Batting Types

Let’s talk about batting! It goes in the middle of every quilt I do and there are so many different types. I currently offer 2 brands and 6 different types of batting from The Warm Company and Quilter’s Dream.

The Warm Company: Warm and Natural

Warm & Natural is the finest needle-punched cotton batting! Only 15% of all cotton grown in the USA is the proper length, thickness and color. Out of this 15%, only 5% is clean enough for Warm & Natural! This soft, natural cotton has never been washed or bleached with harsh chemicals. It’s kinder to the environment and kinder to your batting. The cotton undergoes a mechanical cleaning process removing all of the seeds, seed coats, along with the majority of leaf and stem remnants. The remaining tiny plant particles lend a special look to crafts like no other and won’t harm your quilt.

Once quilted, machine wash and dry your finished quilt in cold water. 3% shrinkage can be expected in the first wash with cold water. To achieve an antique puckered look use warm water for 5% shrinkage. Weighs 4 oz. per square yard.

Benefits of Needlepunch Batting

  • Will Not Separate or Bunch

  • Contains No Resins or Glues

  • Will Not Shift, Migrate or Beard

  • Quilt or Tie Leaving up to 10″ Open

  • Once Quilted, Machine Wash & Dry

The Warm Company: Warm and White

Warm & White is The Warm Company’s second highest selling quilt batting enjoying world-wide success for 30 years. Warm & White is everything you love about Warm & Natural with beautiful whitened cotton fibers! The natural cotton fibers undergo a hydrogen peroxide bath to remove all the impurities as well as the natural color.  This safe process leaves the fiber soft and hypoallergenic.  The fiber is processed in the same state of the art needle-punched tradition that made Warm & Natural the most highly regarded quilt batting in the world. Warm & White is the ideal batting for use with bright white, pastel, and tone-on-tone fabrics because Warm & White won’t peek through!

Both Warm & Natural and Warm & White weigh 4 oz. per square yard, but Warm & White feels a little thinner due to the cleaning process.  There is little to no measurable shrinkage in a cold or warm water wash after quilting. When looking for a finished quilt that will remain pristine without puckering around your quilted lines, Warm & White is the perfect choice! Once quilted, machine wash and dry.

Benefits of Needlepunch Batting

  • Will Not Separate or Bunch

  • Contains No Resins or Glues

  • Will Not Shift, Migrate or Beard

  • Quilt or Tie Leaving up to 10″ Open

  • Once Quilted, Machine Wash & Dry

Quilter’s Dream: 100% Cotton

We start with the finest quality long staple USA cotton. Our cotton fibers are mechanically cleaned (no chemicals) and then specially carded, crosslapped and needle punched for unmatched consistency and strength. We do not use scrim, resin or glue – just 100% pure natural cotton. Because we use such a high grade of cotton and have a unique multi-step processing, Quilters Dream Cotton Batting is strong yet exceptionally soft.

  • Dream Cotton has a very high thermal value (R=3.8) and is warm in the winter, yet wicks moisture away from the body to keep you cool in the summer.

  • With 100% natural environmentally friendly cotton, Dream Cotton Batting proudly bears Cotton Incorporated’s black seal.

  • Because there are no scrims, glues, resins or binders, not only does Dream Cotton retain a beautiful drape, but your hand and machine needles will glide smoothly through this fine, consistent cotton batting.

  • Your finished quilt may be machine washed and dried. 

  • Exceptionally free of cotton seed remnants and shrinkage is minimal. 

  • Mid loft. Our most popular loft – versatile for both hand and machine quilting with a soft lovely drape. The perfect mid-weight batting for most quilting projects, quilts and wearables.

Quilter’s Dream: 80/20

The perfect blend of 80% high-grade long-staple USA cotton fiber paired with 20% fine denier poly microfiber for a soft, silky batting that drapes beautifully and breathes well. The long staple cotton fiber reduces shrinkage and adds stability so that the stitches can be up to 8” apart. The poly micro fibers add loft and resistance to creases/wrinkles. Our proprietary blended fibers are specially carded, cross-lapped, and needle-punched for strength, consistency, and a beautiful soft drape. There are no scrims, glues, or other binders to resist the needle, so this fine batting can be hand or machine quilted with ease.

