Patchwork & Quilting Basics – Quilt Batting

Batting is an often overlooked area of quilting, so we were happy to see Nadra write about the different batting options that you can pick from. Depending on your project you may want your batting durable, or maybe you don’t want it to crease? Maybe you want it fluffy or maybe you want it to absorb moisture and wear well? Some things to keep in mind are going with blends vs. straight cotton. Blends are not easily pressed; they do not fade as easily as cotton, but are harder to use in patchwork and are especially difficult in appliqués. Scrap quilts combine fabrics of many types, depending on the quilt. Antique quilts often use a combination silk and wool.

Key Takeaways:

• Keep in mind there’s a whole world of batting materials
• Thickness of quilt batting is measured by its loft
• Scrim is a light-weight, thin and hardly visible fabric

“There is a wide variety of quilt battings available on the market. Apart from common cotton or polyester batting you can choose between different fibers like wool, bamboo, soy or silk. It’s available off the bolt in your own custom size or prepackaged, in standard sizes for quilts.”