How to put batting in a quilt depends more on the type of your project. For instance, the batting material won’t be the same for both a summer quilt and a traditional quilt. Plus, there are so many factors that you cannot but bear in mind. That is why I shall give you an in-depth overview of all the methods and the related issues, respectively.
How to Put Batting in a Quilt? – The Ways of Choosing a Batting
There are a few prerequisites if you want to get the desired fluffiness and warmth from your quilt. Once you take care of those, finding the perfect material will be a breeze. First of all, choose a specific fabric to use for your quilt’s rapper. Only after that, pick the batting material according to your fabric.
The Types of Fabric
Cotton, wax cotton, upholstery, denim, and suede are the types of fabric best suited for quilting. Yet, which one you would use depends on your project. For example, when the quilt fabric is heavy on its own, it is better to leave it as a single-layer project. On the other hand, if you use a lightweight fabric material, you may need shape-defining support like interfacing or batting.
Choosing Batting Material
Choosing batting material is not a difficult task despite being the most crucial. You go for either cotton, wool, silk, or polyester as the batting content. However, keep in mind that different batting materials come with different weights.
With that said, when you are crafting a quilt, it needs to be heavy along with warm. On the contrary, use lightweight and slightly warm batting content for pillows. Moreover, do not use batting in a summer quilt.
In addition, the most important thing is the color of your batting. White is the most common color for batting material, whereas black is for darker quilt fabrics.
Sewing the Batting
If your project is crafting with hand stitches, then it is better to complete the project (including batting) with hand stitches. Yet, you can use a sewing machine for sewing.
Step 1: Prepare the Fabric
Firstly, iron the quilt thoroughly at an appropriate heat to smoothen the fabric. Then, remove the creases and the stick kinks that are still stuck with the cloth. After smoothing and clearing, it is almost ready for batting. Instantaneously, spread the fabric on the surface and go to the next step.
Step 2: Align and Pin the Batting Material
First, cut the batting material according to the quilt appropriately. After getting the cutting part, place the batting on the quilt to face down. And trim the extra portion of the batting if necessary.
After placing the additional parts of the quilt, start pinning all the layers together. By keeping the layers stuck together, this pinning helps to sew precisely. Start from the center of the quilt with a straight line of pins. Then, add more safety pins parallel to the first set to keep the layers together.
Step 3: Sewing Batting
First things first, check if there are any wrinkles by turning over the pinned quilt. If you find any, change the placement instantly.
After placing all the layers together, start stitching. According to your stitch length, choose a needle and start with tiny stitches along the seam lines of the quilt.
Fun fact, the method you use is entirely your preference. Yet, you can use either back stitches or lock stitches. For additional designs, you can create a pattern by sewing over the stitch lines of the quilt to attach the batting and backing. Keep on sewing until you think the batting is in place.
Go for a machine when you produce commercial quantities of the quilt. Otherwise, hand stitch should do just about excellent. Nevertheless, using a sewing machine requires some experience, depending on the type of machine. No matter what, always choose a sewing machine that is appropriate for your project. And don’t forget to sew down from the center of the cloth and then move outwards.
Step 4: Complete The Finishing
After sewing the batting, remove the pin that you used for supporting the fabric. And trim the extra batting that is spilling over. Finally, stitch the borders of the quilt.
Do You Have to Put Batting in a Quilt?
Though it is not a hard and fast rule, leaving the middle layer out of your project is not the wisest of ideas. When you want to make a summer quilt, you can skip the middle layer. But a warmer quilt needs a thicker layer of batting to provide a cozy feeling.
How Many Layers of Quilt Batting Do I Need?
Generally, a quilt is considered three layers of sandwich where the batting is the patty, and the top and the back layer is the bread. There is no need to put more layers of battings. If you need more warmth, replace the batting material with something thicker or warmer.
What Can I Use Instead of Batting in a Quilt?
If you use flannel sheets as top and back layers, there is no need to use extra batting as flannel sheets. However, if you want more warmth, you can use flannel sheets as batting as well. Just be careful so that the battings do not spillover. In addition, as regular sheets are lighter in weight, you can use them as batting to get a lightweight quilt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use an Old Blanket or an Old Towel as a Quilt Batting?
A blanket that still has plenty of warmth left yet looks aged can be used as batting. Similarly, an old towel can qualify for batting. Yet, make sure that the towel or the blanket is not too old to use as batting. If you use a worn-out or rotten blanket as batting, quilts’ efficiency reduces.
What Kind of Batting Do You Use for a Summer Quilt?
Naturally, summer quilts are light in weight and provide less warmth. So, choose a lightweight batting, such as bamboo materials and cotton. The fabric for the top and back layer of a summer quilt should not weigh much either.
Can I Use Batting for Other Projects?
You can use batting for bags, pillows. Some people even use it for rags and other projects that require additional materials for shaping.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to put batting in a quilt, you can experiment further for better results. Examples may include using different fabrics and batting for different types of quilts. But a general rule of thumb is to skip mixing two batting materials unless you buy a blender.
Leave a Reply