Your quilt top is done, you’re back in the store, and you don’t know which batting to choose? Here’s a handy comparison list that will help!
100% Cotton Batting
Care: Washable
Needling: Challenging by hand, easy by machine
Loft: Low
Weight: Medium
What’s good about it? Breathable, soft, insulating
What may be a problem: Shrinkage (need to preshrink unless you want that look), heavier than polyester
Wool or Wool & Cotton Blend Batting
Care: Hand wash
Needling: Easy
Loft: Medium to High
Weight: Medium
What’s good about it? Warmth without weight in winter, soft, breathable, cool in summer
What may be a problem: May attract moths, more expensive, may beard
Silk Batting
Care: Hand wash
Needling: Easy, sometimes sticky
Loft: Low
Weight: Very lightweight
What’s good about it? Luxurious, drapes beautifully, warm without weight
What may be a problem: Expensive, may be hard to find, may beard
80%/20% or 60%/40% Cotton/Poly Blend Batting
Care: Washable
Needling: Easy
Loft: More flat than polyester, less flat than cotton
Weight: Depends on loft
What’s good about it? Shares good qualities of cotton and of polyester
What may be a problem: Possible shrinkage
Polyester Batting
Care: Washable
Needling: Easy. Higher lofts are more difficult to machine quilt.
Loft: Wide variety – up to very thick
Weight: Various
What’s good about it? Lightweight, warm, less expensive, non-allergenic
What may be a problem: Not breathable
Want to learn more about batting?
Click Here to check out a video all about which batting to choose for different effects.
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