Batting is the middle layer in your handmade quilt. The top layer is the quilted pattern, the middle layer is the batting, and the bottom layer is the backing or back of the quilt. The batting is the layer that is never seen, yet provides thickness and depth to your quilt. The batting is what makes your quilt warm, as it provides an insulting layer of material to keep your body warmth in and the cold air out.

There are different types of batting. In the antique quilts, you may find old blankets or quilts used as the batting. Now, there are wide variety of batting materials available to choose from. Always read the manufacturer’s directions on how to care for the batting, such as washing suggestions and shrinkage. If the materials in your quilt are 100% cotton or a cotton blend, you want to try to use the same material in your batting so that all fibers shrink at the same rate. If your batting and the quilt top or bottom shrink at different rates, your quilt will become puckered and misshapen after only a few washings.

Batting also comes in different thicknesses. The thicker the batting, the puffier your quilt will be. You need to consider what type of quilting you want to do on the finished quilt before you choose your batting. The thicker the batting, the more difficult it will be to do the final quilting. However, if you are only planning on hand tying the quilt, the thicker the batting the better. Different batting materials also have different spacing requirements for quilting, which can affect what patterns you want to use when quilting the final piece. Choose your batting just as carefully as you choose the rest of the materials in your quilt, and your beautiful heirloom will last for years.