Nothing compares to the comfort and warm feeling of a cozy quilt covering you snugly on cold wintry nights. People say that quilts are better than feeling in love because you get unconditional warmth, cuddling and snuggling without facing a romantic relationship’s struggles. And we’re bound to agree. But what exactly is the secret that lends that magical warmth and the completely cozy feeling only our quilts are capable of giving? The secret is the best quilt batting inside our quilts.

Let’s look at some of the best quilt batting products below:

Brand	Size, Inch	Material
Warm Company	72 x 90	Cotton
HOBBS	96 x 108	Wool
Mountain Mist	36 x 45	Polyester
Pellon	96 x 108	Bamboo
IZO Home Goods	48 x 180	Polyester
GBBC Quilters Dream	93 x 72	Cotton
Hobbs Heirloom	110 x 108	80% cotton 20% polyester

Quilt batting is the central filling in your quilts sandwich. It is the insulating layer that comes about with wadding or padding of particular thickness and dimension. This padding the secret agent that gives you the cozy warmth you look forward to every night. It has been in existence since as early as the 1800s. This may surprise you, but many people own some quilts today containing insulating layers of those old quilts and blankets we just mentioned. Since the batting concept came into being, we have seen many developments in the fabrics, manufacturing, and even incorporating technology into quilts. Today, you can find various quilts that suit some of your most specific needs in a variety of thicknesses, sizes, colors, and fibers.

1. Warm Company Quilt Batting – Best Rated

Material

The Natural Cotton Batting is made of 100% pure cotton. The batting is very soft and comfortable to handle. It comes together with cotton that is grown in the USA, and hundreds of needles penetrate through the polymer fibers. This ensures that the batting will not shift, tear, migrate, or creep through the covers of your quilt.

Budget Benefits

If you are looking for a quilt that will keep you warm and comfortable during this winter, you must consider this product. This is primarily the right choice for those who require a fine quilt under a budget of $20. Priced at just 19.99 dollars, this quilt will not be heavy on your pocket yet sufficiently meet your winter needs.

Overall

Warm and Natural Cotton batting is multipurpose to use it for both inside and outside applications. The fibers stick together inside the batting with the help of glue, so if you plan to make a quilt with this, you will not have difficulty passing the needle through.

This product does not require a pre-wash, and you can safely wash in the machine after you use it in a quilt. This batting would even work as an exterior fabric, and you may also dye it easily.

2. HOBBS – Best Wool Quilt Batting

Material

Hobbs Batting Tuscany offers a batting that is made with washable wool of high quality. The wool does not shrink after wash. The use of resin and carded bonding ensures retard bearding. This batting is a good insulation option that allows you to quilt with a space of 4 inches.

Budget Benefits

This batting is worth around $40, so it suits buyers looking for fluffy, soft, and easily washable batting under $50.

Overall

This batting is multipurpose and can be the right choice for a variety of projects. The washable wool is fluffy, soft, and does not pose a difficulty in hand quilting. You can complete any project by using this batting with some filling.

3. Mountain Mist – Quilt Batting for Money

Material

This batting is a compilation of 100% polyester. It is soft and has uniformity, featuring a glazed finishing that prevents the escape of fiber. You can handle this batting easily and will not encounter any obstacles when a needle goes through it.

Budget Benefits

Consider this batting for your needs if you have a minimal budget to work with for a new quilt. It comes at a very reasonable price of $10.74 and is very functional for daily use.

Overall

The manufacturers of Mountain Mist batting are USA based. They use 100% polyester for this product, ensuring it drapes beautifully in addition to being soft and durable. This batting is lightweight and easy to use for multiple purposes.

4. Pellon – Bamboo Quilt batting

Material

This batting is one of its kind, with bamboo content filling. It is as soft as cotton batting is but provides a biodegradable feature. The anti-bacterial and stable features of bamboo lend the batting adding functionality.

You can feel the coolness and extra breathing room the bamboo content provides in this batting. The batting ventilates well and has adequate capacity to absorb moisture. You can combine this bamboo batting with natural cotton.

Budget Benefits

If you are particularly interested in the benefits of clean green living under an economical budget, you may consider this batting as an option. It is as cost-friendly at $38.54 and serves the user well in the long run.

