A Word About Batting


Batting Makes A Difference!

By the time most folks have finished piecing their top the last thing on their mind is batting. Sometimes there is the temptation to just use that chain store coupon or purchase whatever is on sale, worse yet – something that has been in your craft closet for years. This can prove to be a fatal mistake. The batting for your quilt deserves as much thought and care as the choices you made in design and fabric for your quilt top.

What Size Batting Is Needed?

Batting needs to be 8 inches longer and 8 inches wider than your quit top


This is due to the unique way a quilt is loaded on a longarm quilting machine. If your batting comes prepackaged make sure the numbers reflect these measurements, if not, purchase a larger size. Nothing worse than running out of batting before you run out of quilt.

Warning!

You are welcome to supply your own batting if it is compatible with longarm quilting (if unsure, please inquire).

Be concerned if the "sale batting" at the local chain store does not have a brand label on it. Batting is used in other industries such as in the upholstery industry - in other words, not ALL batting is suitable for quilts! Or if the word "craft" comes before "quilting" - think again. Sometimes prepackaged batting commonly sold at chain stores can vary in quality, we’ve seen batting vary from paper thin to extremely thick. For this reason...

Quilts 'N Kaboodle reserves the right to refuse any customer supplied batting of inferior quality. Our number one priority is that you will be pleased with your quilt, now and for years to come.


Types of Batting

Many factors contribute to the decision process of which batting. Quality should be number one. Don't skim on this very important ingredient in your quilt after all your time and investment in creating it.

First consider the intended use of the quilt. Is it an heirloom to be displayed? Is it a child's quilt to be loved and washed often? Do you prefer the breathablity of natural fibers? 

Quilts 'N Kaboodle has a wide choice of rolled batting to offer for purchase priced by the liner inch.

Not all batting is created equally, for this reason, due to their superior quality control in manufacturing, Quilts 'N Kaboodle is proud to keep in stock Pellon's Quilt Legacy Premier Quit Batting. Visit WWW.QuiltLegacy.com for laundering and care advice and projects using other Legacy products for quilters and artists.

A Note on Shrinkage:

Pretty much all battings have an element of shrinkage, think about it, alot of them are cotton or cotton bends...personally I don't prewash my fabrics when constructioning my quilts (there are always acceptions to this, but generally speaking)...once the quilting and binding is complete I throw my quilt in the washer....I love love love what I like to call the "grandma pucker" when the quilt comes out of the dryer. Gives it that old fashioned quilted look. If you don't desire this look, you might want to consider 100% polyester or a 50/50 blend of poly/cotton.


100% White Cotton: 96” wide. For white and light colored quilts, will not alter the tones of a very light project. 100% coton is sustainable and friendly to the environment and always has been. Centuries of quilt making have provn the strength and durabily of this natural fiber.

100% Natural Cotton: 96” wide. The only difference between the white cotton and the natural is the color. For a soft quilt, use a soft natural fiber.

Natural Blend 80/20: Available in 96” wide and 120” wide. Soft & Thin 80% Cotton and 20% Polyester needled punche and bonded for a substancial and durable combination of fibers offering the bes tof both fibers. Make a warm bed quilt and displays definition to the stitches. A longarmers delight. Used in the majority of the quilts coming through the Quilts ‘N Kaboodle studio.


 Speciality Batting:

We do our best to keep several speciality battings in stock, on occasion they have to be special ordered. Please
contact us if you are looking for something special.

Bamboo Blend: :50%Bamboo /50% Cotton. Bamboo adds softness to this cotton blend and is eco-friendly. Bamboo breathes and is cool by nature. Bamboo owns a unique anti-bacterial ability. Bambo fiber has excellent wet permeability,  soft hand, with a better drape. A personal favorite!

Soy Blend: 50% Soy/50% Cotton. The softest thin batting there is, and a joy to quilt. Eco-friendly, soy contributes to comfort, luster, and drape. Great for minaturs a well as the “old” look of a lightweight project.

Wool: Super washed wool blended with binder fibers to thermal bond this soft and natural fiber. Wool is as sustainable as natural fiber can be.  This wool is the absolute untimate in machine quilting due to its airy loft that retuns to original condition. Definition to the stitching is the quality highly sought by all quilt makers.

If a sleeping quilt is your goal, super soft washed wool is the answer. It breathes naturally and allows air to pass through, making an excellent summer quilt. Wool has qualities that also keep us warm in the winter. Another personal favorite, especially living near the hot, humid Texas gulf coast!

100% Polyester: Very small denier polyester giving unique loft and uniformity. Pre-test very dark fabrics for bearding. Bonding retards bearding and offers marvelous definition to stitches. Polyester traps body warmth and makes a warm bed quilt.

Light Blend 50/50 Cotton/Poly: Soft and natural blend of bleached cotton and slick polyester that is needle punched onto a very light weight scrim binder for strength. Created for quilts using LIGHT colors. Shows marvelous definition to the stitching design. Almost no shrinkage.

Dark Blend 70/30 Coton/Poly: Created for dark fabric colors to enhance deeper tones. A super soft combination of bleached cotton that has been safely dyed black & soft polyester for loft. Shows incredible definition to the stitching.

Flax/Linen:  Linen is plant fiber made of the flax plant and is one of the earliest fibers to be made into cloth and is the strongest vegetable fiber with 2 to 3 times the strength of cotton. This thin batting is highly absorbent, has a natural luster and a crisp hand. Lined does wrinkle but presses well.

Fire Resistant Rayon: Rated Baby Safe -non-combustible,non-toxic, will not melt nor drip in a fire andis cigarette resistant. Rayon is a natural fiber. A  a soft and lofty batting that will make a superb baby quilt as well as any quilt used as bedding. Rayon provides warmth.

Ultra Thin Polyester: 100% micro denier 2.1 oz polyester displaying a very low loft that provides a very soft, uniform, and silky hand. Excellent for garments and wall quilts as well as table runners and any quilt project needing a light linner providing thin body with very little loft.

Please contact us with any batting questions or concerns.