In addition to choosing fabric, you have to choose a type of batting, which affects the loft (thickness), warmth, and drape of the finished quilt, as well as how easy it will be to quilt. The fiber content and loft of the batting you use determines the warmth and shape of the finished quilt.
Table of Contents
Batting Fiber Content Characteristics
| Fiber | Characteristics | Care | ||
| Cotton | Lies flat, so it’s good for machine quilting but can be challenging for hand quilting because of its construction; cool in summer and warm in winter | Softens over time to create a rumpled, worn look; will shrink if not prewashed; hypoallergenic | ||
| Wool | Warm, thick; good for both hand and machine quilting; practical for cool climates | Washable (no prewashing needed); can be allergenic | ||
| Silk | Lightweight, warm, expensive, delicate | Wash by hand in cold water | ||
| Polyester | Soft, smooth, durable; good for hand stitching; higher loft than natural fibers | Won’t shrink; hypoallergenic; resists mildew | ||
| Fleece | Warm, durable, low loft, inexpensive; withstands frequent washing | Won’t shrink; won’t fray; requires little quilting; great for baby quilts |
Loft
Batting is sold in four varieties based on its loft:
- Low-loft: About 1/4″
- Medium-loft: Under 1″
- High-loft: 1–2″
- Extra-high-loft: 2–3″
In general, you should use low-loft batting for machine quilting because you can guide it more easily beneath the presser arms and through the sewing machine.
Buy Batting
Batting can be purchased by the yard (like fabric) or prepackaged for standard bed sizes. You should buy enough batting to stretch 1–2″ past your quilt top. For a 60″× 60″ quilt, for instance, you’d need batting that’s 62″× 62″.
