Batting – Premium Quilt Batting & Batting by the Yard | Joann

Most of our batting does not require pre-washing and is ready to use straight from the package. Cotton batting, polyester batting, and bamboo blends are all pre-shrunk during manufacturing, so you can layer them directly into your quilt sandwich.

The exception is if you want an antique, slightly puckered look—some quilters intentionally skip pre-washing cotton batting to allow for 3-5% shrinkage after the first wash, which creates that crinkled vintage texture. Wool batting should never be pre-washed as it can felt and lose its loft.

Quilting distance depends on the batting type and construction method. Our bonded polyester batting allows quilting up to 8-10 inches apart because the fibers are mechanically or thermally bonded together. Cotton batting typically requires closer quilting—every 4-10 inches—to prevent fiber migration and shifting.

Wool batting performs best with quilting every 4-6 inches, while fusible fleece for craft projects doesn’t have a strict quilting distance since it’s fused to the fabric. Check the specific product packaging for manufacturer recommendations, as these guidelines ensure your batting stays in place and your finished project remains smooth and even over time.

Yes, you can piece batting together when your quilt dimensions exceed the batting width, though we carry 108-inch-wide batting by the yard to minimize seaming for most projects. To piece batting, overlap two sections by about 1-2 inches and use a wide zigzag stitch or herringbone hand stitch to join them, trimming away excess overlap to reduce bulk.

Some quilters prefer the whipstitch method, which butts the two edges together and hand stitches them with a loose overcast stitch. The seam will be virtually invisible in your finished quilt as long as you avoid placing it in a high-stress area and you quilt across it to further secure the join.

Bonded batting has fibers held together with heat, resin, or adhesive, which creates a strong, stable sheet that resists tearing and allows for wider quilting distances. This construction method works especially well for polyester batting used in projects that need dimensional stability.

Needle-punched batting uses thousands of tiny barbed needles to mechanically tangle the fibers together, creating a denser, flatter batting with excellent durability. Our Warm & Natural cotton batting uses needle-punching, which gives it that characteristic firm hand and low-loft profile quilters love for traditional bed quilts and wall hangings.

Store batting loosely rolled or gently folded in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight, which can yellow natural fibers over time. We recommend keeping batting in a breathable fabric bag or the original packaging rather than sealed plastic, which can trap moisture and lead to mildew.

If you’ve unfolded batting and decided not to use it immediately, avoid sharp creases by rolling it around a cardboard tube or folding it loosely with tissue paper between the layers. Before using stored batting in a project, unfold it and let it relax for several hours—or tumble it briefly in a warm dryer—to release any storage creases and restore its original loft.

Fusible batting works best for smaller craft projects like bags, placemats, pot holders, and fabric bowls where you want structure and ease of construction. While you can technically use it in small quilts, we don’t recommend fusible batting for bed quilts or larger quilted projects.

The fusible adhesive can make the batting feel slightly stiffer than traditional quilt batting, and the fusing process requires careful ironing to avoid puckering across large surfaces. For quilts, stick with our non-fusible cotton, polyester, wool, or bamboo batting, and use traditional basting methods—pins, spray, or hand stitching—to secure your layers.