Quilter’s Dream: Bamboo

Quilters Dream Bamboois our most elegant quilt batting. Dream Bamboo is a luxurious blend of velvety Bamboo, luscious Tussah silk, strong silky Tencel® and soft stable Cotton. Dream Bamboo’s natural environmentally friendly fibers are blended, carded, crosslapped and finely needle punched to bring you unparalleled softness, strength, warmth and breathability. The luscious silky soft drape makes Dream Bamboo a quilt batting beyond compare!

  • You may stitch as close as you would like or as far apart as 8″ apart – giving you beautiful freedom of design.

  • May be machine washed and dried with cool water and cool dryer. May be dry cleaned.

  • Shrinkage is minimal.

  • Retains a beautiful silky drape.

Dream Bamboo’s Secret Blend:

  • Bamboo – is a velvety soft, absorbent fiber with unique antibacterial qualities. Bamboo is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

  • Silk – the strongest natural fiber in existence has always stood for quality and elegance. Dream Bamboo contains high quality Tussah ‘Peace’ silk, which is stronger and more resilient than white silk. The long length of the silks add extra strength and softness to the Dream Bamboo.

  • Botanic Tencel® – is made from environmentally friendly eucalyptus wood pulp derived from sustainable tree farms. Tencel® is exceptionally strong, resilient and resistant to wrinkles. It is so soft that it is often referred to as ‘imitation silk’.

  • Natural USA Cotton – is a natural fully renewable fiber that is soft, breathable and a traditional fiber used throughout generations. Dream Bamboo uses only the high grade cleaned upland USA cotton for durability and quality for the most discriminating quilters.

Quilter’s Dream: Wool

Dream Wool is made with a Scoured and Super Washed Domestic & Fine Merino Wool long cut tops. The fibers are blended, carded, crosslapped & thermally bonded.* The wool is scoured and super-washed for superior cleanliness and to eliminate shrinkage and felting. Quilters Dream’s unique processing creates wool batting with exceptionally soft drape, uniformity and strength. Dream Wool is a beautifully consistent batting that is truly a ‘cut above’. 

  • Light, Luxurious and Wonderfully Warm with a Lovely Soft Thermal Bonded Loft of more than 1/3″ that beautifully accentuates your quilting. Excellent for Faux trapunto. For a higher loft Dream Wool can be double layered of layered with Dream Battings needle punched battings.

  • May be Machine Washed and Dried on cold setting without shrinkage. To prevent loosing the beautiful loft – avoid ironing or using heat.

  • Confidently stitch up to 8 inches apart. No Scrim or Resins.

  • Resistant to Creases. Fluff in a cool dryer with a damp cloth for just a few minutes if creases are present, and Dream Wool springs Back to its Original Loft.

  • Quilters Dream Wool is Exceptionally Durable, Rich and Resilient Ensuring that Your Quilts will be Treasured for Generations.

  • Color of natural wool (creamy light yellow)

Quilters Dream Wool is made with the same distinctive quality, cleanliness and consistency that has made Quilters Dream Batting the one you can always count on! Made with pride in the USA.

*Thermal Bonding is a process that interlocks the fibers through the use of heat energy. For Dream Wool and Dream Puff, we use a special fine denier low melt polyester for the thermal bonding. Thermal bonding is an environmentally (absent of chemical resin binders) favorable technology. The heat in the thermal bonding process softens the surface of the fiber. At the melting point, fibers in contact with each other will form strong bonds, which secure the wool fibers, preventing shrinking, bunching, and shifting. When this is cooled the bonding points solidify and ensure the strength and performance of the batting. Should not be ironed or used in a hot dryer.

The Warm Company batting is made in the USA. The information on this page is directly from warmcompany.com.

Quilter’s Dream batting is made in the USA. The information on this page is directly from quiltersdreambatting.com.