More Thoughts About Batts

Here is a chart which makes comparing the differences between batts.

Category of Batt	Specific Characteristics	Uses
100% cotton	Breathes Shrinks; preshrink only if manufacturer’s directions allow Does not catch fire easily and does not melt Minimal bearding Drapes well; be careful of grain Little or no shadowing through Quilting lines can be spaced a maximum of 1” apart; sometimes closer is required Needling takes skill	Can give puckered look of antique quilts   Good for bedding.
Needle punched 100% cotton	Breathes Hangs without distortion, no grain Minimal bearding Opaque Quilting lines can be spaced a maximum of 8 inches apart May be preshrunk Can be too thick for hand quilting	Machine quilting Especially good for machine quilted wall hangings Stands up well to heavy use
80% cotton / 20% polyester blends	Quilting lines can be spaced a maximum of 2 to 3 inches apart Drapes well May be pre-washed	When the feel and drape of cotton batt are desired without close quilting required by 100% cotton batts
Wool	Quilting lines can be spaced a maximum of 3 inches apart Warm without weight Extra care necessary when laundering To avoid bearding, choose resinated wool More expensive than other batts	Warm, light weight bedding   When tiny stitches in hand quilting are important
Silk	Not available in a wide variety of sizes Quilting lines can be spaced a maximum of 1 ½ inches apart Easy to needle Light weight Drapes well	Clothing
Polyester	Quilting lines can be spaced a maximum of 2 to 3 inches apart Warm without weight but does not breathe Melts in excessive heat May lose loft with many washings	Large bed coverings  Where tiny stitches in hand quilting are important

I want to highlight one more thing about a batt; the distance between the lines. Sometimes the manufacturer’s recommendation isn’t necessarily what you want.

I often judge quilts at Washington’s State Fair. Signing my name to the score cards often brings questions. One of my favorites: the quilter wanted to know why I said her quilt would benefit with more quilting. Evidently I thought there was some unnecessary pouching. The quilter didn’t understand, she used Warm and Natural (per the manufacturer the quilting lines can be 8 -12 “). All I could say was “how would I know?” She kept insisting that she quilted it enough. I don’t think I ever got through to her “How would I know what batt she chose?”

Experience with batting is the best and possibly only real teacher. Read all you can about the various products, talk with other quilt makers, and make your best selection based on this information.