Overall

The Pellon Bamboo batting is a revolution in the ‘going green’ era. Manufacturers produce this using new Chinese bamboo that is approximately 3 to 4 years old. The complete absence of chemical additives and the entre green process of distillation and production make this product a healthy choice.

You will find it very easy to sew, quilt, and create garments with this batting. Although this batting uses an ultralight scrim, it does not compromise the product’s strength despite it. All in all, it makes the right choice for economical, sustainable, and healthy living.

5. IZO Home Goods – Lightweight Batting for Quilting

Material

Manufacturers use 100% polyester in this product. It consists of Dacron fiber that makes cutting easy. It is multipurpose and works as the right solution for several applications. These include home decor, school projects, seating, upholstery, etc.

Budget Benefits

If you have to work on a particular application using batting, you can do so with this product under a budget of $30. This product comes in multiple yards in a single piece, so it means good value for money.

Overall

You can use this batting for multiple applications, such as wrapping your foam cushions, inside quilts, padding cornices, for upholstery, and duvets. You may use this batting as a filter for your fish tanks and snow displays. The right amount of cushioning means you can use this product for the canvas insert in your dog’s bed too.

6. GBBC Quilter’s Dream – The Best Cotton Batting

Material

Manufacturers use 100% USA cotton and then needle punch, cross lap, and card the batting to improve its quality. The cotton material is natural and eco-friendly. The unique processes ensure the fibers do not form lumps or shift during use. The cotton’s thermal value in this batting equals to R=3.9. Although the material is lightweight, it still provides a considerable amount of warmth.

Budget Benefits

This batting is priced around $25. if you are particularly looking for the thinnest product with good quality under $100, you may consider this option.

Overall

This batting by Dream manufacturers is lightweight and environmentally friendly. You can aim for several designs due to the 8″ distance in the stitches. The freedom of design is also possible because of the smooth and easy-to-needles structure of the batting. You can use a machine as well as a hand stitch with this product.

You may safely wash and dry this batting if it is inside a quilt but expect minimal shrinkage. However, there is no change in the quality or placement of the fibers. The batting drapes well and can help you achieve a traditional look in a quilt. The manufacturers do not recommend pre-washing.

7. Hobbs Heirloom – Top Quality Quilt Batting

Material

Manufacturers of this batting use 20% polyester and 80% cotton for this batting. This product has a long-wearing life and a firm structure owing to the long-staple polyester and cotton fibers. The manufacturers use spray for bonding and needle punch this quilt to enhance its durability and strength.

Overall

You can hand quilt or use a machine with this batting. The needles go in smoothly, and the loft does not change throughout the process. You will only experience 5% shrinking if you use the batting straight out of its package. However, if you desire the antique puckering look, you may find the element useful.
You can achieve a contemporary look by pre-washing. However, be prepared to see the batting shrink by 3.5% and quilt at with a space of 4″ between the stitches.

Buyer’s Guide

Many of us do not pay due consideration where it concerns the batting inside our quilts. We don’t realize how essential battings are for the way our quilts look and feel during use. There is no shortage of batting choices today, but how does one determine which type is the best? Here are all the details that will tell you about the different batting elements and their importance. Before we launch into the details, it is imperative to discuss some common batting terminology.

• Scrim

Manufacturers use a thin stabilizer that we refer to as the scrim. This works to anchor the fibers in batting so that they do not stretch or separate. This way, your stitches remain secure and in place in the quilt.

• Needle-punched

This is a process wherein manufacturers tiny barbed wires in thousands. They interlock the fibers together inside a batting.

• Drape

Drape determines the way your batting will hang. It depends on how stiff or soft the batting is and will ultimately affect how the quilt will feel in use.

• Loft

Loft refers to how thick the batting is. Polyester battings have a higher loft while the cotton varieties have a lower loft.

So what must you consider when you have to choose a batting for quilting purposes?

It would be best if you began by looking at the loft requirements. If you wish to seek batting for a hand or home machine stitched quilt, you may look for a thinner, low-loft batting. This will not be too bulky, but it will be easier to stitch with. On the contrary, if you aim for a comforter-like finish and need some thicker batting, you must look for a high loft. The next consideration must be the fiber.

