Not every quilt wants the flat, traditional look of a low-loft cotton batting. Sometimes you want your quilting stitches to stand up and show — the diamonds, feathers, and free-motion patterns you worked so hard on — with a little soft lift underneath them. That is exactly the job Pellon® Polyester Batting in the 96" x 108" Queen Size Package was made for. It adds loft, body, softness, and definition to quilted projects, in a convenient pre-cut queen size that is ready to layer into your next quilt sandwich.
What This Batting Is
This is a 100% polyester batting, sold as a queen size package measuring 96" x 108". Its loft is 1/8 of an inch — noticeably more lift than an ultra-thin batting, while still thin enough to layer, baste, and quilt without fighting bulk under your machine or on a longarm. That modest loft is what gives finished quilting its definition: stitches sit in gentle valleys, and the surface between them puffs up softly, so your quilting design reads clearly instead of disappearing into a flat surface.
Polyester also brings a practical advantage many quilters appreciate: very low shrinkage. This batting shrinks just 0–3%, so the size you cut is close to the size you keep after washing. If you love the look of a quilt that stays smooth and generously sized on the bed, that low shrinkage works in your favor.
What It Is Best For
Reach for this queen package when you are finishing a queen quilt and want softness and body without heaviness, and when stitch definition matters — for example, quilts where the quilting itself is a feature, not just a way to hold the layers together. The 96" x 108" size gives you working overhang around a typical queen top, so you can baste securely and trim cleanly after quilting. Because the batting adds body as well as warmth, it also suits quilted projects beyond bed quilts that start from a large, single piece of batting you can cut down to size.
How to Use It
Prewashing: With shrinkage of only 0–3%, prewashing is a matter of preference rather than necessity. If you have prewashed your quilt top and backing and want everything to behave the same way in the first wash, follow the care approach below; if you prefer to quilt first and wash the finished quilt, expect only minimal size change.
Layering: Smooth your backing wrong side up, lay the batting over it without stretching or pulling it out of shape, then add your pressed quilt top right side up. Baste thoroughly with pins, spray, or thread — polyester's soft, springy surface rewards careful basting, because a well-secured sandwich quilts without shifting or pleats.
Quilting distance: Keep your quilting lines no more than 4" apart. That recommended maximum stitch distance is what ensures the batting keeps its strength and flexibility over years of use and washing. Denser quilting is perfectly fine, and it is where this batting shines: closer quilting shows off its loft and definition beautifully. Wider spacing than 4", however, leaves areas unsupported, so plan your quilting design — stippling, grids, or echo quilting — to stay inside that limit everywhere.
Tips and Care
Let the loft do the talking: choose a quilting pattern with clear shapes and give it room to puff between stitch lines. Avoid over-handling or tightly compressing the batting before layering, so it goes into the sandwich at its full, even loft. Store leftover pieces loosely rather than vacuum-packed, and cut them for smaller quilted projects.
Care is refreshingly simple. This batting is washable by hand or machine and is dry cleanable, so you can launder the finished quilt the way that suits the fabrics in your top and backing. That easy care, paired with 0–3% shrinkage, makes it a forgiving choice for quilts that will be used, loved, and washed often — exactly what a good queen quilt is for.
Shop the Pellon® Polyester Batting 96" x 108" Queen Size Package. at Linda's Electric Quilters.
