Pursonality Plus

Quilt Backing For Fabrics-
What Kind Of Fabric To Use !

The Three Bees: Batting, Backing, and Binding

Quilt Batting

Fabric Batting is a necessity for use in making any fabric quilt. Quilt backing now comes in several various colors, like black, white and natural. The rule of thumb though is to keep your batting similar to the fabric you are using.

Most quilters will develop their own preferences to certain brands after making several quilts, depending on the project they are working on.

There are also many types available on the market but generally most fall into just a few categories.
Batting can be all cotton, polyester, cotton blends, wool or even silk (which is costly). Their uses vary with what you want to use it for.

Polyester is the most inexpensive to buy. It is easy on the hands for those tough projects, as needles glide through very easy. It is lighter than cotton and tends to have a higher loft because the fibers are hollow which give it a “puffier” look and feel. It is more durable and washable, so I would use it especially for children’s quilted items, or for uses that require a lot of washing.

Quilted Clothes : When I make quilted jackets or vests, I prefer all polyester batting like Thermore I love the way it drapes and is wonderful for clothing.

Cotton Blends
The cost is more expensive than polyester.

My favorite batting to use is Warm And Natural and Heirloom Batting. Both are cotton blends of 80% cotton and 20% polyester.

Special Blends
These battings listed here are the most expensive to buy, and are used by preference only, despite the cost. There are pros and cons to each.

Wool
Wool is warm, lightweight and very durable. It absorbs moisture even when wet, and not feel any heavier. However, it can cause allergies in some people. It is not as flammable as the others, but it is a moth magnet and needs to be protected more. Special care needs to be taken with washing and drying. It should not go in the dryer at all!

Bamboo
Most bamboo is made from 50% organic cotton and 50% bamboo, such as Fairfield batting.
Bamboo is a natural antibacterial plant that reduces moisture and is eco-friendly.
Like cotton, it is very washable and breathes well on its own. It is easier to use on a machine than by hand stitching.

Alpaca
This type of wool batting is light, warm which makes it ideal for a material for warmth. It is also made of high quality. Like wool, special care needs to be had for washing and drying.Moths also prefer this tasty morsel over some others.

The Quilt Backing

Traditionally, the back of a quilt is usually white or a neutral color. You can never go wrong there.However. a solid color that accents your top is fine, as long as it doesn’t overpower what you want to stand-out. Depending on your mood, you might want to use the same material for both the top and back so it can be reversible for use. It is a matter of preference to the quilter and there is no wrong back if it achieves the appearance you desire.

The Quilt Binding
The binding is the last step to finishing your quilt. It is can be a solid color or some color that might dominate in your pattern. The idea is to use material that will nicely “tie-up ” your pattern.
A solid color would do nicely if your unsure. There have been some quilts I made that I wanted to use the same material all around for that reversible affect. Try holding up a sample of each to the ends and see what all the results look like. Whichever appearance strikes you the best – go with it. The binding is generally about 1/2 inch thick and should satisfy your eye “appeal”.

Well thanks for stopping by to visit. We hope you learned something today. Don’t forget to stop by at our helpful links for more help with your project.

Linda & Anna Jane

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