Not every quilt wants the flat, traditional feel of cotton. Some projects call for a little more lift — visible stitch definition, a softer hand, and a layer that adds body without weighing the quilt down. That is the job polyester batting was made for, and understanding its loft, shrinkage, and quilting distance helps you decide when it is the right middle layer.
What This Batting Is
Pellon® Polyester Batting in the 90" x 6 yards size is a quilt batting — the layer that sits between your quilt top and backing. Its fiber content is 100% polyester. According to Pellon, this batting adds loft, body, softness, and definition to quilted projects.
Those four words describe what you will actually notice in a finished piece. Loft is the thickness of the layer. Body is the gentle structure it gives the quilt sandwich. Softness is how it feels in your hands and under the needle. Definition is how clearly your quilting stitches stand out against the surface — a slightly loftier batting lets stitch patterns read with more dimension than a very flat layer would.
The 90-inch width on a 6-yard length gives you a generous supply in a single continuous piece. You can cut sections for multiple smaller projects or lay out larger work without having to piece batting together first.
Loft, Shrinkage, and Quilting Distance
The loft is 1/8 of an inch. That is still a relatively low, manageable loft — enough to give quilting definition and softness, without the thick, puffy profile that can be harder to manage under a domestic machine. The quilt will drape and fold, but with a touch more dimension than the thinnest battings provide.
Expect shrinkage of 0–3%. That is a modest range, so the finished size of your project should stay close to the size you quilted. Even so, do not judge final dimensions until after the first wash, and if exact sizing matters — for a wall hanging that must fit a specific space, for example — measure again once the piece has been laundered.
The recommended maximum stitch distance is 4 inches apart. Quilting lines — by hand, domestic machine, or longarm — should be no more than 4 inches apart in any area. Pellon notes that this spacing ensures strength and flexibility: close enough that the batting is held securely across the whole quilt, open enough that the piece stays supple rather than stiff. Treat that 4-inch maximum as a design guide as well as a rule. Denser quilting will emphasize definition; quilting right up to the limit keeps the hand softer.
How to Use It
Let the batting relax flat before layering, smoothing it gently rather than pulling, which can distort it. Lay your backing wrong side up and smooth it taut, center the batting over it, then place your pressed quilt top right side up.
Baste from the center outward with pins, spray, or thread so all three layers stay registered. Quilt within the 4-inch maximum distance in every area, then trim the excess batting and backing even with the top before binding.
When you cut pieces from the 6-yard length, measure and cut only what each project needs, and store the remainder flat or loosely rolled so the loft is not crushed before its next use.
Care
This batting is washable by hand or machine and is dry cleanable, so finished projects can follow the care approach that suits them best. Wash the completed quilt gently, especially the first time, and check your measurements after that first laundering, when the 0–3% shrinkage will have taken effect.
When to Choose Polyester Batting
Reach for this batting when you want a quilted project with softness, light body, and quilting stitches that show their definition — and when a low-shrinkage, easy-care fiber fits how the finished piece will be used and laundered. If that sounds like your next project, a continuous 90" x 6 yards supply keeps you ready for more than one quilt.
Shop the Pellon® Polyester Batting 90" x 6 yards. at Linda's Electric Quilters.
