What batting do you use for table runners and why? How to choose the best batting for your project, and more.
Your quilt top should have a batting that is suited to its use.Natural fibers were used in the past.Today's quilters can choose from natural and synthetic products that have a variety of characteristics.
Batting is the soft layer between the quilt top and backing that provides warmth.It is possible to make a quilt with various thicknesses and fibers.It can be packaged to fit standard bed sizes.The nature and use of your finished quilt should complement the batting you choose.To find a batting with the qualities that are important for your project, check package labels, talk to other quilters, and test samples.
Individual fibers are carded and processed into a sheet or web.Without further treatment, the unbonded fibers would clump together inside the quilt, making it difficult to use.When batting fibers come through the quilt top, they are susceptible to bearding or fiber migration.
It is possible to make a sheet or web of batting more stable and usable by either bonding or needle punched treatment.
Batting fibers can beBonded by adding a resin or using heat.The wool and battings resist bearding.Bonded battings have a higher loft and airier appearance than needle punched ones.There is no need for extensive quilting with a bonded batting.It can be difficult to work with a batting that is not bonding.
The treatment process involves running a barbed needle through the batting fibers to tangle them.A scrim can be added to a batting sheet or web before it is punched.The number of layers used in the manufacturing process affects the loft of needle-punched batting.The lower the loft, the better the fine-quilting details can be seen.
There are natural batting fibers.They can be bleached to create bright white battings.
To learn the specific qualities of a batting, read the manufacturer's label.It's important to know what qualities you want in a finished quilt.Look at other finished projects and ask the makers what battings they used.Keeping records of the battings you use and your personal preferences will help you make future selections.
Some fibers migrate through the quilt top more than others.When light battings are used with dark fabrics or the reverse, choose your batting color according to your quilt color.If desired, wash battings using the same quilt fabrics, thread, and technique.Though bearding can be attributed to a batting, it can also be caused by loose fabric.Make sure you don't use an untreated batting.
The drape, or relative stiffness, of a finished quilt will be affected by the density or sparseness of the quilting.A thinner batting and denser quilting will result in a softer drape.A thicker batting in a quilt that has been tied will have less drape.
Batting and fabric have the same grain line.The crosswise grain is stretchy and stable, but it doesn't have much give.Match the grain of the batting and backing to prevent distortion.The grain should be quilted first to limit distortion.
The loft is the thickness of a batting.A finished quilt has differing appearances due to differing loft levels.To choose a loft compatible with your finishing method, refer to the chart opposite.The higher the loft, the less drapability there is in the finished quilt.
The resilience of a batting is its ability to regain its original shape.It is possible to make a batting that will spring back when unfolded.If you want a finished quilt with a puffy appearance, this may be a desirable feature.Some of the other qualities of cotton battings may make their use desirable, even though they are less resistant and prone to creasing.The resilience of a cotton/polyester blend batting is somewhere in the middle.
Cotton battings offer cooling comfort in the summer and natural warmth during the winter.Wool battings provide warmth.Synthetic fibers don't have the same breathability as natural fibers.
Cotton battings can shrink up to 5 percent.If you want to preshrink a batting, check the package label.The antique look that comes from a batting that shrinks after being quilted is preferred by some quilters.
Are you tying the project or are you going to quilt it?Perle cotton and a utility stitch can be used to create a folk art look.
Before selecting your batting, you should consider whether you want dense or sparse stitching.The maximum stitching distance will be specified on the label.Your batting will shift and bunch up later if you exceed this distance.If you want to tie a project, choose a batting that specifies a wide distance between stitches.
Consider how the quilt will be treated.Is it a baby quilt that will be washed and dried?Will it be placed on a child's bed?Are you making a wall hanging that has sharp corners?
Are you making a quilt that you want to drape over a bed and tuck under the pillows?Is it an heirloom project that will only be laundered once every few years?Is it a decorative item that won't be washed?Is it a table runner that needs to lie down?Determine which batting is best for your project by answering these questions.
Think about a loft.Do you want your quilt to be big and puffy?When will you wash and dry your fabrics?If you want an antique appearance, don't wash and dry them at the same time.