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The batting performs several roles, the first is structural. A
batt's composition and structure determine much of the final quilt's drape,
texture, and weight. The second is functional: the batt has a lot to do with
washing and drying characteristics as well as drape or suppleness. For hand
quilters there is another important consideration: ease of needling.
One can make some generalizations about batts: Cotton batts generally dry
more slowly than polyester batts. Some polyester batts may, over time, lose
their loft, whereas cotton ones become more and more supple. Cotton batts
"breathe", permitting heat to escape. Wool batts, like cotton batts
"breathe", yet they trap air to keep you warm. Polyester batts tend to
be "sweatier" than their natural-fiber counterparts, yet cotton batts
tend to weigh more than polyester ones. Polyester batts (unless treated to
prevent it) have a tendency to beard, which shows up as tendrils of white fibers
on the surface of a quilt. These are all important considerations when choosing
a batt.
Although neither cotton nor polyester is "fireproof," cotton does
not melt when exposed to high heat. If you are in doubt as to the composition of
a batt, put a piece on an old dish and put a lit match to it. A poly batt will
melt or bead; cotton or wool will char.
To better determine which batting is right for you ask yourself these
questions.
Ask yourself:
 | Flat or Fluffy?- How do you want the finished quilt to
look? Old fashioned and flat, like an antique quilt by using a low
loft batting. Or would you prefer a fluffier more comforter-like
quilt by using a medium to high loft batting. |
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| What will the quilt be used for?- If the quilt is mainly
for decoration or a wall hanging, then a low loft cotton batting may
be the way to go. If the quilt will be washed repeatedly a polyester
or polyester/cotton batting may be more appropriate. |
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| Does it matter what the batting is made out of?- Cotton,
polyester, poly/cotton blend, wool, silk, there are many
possibilities when it comes to choosing a batting. |
Cotton battings like Warm & Natural, provide moisture absorption
which in turn keeps it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Polyester battings are very durable and capable of standing up
to repeated washings. Polyester doesn't shrink and dries quickly. One
downfall is that polyester may not be as comfortable to sleep under, as
it doesn't allow air to move through the fibers like cotton does.
Instead it traps air and can be uncomfortably warm. The migration of
fibers through the quilt top and bottom, also known as Bearding, is
commonplace with polyester battings.
Polyester/Cotton battings combine the characteristics of
cotton and polyester; are less prone to shrinkage, provide more warmth
without being too heavy, and are easier to quilt as they are less dense.
Wool battings are higher in price and beard more drastically
then other types of batting. Wool batting should be carefully handled to
prevent excess bearding and washed only in warm water with mild soap
without agitation; rinse thoroughly; and lay the quilt out flat to dry.
Wool does provide more warmth and most quilters will put a layer of
cheesecloth between the wool batt and the outside layers to prevent
bearding before they
baste their project . Silk battings are the
most costly of any battings. Often only used in small projects, silk
batting drapes wonderfully and provides warmth without weight. |
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What about loft?- Loft is the term
for the thickness, height and resilience of quilt batting. |
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High loft batting
is thicker and fluffier, usually polyester and used more often for tied
quilts or hand quilting. It is good to use for highlighting detailed
quilting and mimics the look of down.
Medium Loft batting adds texture to the finished quilt , gives a
puffier look while still allowing machine quilting, and will be warmer.
Low loft batting
such as Warm & Natural and Warm & White cotton batting are thinner,
show off the quilting stitches more readily, are easier to machine
quilt, resemble old quilts, and are soft and drape-able. |
| What method of quilting?- some types of batting are more
suitable for hand quilting whereas others are better for machine
quilting. A batt with high loft is more difficult to machine quilt
due to the thickness and a quilt with low loft is easier to machine
quilt but may not be the best for hand quilting as hand needling may
be more difficult. |
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