Get ready for some snuggles! Quilters Dream Batting is a well-known brand of high-quality quilt batting, which is the layer of material that goes between the quilt top and backing fabric in a quilt. When your quilt is finished, you won’t be able to see it, but you’ll be able to feel it!
Quilters Dream batting provides loft, warmth, and structure to your quilt, and the type of batting you choose will affect the overall drape and appearance of your finished quilt. Quilters Dream Batting is known for its premium quality and variety of options to make your Quilter's Dreams come true!
What is the Best Batting To Use in a Quilt?
The answer to this question will depend heavily on personal preference, but if you're new to quilt batting, don't worry! We’re here to guide you through your batting options to help you choose the best batting for your quilt.
First off, you’ll want to consider what type of batting is best for you. There are many different kinds of quilt batting out there, but here are four common batting types:
➤Cotton batting is one of the most popular kinds of batting for a reason. It’s economical, it’s easy to quilt, and it washes up well. Because it’s an all-natural fiber, cotton batting has more weight per square inch than a synthetic fiber or a blended batting. When you quilt cotton batting, make sure your lines or quilting pattern is closer together than 10” so that your batting doesn’t bunch or shift. And when you’re all finished, cotton batting will feel a bit stiff, but don’t worry - it just needs to be washed and used to soften it up. Quilters Dream cotton batting comes in a variety of sizes and uses the finest quality long staple USA cotton and chemical-free processing.
➤Cotton blend batting for quilting is usually a mix of 80% cotton and 20% polyester. This type of batting is becoming increasingly popular and it’s the kind of batting we use here at Missouri Star in our machine quilting department. It’s truly the best of both worlds. Because it’s a cotton blend with mostly natural fibers, it allows your quilt to breathe and washes up beautifully. The addition of 20% polyester fibers gives the batting additional strength and allows the quilt to drape beautifully. It also reduces overall shrinkage. This type of batting also includes fusible batting, which makes pin basting unnecessary! Quilters Dream Fusible 80/20 is made with 80% cotton and 20% fine denier microfibers, ensuring that it stays soft and supple, rather than becoming stiff or sticky with use.
➤Wool quilt batting is an excellent choice for added warmth. Why choose wool? Wool fibers naturally regulate temperature to keep you comfortable, and we all know how warm and snuggly a wool sweater can be when the temperature drops! Quilters Dream wool batting is made with a blend of fine domestic and Merino Wool and requires no prewashing. It is light and luxurious with wonderful warmth and a lovely soft drape - plus it’s crease resistant!
➤Finally, polyester batting is also a great option. Because it’s synthetic, it doesn’t irritate people with allergies and it’s very resilient even after frequent washing and heavy usage. It will last for years and is also resistant to mold and mildew. Polyester batting doesn’t shrink as much as other kinds and it’s available in many different lofts. Quilters Dream Puff & Quilters Dream Poly are two popular options for polyester quilt batting.
How thick should quilt batting be?
Again, the answer to this question often depends on what you prefer. The thickness of your batting is referred to as loft. A 100% cotton or cotton poly blend batting is generally going to be thinner, meaning it’s lower in loft. When you quilt it, the stitches will leave less of an impression in the batting for a smoother finish and a more flowing drape.
By contrast, a 100% polyester batting is typically thicker, meaning it’s a higher loft. When you quilt it, the stitches will sink down into it, leaving a deep impression for plenty of pillowy texture.
So, it just depends on the look you’re going for for your finished quilt. As for quilt batting sizes, we carry a variety of Quilter's Dream batting in sizes from crib to king to cover all the bases!
Should you pre wash quilt batting?
This one's easy: there’s no need to wash your quilt batting before use. Quilters Dream batting is made from high-quality fibers so that your quilt will stay soft, wonderfully drapeable, and it will also resist shrinkage.
Is it OK to piece quilt batting?
Yes! In fact, Jenny does it all the time. Here’s how you do it: align extra pieces of batting together and connect them with fusible seam tape using your iron. You can also connect extra batting pieces together with a wide zigzag stitch on your sewing machine. We recommend using Bosal Batting Seam Tape, Steam A Seam 2, or Scrap Tape. Once your quilt is finished, nobody will know the difference!
With the wide variety of lofts, fibers, colors & sizes available from Quilters Dream, you are sure to find the best batting to finish your next project here!
