest heat setting. I would also recommend air dry them if you can.
What is the warmest batting?
The warmth of a quilt is affected by the fibers used and by the amount of quilting in the quilt. You know what’s very interesting? That a quilt with larger air pockets provide more storage for warm air. Therefore, a quilt that is extremely closely quilted will not provide as much warmth as the one that is quilter 2-4’’ apart. Also, silk and wool are considered the warmest fibers. OH! And polyester retains warmth too.
Note: Cotton breathes so that makes it cool in the summer and warm during winter. Wool also breathes, it absorbs moisture well which makes it comfortable in damp climates. Polyester doesn’t breathe which makes it warm all year long.
Do you need to prewash the batting?
Well, well... This question is a little subjective. Most battings can be prewashed but you don’t have to do it. Let’s say you accidentally spilled juice or any kind of liquid on it you can wash it but if nothing happens to it you don’t really need to.
Note: Cotton, bamboo and wool battings shrink after you wash the quilt. It will create that shrink quilt look that you will either love or hate. (I would recommend testing it if it’s your first time doing this)
What’s the purpose of your quilt?
Well, before you make your final decision, think about the purpose of your finished quilt. For example, these are some of the purposes I can think of: a baby quilt that will need to be washed a couple times a week, a bed quilt that will be washed and used for a long time, a decorative quilt that will be hanging on a wall and needs to stay flat on the wall, a table runner or a place mat that will need to be washed at least every two weeks. This is just to give you an idea about the purpose of your quilt and then you can decide which batting will work better for you.
I know, choosing the right batting can take time but it all depends what you want the final product to look like. Once you do it a couple of times, choosing the right batting will become easier and faster.
I hope you learned something new about batting! Let me know in the comments, what kind of batting you like to use in your quilts.
I hope you all enjoyed,
Caro!
Sources:
"Quilt Batting - Types and Choosing the Right One." Quilt Batting - Types and How to Choose the Right One -- CreateForLess. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
"A Guide to Batting." A Guide to Batting - Quilting Tutorial from ConnectingThreads.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
"How to Choose Quilt Batting: Tips to Keep in Mind." The Craftsy Blog. N.p., 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.