Choosing Quilt Batting
Quilting patterns normally come in crib sizes, twin, full, double, queen, and king. Some quilting patterns will have instructions for more than one size. The standard crib fit is around 45" x 60". Twin size quilts are 72" x 90", full, or double is 81" x 96", queen is 90" x 108", and the king size quilts are around 120" x 120".
To choose your batting, you must not only consider the size of your complete quilt but you must also consider the batting fibers. Once you choose your batting make sure that, you unfold the material and let it set a couple of days before you start quilting. The batting will relax and inflate. You want to space your batting closely to avoid bunching inside your quilt. Some materials require a pre-wash before you can use the batting. Read the label to find out if your batting requires washing.
You have options in battings, including the traditional, which is often made of cotton, as well as wool, silk, polyester and a poly/cotton blend. The blends of polyester and cotton will sometimes shrink. To stitch a 100% cotton batting, you will need to create intervals of larger stitches, yet if you use a batting made from a combination of cotton and polyester, you can minimize the stitches.
If you choose the polyester, you can create a non-shrinking quilt with intervals of larger stitches. In addition, you can create intervals of wider expansions, which will allow you to finish your quilt at a speedier pace. Polyester is the favorite choice of battings, since quilters can design a quick, machine washable, and non-shrinking quilt. The quilter can also design a thinner quilt verses the thicker, since polyester is a batting made of “high loft.”
My favorite is silk, yet if you are creating a traditional style quilt, the silk may not be suitable. You can still make a quilt of silk, yet you will pay top-dollar and spend a length of undesired time to finish your project. In fact, most quilters do not recommend silk for creating quilts.
Wool has migrating fibers, yet you can sew through the material with ease. You will need to space your stitches closely. The wool over time will loose its fibers however. Wool will also fuzz. You can use lightweight materials, or cloths to prevent fuzziness, as well as to prevent fiber loss. Wool is not suitable for machine wash; rather you should take your quilt to a professional cleaner, or wash it by hand and allow it to air dry.
The style of your quilt will also determine the batting you will want to use. If you want an antique or traditional looking quilt, you will need to use the “low loft” material batting. Different styles of batting include the Fairfield, which is 100% bleached cotton, the Poly-filled Cottons, which are 80 % cotton; the “Mountain Mist/Blue Ribbon Stearns” are 100% cotton. You can also choose the 100% polyester Morning Glory, or the Glory BEE I, which is also 100% polyester. Many other styles and varieties are also available.
Once you decide on fabrics and batting for your quilt, you can then consider your backing. You should purchase yards of backing at one time. The larger sizes of backing today makes it easy to fill in the length and width of your quilt. Ultimately, if you choose backings that come up short or longer you can stitch a couple of pieces together to complete your quilt. Still, you want to make sure that the backings work in harmony with your fabrics and batting.