Fiber

The fiber is the stuff that makes up batting. You will find three common types in this category: 100% cotton, polyester, and poly/cotton blend. Each of these serves a unique purpose and has its own set of advantages.

In recent years, we have seen more varieties of battings emerging in the silk, bamboo, and wool materials, and we have been impressed with their functionality. Natural batting options do have more qualities, but their prices are also higher than the manufactured counterparts. Let’s discuss some details below that will help you pick the fiber suited for your needs.

Polyester

We generally see polyester as the top choice for those who prefer higher and fluffier lofts. At times, people prioritize showing off the stitches in their quilting or generally prefer the massive weight variety. Polyester features a higher loft and extra fluffiness in comparison to most other batting types.

It is also a more popular fiber among those who prefer tied quilts. The polyester fiber allows the quilters to keep the stitches far apart, thus producing a stable and robust batting. Polyester is also a common choice because it does not shrink, so those who do not like puckering or crinkling love this characteristic. Cotton may show more fold lines, but polyester tends to conceal them. The only drawback is that the drape will not be as smooth or soft as cotton and batting types. You may also experience lesser warmth in polyester batting.

Wool

This fiber is the most popular among those who like a three-season quilt. Wool is more lightweight and provides the same level of warmth as cotton. However, it may offer a higher loft, so you may consider it as a choice, mostly if you prefer an all-natural fiber for your quilt. Wool is an excellent alternative to using polyester, and you can wash it too. However, the shrinkage capacity is nearly the same as cotton.

Cotton

Cotton batting is at the top of the list, perhaps because of its high lift, smooth drape, and breathable and light fibers. It may feel like a thick flannel in use but is the best option for machine quilting. Cotton is a natural fiber, and you must make it near. It produces better washing results, and there is usually pilling. If you purchase a batting that claims to be 100% natural, you may expect it to shrink slightly. However, this may work as an advantage if you prefer the additional softness the quilt develops after the first wash.

Poly/Cotton blend

The most common blends of batting are 20% polyester to 80% cotton ratios. Many who love the long-arm quilts opt for this blend because it offers them the goodness of polyester and cotton fibers. A batting of this ratio will mostly have the softness of cotton and polyester’s durability for prolonged use.

Fusible batting

If you’re looking for an easy basting option for your quilt, this might be a worthy consideration for you. Fusible battings are those that have fusible resins on both sides. What happens as a result is that you can baste your quilt with a simple process of ironing three layers altogether. So you can skip the process of spray-basting and pin. You may create fusible basting using polyester, cotton blend, and cotton. But many drawbacks make this a less desirable option.

This is suitable for only temporary purposes, and you can use it for smaller home applications. The ironing process, too, may prove cumbersome for most. Perhaps the most you can accomplish are smaller quilts with this one.

Bamboo

Bamboo is the new addition ever since the green revolution began. If you’re looking for a green alternative to your cotton preference, you may consider the renewable source of bamboo. The ideal qualities of bamboo are its cotton-like softness, and the loft is quite similar too. However, while bamboo also shrinks the same as cotton, it is more expensive. If you are determined to go all green with your lifestyle, you may consider using bamboo batting for your quilts.

Silk

This batting option works well for those who are looking for battings under a limited budget. You see, silk battings are inexpensive as opposed to the others, but you get an exquisite draping. Besides, it is a wholly natural fiber, so silk battings give you the same breathability level.

You must, however, note that silk battings will usually come with a polyester blend. 100% pure silk battings do exist, but it will require some effort to find them. It is lightweight and relatively thin, so you may consider using silk battings for your summer quilts.

FAQS

Final Thoughts

Most of the modern battings you will find in the markets today feature high-quality fibers and the most innovative processing technologies. These factors combine to produce quilts that long last, keep you warm and comfortable, and are environmentally friendly. From bamboo to blended battings, you have an endless list of varieties to choose from, under all budgets. Future innovations in technology seem promising in terms of durability, sustainability, eco-friendly and soft microfibers.

Today, we can even purchase battings of recycled plastic bottles that do not compromise quality and comfort while saving the environment. With such progress on the right path, we can rest assured of hand-inspected, hand-cut, sustainable, and super quality battings in the years to come.