What’s the best batting to use in your quilt?
One of the most important decisions when it comes to quilt making is what type of batting to use. There are a lot of choices available and it can be tricky to decide what’s best for you!
(P.S. Keep reading to the end of the article where we tell you some VERY important tips for caring for your quilt and batting)
This is Part 2 in our “What is the Best Batting to Use in Your Quilt” series. In this article we focus on Natural batting. To learn about batting with a synthetic blend, check out our Part 1 in the series right here!
The best batting for you will be one that meets your needs for:
Utility. What will it be used for?
How will the quilt be used? Is it a wall hanging that won’t be touched, or is it a high use quilt for a family?
What quilting distance do you want between your stitches?
Is it a show quilt or something not as fancy? Is your quilt something you want to quilt the heck out of, or something that you want to quilt minimally?
Laundry care. How often to you plan on washing it?
A picnic quilt would get dirtier than a bed quilt and need something to stand up to more frequent washing.
Do you want a warm quilt, or something more light and airy?
What time of year will the quilt be used? What type of climate do you live in? A winter quilt for someone in Winnipeg is going to need to be warmer than a winter quilt in Vancouver. Will it be used as a summer quilt?
Loft. Do you want to see your stitches or not?
Loft is the thickness of batting. Low loft will show quilting stitches less so if you’re a beginner quilter this will ease you into quilting. A higher loft will show off your epic quilting skills.
Let’s look next at batting that has all natural fibres. These battings will be more breathable than ones with polyester fibres, and better for use all year round.
Hobbs Heirloom 100% Natural Cotton
Loft: 1/8”+
Max distance between stitches: 4”
Shrinkage: 3-5%
This is the batting you want if you like a traditional looking quilt with a fairly flat finish. It’s exceptionally soft and gets softer with each washing! The fibres are needle punched together for additional strength without adding resins or scrim.
- Non-allergenic batting.
- Machine washable.
- Has a light warmth and is great all year round.
Hobbs Heirloom Natural with Scrim
Loft: 1/8”+
Max distance between stitches: 8”
Shrinkage: 3-5%
If you want to quilt more minimally, scrim in batting is your friend. Scrim is an ultra fine cotton mesh that’s punched into the batting, making it hold together better. This batting has all the same great properties as the without scrim version, but will allow you to quilt up to 8” apart instead of 4”. Your quilt might have some big motifs you’d rather not quilts though, and this batting will give you extra space to go around those. Scrim should be face down towards the back of the quilt so your needle will go through easiest.
- Great for “minimal” quilting.
- Greater distance between stitches – 8″ apart instead of 4″
Related: What is batting with scrim?
Hobbs Heirloom Bleached Cotton
Loft: 1/8”+
Max distance between stitches: 4”
Shrinkage: 3-5%
If you use a lot of very light and white fabrics, bleached cotton is a great choice. It won’t give you a warm or yellow cast through your fabrics, very important for a bright clean look. It has all the same great properties as the 100% Natural cotton, but is specifically made to avoid creating a dark cast on your finished quilt.
- Ideal for usage with very light or white fabrics.
Hobbs Heirloom Bleached 100% Cotton with Scrim
Loft: 1/8”+
Max distance between stitches: 8”
Shrinkage: 3-5%
Bright white quilts where you want to add minimal quilting? This is the batting for you! It has all the same great properties of bleached 100% natural cotton, plus added scrim. Designed for quilters that like using bleached batting and want the extra strength of added scrim. Scrim provides superior strength and prevents the batting from stretching and distorting during the quilting process. Scrim should be face down towards the backing so your needle will go through it more easily
- Ideal for usage with very light or white fabrics.
- Extra strength – prevents stretching and distorting due to scrim.
Hobbs Heirloom Premium 100% Organic Cotton
Loft: 1/8”+
Max distance between stitches: 4”
Shrinkage: 3-5%
This batting is made to the same specifications as the 100% natural cotton, but it’s made with USDA certified organic cotton. It’s cream in colour because it’s not bleached. Buying organic cotton helps with soil fertility and biodiversity. It’s exceedingly soft and lovely to work with.
- Made with USDA certified organic cotton.
- Very soft and easy to work with.
Loft: 1/4″ – 3/8”
Max distance between stitches: 4”
Shrinkage: 3-5%
100% Wool batting is lightweight, breathable, and is comfortable for use in all climates. It retains warmth in the winter and is light in spring and summer. It will resist bearding and migration. Wool is naturally anti-microbial against mold and mildew. Extremely popular with show quilters, the puffiness will show off both hand and machine quilting skills. Wool doesn’t have a memory for creases, so quilts will hang beautifully even after being folded and shipped. Never use high heat or steam to clean as this can cause the wool to felt. Recommend cool/no heat dryer for 10-15 min and then lay flat to dry fully.
- Keeps you warm in winter, and cool in spring and summer.
- Resists bearding and migration.
- Anti-microbal. Protects against mold and mildew.
- Great for show quilts – highlights hand and machine quilting skills.
- Quilts with wool don’t form creases.
Loft: 1/8”
Max distance between stitches: 4”
Shrinkage: 3-5%
This batting is created from 80% fine cotton and 20% super washed wool. Designed for hand quilting it also performs well with machine quilting. The addition of the wool to the cotton adds loft and lends a nice drape. It also gives softness without compromising the stability of the batting. This is a cream colored, unbleached batting.
- Specifically designed for hand quilting.
- Great loft and has a nice drape.
- Perfect for wall hangings and bed quilts.
Important Batting Tips to Know!
1. Never prewash batting. It’s not woven together so it will be ruined. You can give it a gentle fluff in a cool dryer to get any deep creases out.
2. Don’t dry clean your quilts. Hobbs does not recommend dry cleaning quilts unless Thermore batting is used. The dry cleaner could felt the batting with too much heat or ruin it with harsh chemicals.
3. Pro tip: Label your quilt. Make sure you label it with type of batting inside and care instructions. Then you’ll always know exactly what you chose! (Read more: Should you label your quilts?)
Be sure to also check out Part 1 in our series – How to Choose the Best Batting for your Quilt.
Happy stitching!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle Brassens
