How to Choose Batting for Quilts

The size of your pattern squares will help determing what batting you need.

Batting is the filler that goes inside of quilts. All batting, however, is not the same. Different degrees of thickness and density have an effect on how quilts lie and how much warmth they provide. As such, finding the right batting for your next quilt is as important to the functionality as finding the right fabric is to the aesthetic. Some patterns will recommend a batting for your quilt, but if you know what to look for when you choose it, you can pick the right batting every time.

Instructions

1. Identify the main use for your quilt. Choose a low-loft quilt batting for a decorative wall hanging as the thinner batting will make the quilt hang better. The thickness or loft of the batting will also determine how warm your quilt will be. This is not the case with cotton batting, however, as the cotton will not hold heat and is a good choice for summer bedding.

2. Determine if you will be using any special quilting techniques on the quilt. There are quilting techniques that allow the color of your batting to show through, which may or may not blend well with your quilt. In these instances, you will want to choose a batting that complements your quilt top. Choose a thinner batting if you will be quilting by hand as some battings are too tough for hand stitching.

3. Calculate the size of the quilt. In most cases, polyester does not require an abundance of quilting stitches and you can get away with stitches every 8 inches. If your stitches will be closer together, consider a better quality batting like cotton or a poly-cotton blend that generally requires more stitching.

4. Decide the amount you can spend on quilt batting. You may be able to get away with using less expensive batting on wall hangings and decorative quilts that will not get much use. Plan to spend more for higher quality quilt battings for bedding that will be used and laundered regularly.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that polyester and wool battings are resistant to shrinking while cotton battings can shrink up to five percent. Wash your cotton batting to pre-shrink it before using it in a quilt.

• Use wool batting in bedding only for those people that do not have wool allergies.

References

• Day Style Designs: Batting
• Sew a Quilt: Quilt Batting
• Allpeoplequilt.com: Choose the Right Batting
• Beginning Quilting Now: How to Choose Your Quilt Batting