What Do You Fill a Quilt With?
Quilting emerged as folk art on the American frontier during the 18th and 19th centuries. Fabric became a valuable commodity among settlers who did not want to waste a single scrap. Frontier women sewed those scraps together and filled them with cotton or fur to make patchwork quilts. The material that fills the space between the patchwork layers of a quilt, called batting, is typically made from either cotton, synthetic material such as polyester, cotton/synthetic blends or wool.
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Cotton
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Novice quilt makers often choose to work with all-natural cotton batting for their first few quilts. Cotton batting spreads evenly so novice quilters can easily achieve a smooth finish. Cotton batting breathes, which makes for a more comfortable quilt. However, it will shrink after the first wash. When it does, it leaves quilts with a wrinkled look that some quilters admire. Quilters who don't want that look fill their quilts with pre-shrunk cotton instead. Cotton also tends to shift between the fabric over time, and most cotton batting manufacturers recommend quilters use 2-inch to 3-inch stitch lines to keep the batting in place.
Synthetics
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Polyester typically makes up the main ingredient in most synthetic battings. Synthetic batting weighs less than natural batting, such as cotton or wool. It does produce lighter quilts, but it does not drape as well. Synthetic battings require less anchoring than cotton battings. The thin fibers that make up synthetic batting poke through the quilt over time and become visible, especially on dark fabric. Synthetic batting poses a fire hazard because of its flammability. Synthetic batting also does not breathe as well as natural batting.
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Cotton/Synthetic Blends
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Cotton batting mixed with synthetic batting, such as polyester or nylon, provide a wide range of thicknesses, weights and shrinkage potentials. The properties depend on the proportions of the blend, which can range from 50 percent cotton to 85 percent cotton. Quilters often experiment with different blends to find a batting that works best for their projects. These blends tend to be more stable during the quilting process than synthetic batting, which shifts a lot during construction.
Wool
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Wool batting works best in cold, damp locations because it absorbs moisture while still providing warmth. Wool batting costs more than synthetic batting but, because of its flat fibers, produces more attractive quilts that drape well. However, wool batting requires special treatment when washing and drying. Quilters need to research proper handling methods before filling their quilts with wool batting; otherwise, it could warp after washing and change the appearance of the quilt.
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References
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