How to Use Cotton Batting

Cotton in the boll

Cotton batting is a traditional filler used in the making of quilts. It provides the insulating layer sandwiched between the top and bottom layers of fabric and is then quilted in place. The quilting is a series of running stitches taken to secure the three layers and often forms a secondary design to the quilt. Traditionally, cotton batting has required stitching lines be no more than 1/2-inch apart but modern batting is made so that the stitching can be up to 8 inches apart.

Things You'll Need

• Quilt top
• Quilt backing
• Cotton batting
• 4 stretcher bars
• 4-inch bolts and wing nuts
• Long quilter's straight pins.
• 200 size 00 brass safety pins

Instructions

1. Remove batting from the package and unfold. Drape the batting across an unused bed or couch overnight to allow the creases to relax.

2. Secure the quilt backing fabric to the stretcher bars, wrong side up, with the long quilter's pins. Stretcher bars are 8-foot-long pieces of wood, 1/2 inch thick and 2 inches wide. They have a series of holes drilled down the length and fabric swatches stapled to them for pinning the quilt to. You need four bars to stretch a quilt along with four bolts and wing nuts to hold the bars into a frame.

3. Lay the cotton batting on top of the stretched quilt backing. Smooth out any wrinkles; do not pull on the batting. Modern cotton battings are fairly tough but they will pull apart if handled too roughly.

4. Lay the quilt top on top of the batting and smooth out any wrinkles. Pin the three layers together using the brass safety pins. Place your pins approximately 4 inches apart.

5. 

   The finished quilt

   Remove your quilt from the stretcher bars and stitch as desired. Cotton batting can be quilted by machine or by hand and results in a soft and warm piece of bedding.

Tips & Warnings

• Cotton batting is not thick but is warm for winter use. It also results in a quilt that is very lightweight and usable for all but the hottest summer nights.

• Cotton batting can also be used for filler when making stuffed animals or as the wadding used when doing trapunto, or stuffed work, on a quilt.

• Traditional cotton batting is still available but requires extremely heavy quilting, otherwise the batting will shift as you use the quilt.

• Washing is not recommended before use for most cotton batting. The batting will fall apart if you do wash it.

• If you choose to use traditional cotton batting, be very gentle handling it when layering your quilt. It will easily pull apart.

References

• Dream Cotton
• "Heirloom Machine Quilting: Comprehensive Guide"; Harriet Hargrave: 2004
• "Quilts in America"; Patsy and Myron Orlofsky; 1974