Amisha Wilcox

Wadding For Quilting

With the numerous types of wadding for quilting available, choosing one would be hard, especially for those new to quilting. Different waddings also have different uses, which would also depend on the purpose of the quilt you're making. Listed below are several tips about the different waddings. Taking these notes down would greatly help you in choosing the best material for your project.

Go for a combination of materials

Wadding is now available in a range of blends such as cotton/polyester, cotton/bamboo, and eco-friendly recycled cotton/polyester. The ratio of blends can also vary from 50/50 to 70/30 or 80/20, so there is a lot to choose from. If you have hesitations on which type of wadding for quilting to use, then using blends would be better. They are easy to work with and often loftier and lighter while still providing the benefits of natural fibres.

Consider silk wadding

To most quilters, the best wadding for quilting is a high-end material that illustrates the luxurious side of quilting. Some silk products contain a small percentage of polyester, which the manufacturer incorporates to bind the fibres, reducing the chance of bearding. Silk wadding is generally very expensive and requires gentle treatment, including hand-washing and air drying.

Opt for bamboo wadding

Bamboo wadding is growing in popularity. Bamboo wadding is the best wadding for quilting for individuals to use if they suffer from eczema or asthma since the bamboo material have a natural antibacterial effect. Also, for environmentally conscious quilter, bamboo is a fast growing, sustainable fibre that is relatively eco-friendly, although making the bamboo fibres soft enough is required. It is a lighter fibre than cotton, breathable, soft and machine washable.

Go for white over natural

Cotton wadding for quilting produces dark flecks. This is why others more prefer white wadding. Sometimes, these flecks can show through the light-coloured fabric, so if you want to use white quilts, make sure you have a strict "No Flecks Allowed" policy.

Know the skinny on the scrim

Some wadding comes with "scrim," which is a thin layer of stabiliser that gives your wadding some strength and keeps fibres from escaping and creating that dreaded beard. If you choose to use cotton wadding for quilting with a scrim, facing it towards the rear of your quilt is recommended.

Don't get too lofty

One other term you should know when checking out wadding is "loft." Loft refers to how thick or fluffy your wadding is, with the lower loft being thinner. Low loft wadding is excellent for a flatter finish, where you want to show off your piecing more than your quilting lines. Individuals who want to hand-quilt must always choose low loft waddings. Go for a higher loft if you want a nice, puffy quilt with clear quilting lines.

Choose low loft wadding

Going with low loft waddings are advised to those individuals who want to quilt by hand. High loft wadding makes it challenging to get through your quilt sandwich using the dipping motion hand quilting requires. The low loft is also great for lightweight quilts or complex piecing techniques, where you want to feature the shapes and colours more than the quilting itself.

Get mid loft for fluffiness

This is as 'fluffy' as you want to get if you're planning to do your quilting on a regular domestic sewing machine instead of a long arm or another quilting-specific machine. The skills and experience required to fold, roll, and manipulate your quilt will only increase if you choose to add high loft waddings.

Try high loft wadding

A very good way to properly out some shape or structure into your quilt is to use high loft wadding. Be careful, though—the stitches themselves tend to get lost in the ditches created by quilting in high loft wadding, so if you were hoping to showcase some colourful thread, you might want to go with lower loft.

Get polyester wadding

For those sensitive or allergic to materials made with natural fibres, opting for polyester is recommended. Polyester is also inexpensive and can be bought almost everywhere. It's less breathable than wool or cotton but very lightweight and holds up well to repeated washing and drying. It's often used for baby quilts for that very reason, though it may not hold up as well if you're hoping for years of use.

Having a clear idea of who would use the quilt, you're making and what weather condition it would be used can greatly help you choose the best wadding for quilting in such situations. It's straightforward to make wrong decisions like opting for cotton waddings even though the person who will use them is allergic to natural fibres. Although this is normal, you must still do your best to prevent situations like these from happening. This can only be done by first educating yourself about the different types of wadding before choosing one to use.

Tips On Choosing The Best Wadding For Quilting