Choosing the right batting for your quilt is just as important as selecting fabric or thread. Batting affects everything from how your quilt feels and looks to how it holds up over time. With so many options on the market, understanding terms like loft, drape, needle punching, and fiber content will help you make the best choice for your project.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the essentials of quilt batting—what it’s made of, how it behaves, and what to watch out for when making your pick.

✨ What Is Loft?

Loft refers to the amount of air trapped inside the batting. It determines how fluffy or dense the batting feels. You’ll find battings in a variety of lofts:

• Low loft: Thinner and flatter. Common in cotton and bamboo battings. Ideal for a more traditional, crinkled look or detailed quilting work.

• High loft: Thicker and puffier. Found in polyester and wool battings. Creates more dimension and is great for showcasing quilting stitches.

🛌🏽 Understanding Drape

Drape describes how well your quilt conforms to the shape of a bed, body, or surface. It's all about softness and flexibility:

• Battings like bamboo and wool offer beautiful drape and are ideal for cozy, flowing quilts.

• Others, like some synthetic blends, may be a bit stiffer and less moldable.

Drape matters most when the quilt will be used often—like for cuddling or layering on a bed.

🪡 What Is Needle Punching?

Many battings are needle punched, meaning the fibers are mechanically entangled by thousands of tiny needles to hold them together. This process helps with durability and makes the batting more stable during machine quilting.

💡 Tip: Check the direction of the needle punching—quilting with the grain can make the process smoother and reduce drag.

🧔 Watch Out for Bearding

Bearding happens when small fibers from the batting work their way through the fabric surface, creating a fuzzy or speckled look. This is more common in lower-quality battings and often occurs after heavy use or washing.

To minimize bearding:

• Choose high-quality batting.

• Use tight-weave fabrics for quilt tops and backs.

🛡️ What’s Scrim?

Scrim is a thin, stabilizing layer—often polyester—that’s bonded to batting to help hold it together. It allows for wider quilting distances without shifting or bunching. However, if you’re going for a 100% natural quilt, be aware that scrim adds a synthetic component to the mix.

🧵 A Look at Common Batting Types

Cotton

• Fiber: Natural, breathable, soft

• Loft: Low

• Warmth: Moderate

• Shrinkage: Can shrink 3–5% unless pre-shrunk

• Features: Flat, dense, crinkly finish; can be heavy for large quilts

• Ideal for: Traditional quilts, warmer climates, layering

Polyester

• Fiber: Synthetic, durable

• Loft: Medium to high

• Warmth: High (traps air well)

• Shrinkage: Minimal

• Features: Lightweight, holds shape, shows off quilting, doesn’t crinkle

• Ideal for: Wall hangings, art quilts, long-term storage

Cotton-Polyester Blends (80/20)

• Fiber: 80% cotton, 20% polyester

• Loft: Medium

• Warmth: Moderate to high

• Shrinkage: Less than 100% cotton

• Features: Softer than 100% poly, more durable than pure cotton, easy to use

• Ideal for: Everyday quilts, beginners, long-lasting use

Wool

• Fiber: Natural, breathable

• Loft: High

• Warmth: Very high

• Shrinkage: Can felt if washed improperly

• Features: Puffy, springy, lightweight despite warmth

• Ideal for: Heirloom quilts, winter bedding, cooler climates

Bamboo

• Fiber: Natural, eco-friendly

• Loft: Low to medium

• Warmth: Moderate

• Shrinkage: Slight

• Features: Soft, cool to the touch, anti-bacterial, delicate

• Ideal for: Summer quilts, baby quilts, warmer climates

Quality Matters

Not all battings are created equal—even within the same fiber type, there can be a wide range of quality and performance. Never skimp on batting, especially if you want your quilt to last for years or even generations. A few extra dollars spent up front can save you time, frustration, and disappointment down the line.

Whether you're quilting for comfort, style, or heirloom value, understanding your batting is the first step to creating a quilt that lasts and loves well.

If you'd like more information, Gudrun featured quilt batting as her Tip of the Day on Tipsy Tuesday 4/15/2025