How to Choose the Right Batting for Your Quilt — Complete Buyer’s Guide

With dozens of batting options at Linda’s, picking the right one can feel overwhelming. This guide walks through the key decisions in order — fiber, loft, format — so you can find the right batting for any quilt, any project, any budget.

Linda’s Electric Quilters Buying Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Fiber

Fiber	Best For	Key Trait
Cotton	Heirloom, show quilts, everyday beds	Flat drape, breathable, antique crinkle
Cotton/Poly blend (80/20)	Longarm studios, volume work	Durable, affordable, slight loft
Polyester	Charity quilts, warm beds, no-shrink	Lofty, warm, machine washable, zero shrink
Wool	Hand quilting, heirloom, show quilts	Warmest, best needle feel, springy loft
Bamboo/specialty	Eco quilters, art quilts, warm climates	Silky, breathable, sustainable

Step 2: Choose Your Loft

Loft Level	Look	Best Use
Very flat (4oz)	Pooling, drapey, traditional	Show quilts, hand quilting, wall hangings
Low-medium (6oz)	Slight body, natural	Everyday bed quilts, lap quilts
Medium (9oz poly)	Full puff, classic quilt look	Bed quilts, gift quilts
High (12oz poly)	Very puffy, comforter-like	Tied quilts, very warm beds

Step 3: Choose Your Format

Buy a Roll if you…

Quilt 4+ quilts per month
Use a longarm machine
Want best cost per yard
Have storage space

Buy Packages if you…

Quilt occasionally
Want to try a new batting type
Don’t have roll storage
Make one quilt at a time

Quick Recommendations by Project Type

Project	Recommended Batting
Show or heirloom quilt	Hobbs 100% Natural Cotton or QD Select 4oz
Everyday longarm studio	Hobbs 80/20 Heirloom 96" Roll
Charity quilts (volume)	Hobbs Polydown 6oz or 9oz Roll
Hand quilting	Quilters Dream Wool or QD Select Cotton
Winter bed quilt	Hobbs Heirloom Wool or Tuscany Cotton/Wool
Summer or warm-climate quilt	Quilters Dream Select Cotton or QD Bamboo
Quilted garments	Hobbs Thermore
Art quilts / wall hangings	Hobbs Thermore or QD Bamboo

▶ Still not sure? Our most popular all-purpose batting is Hobbs 80/20 Heirloom. It’s the right starting point for most longarm quilters — reliable, affordable, and works beautifully on any project from charity quilts to show-quality custom work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What batting does Linda’s use in its own studio?

Our in-house longarm studio primarily uses Hobbs 80/20 Heirloom roll and Linda’s Choice 108" bleached cotton for white-on-white work. We also keep Quilters Dream Wool on hand for custom heirloom orders.

Can I return batting I don’t use?

Unopened packaged batting can be returned. Cut batting from a roll cannot. If you’re unsure about a batting, buy a package to test it before committing to a roll.

How much batting overage do I need for a longarm?

For longarm use, add at least 4–6 inches on all sides of the quilt top. For a 60" x 80" lap quilt, you need at minimum a 68" x 88" batting piece.

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