Well, most of it does, anyway! It may surprise you to know that many batting products have a right side and a wrong side, just like fabric. If you place the batting wrong side up, you’ll typically experience more batting “bearding” (small slubs of batting that pull to the back side of the quilt) or difficulty in maintaining consistent thread tension.
The “right side” vs. the “wrong side”
Batting that has been needle punched during its formation has a right side. Look at the batting and search for small pin holes or dimples in the batting. Needle-punching methods drive small needles from one side of the batting to the other as they compress the fibers together. These small holes will reveal the right side of the batting. You want your machine’s needle to penetrate the batting in the same direction as the needle-punching machine.
The wrong side of the batting will have more slubs, which are tiny balls of batting. The wrong side looks much like a sweater that has been worn one too many seasons. If you have this side inadvertently facing up when you layer your quilt, your needle can catch one of these dense little balls of batting and try to force it back through the batting and out the back of the quilt, resulting in bearding.
Examine your batting carefully
For many products, the right side and wrong side will be very apparent. Others may take a little more studying to determine up from down. Sometimes you can tell the right side by trying to insert a pin into the batting from both directions. The pin will often slide through more easily from the right side to the wrong side.
Some very popular products are often placed wrong side up in quilts by accident. For example, Warm and Natural 100% cotton has a “clean side” and a “dirty side” – you’ll notice more small cotton seed flecks on the dirty side. Quilters who don’t know about “up and down” often put the dirty side down, so that the seed flecks don’t shadow through the quilt top. However, this is incorrect! The dirty side is actually the right side of Warm and Natural and should face up when layering the quilt.
Check you needle’s sharpness
If you experience bearding with a batting, and the bearding happens with nearly every stitch, you most likely have a dull or burred needle. However, if you notice only an occasional dot of batting on the back side of your quilt, you may indeed have the batting upside down! Even with right side, wrong side knowledge, you can still have bearding with batting that is particularly dense or “slubby” on the backside.
Some battings do not have any right side
You can identify these battings by their processing. Thermal or resin bonding holds the fibers together differently from needle punching. Batting that has a scrim also has direction. The scrim prevents batting migration through your top. Quilters often debate whether the scrim side goes up or down. If the batting is needle punched, use that as your first choice for deciding direction. If it is bonded, however, place the scrim on the side of the batting which will receive the most wear. A bed quilt, for example, will rub against the sheets every single night. In this case, placing the scrim down will help reduce batting migration.
FAQs
Officially there is no right or wrong side. However, most quilters prefer the batting to be quilted the same direction as the batting was needle punched, so the flat or slightly dimpled side would be up, and the fuzzier side would be down.
Does the bumpy side of batting go up or down? ›
If you can see those little pin holes, congrats! Your batting is right-side up. If you see little tiny balls of batting, like the little pills that have formed on the sweater you've worn every day this week (I know it's not just me), you're looking at the “bottom” of your batting.
Is there a top and bottom to quilt batting? ›
Some say that quilting with the scrim on the front will keep a lower loft while having the non-scrim side of the batting face up allows more puffy quilting. Bottom line, there is no right or wrong way to place the scrim side when quilting. It is a matter of personal preference. Try both ways to see which you prefer.
Does scrim go up or down? ›
Quilters often debate whether the scrim side goes up or down. If the batting is needle punched, use that as your first choice for deciding direction. If it is bonded, however, place the scrim on the side of the batting which will receive the most wear.
Is there a wrong side to batting? ›
If the surface looks like it has tiny dimples in it, it's been needle-punched. And that side with all the tiny dimples is the right side. The wrong side of needle-punched batting looks like it has tiny balls all over the surface. That side needs to go next to your quilt back.
How can you tell if batting is polyester or cotton? ›
Generally, cotton is low-loft and polyester tends to be higher loft. Drape – the way batting hangs. Some batting is quite soft, while other types are stiffer.
How to tell if batting has scrim? ›
Feel the batting. When you run your hand across the scrim side of batting, it feels rough and coarse compared to the other side of the batting. The scrim side may appear pilled or pimply.
How much longer should batting be than quilt top? ›
Batting. We have batting available for purchase in the shop when you come in to quilt. If you are supplying the batting, it should be 6-8 inches longer and wider than the quilt top (that's 3-4 inches all the way around).
How many layers of batting do you put in a quilt? ›
Basically the definition of a quilt is a blanket made of a top (front) and back with a layer of batting sandwiched in between and held together by some kind of stitching through all three layers.
Which side of warm and natural goes up? ›
With Warm & Natural the cotton side is distinguished by its leaf & stem remnants (face to quilt top). With Warm & White there is a side that is shinier and smoother. This is the scrim side and should face to your quilt backing. Is it safe to put Warm Products in the microwave?
You do not need to press the batting.
Do the dimples go up or down on quilt batting? ›
The dimples are the right side and go to the top of your quilt i.e. against the quilt top, and the pimple side goes to the backing. Needle punching causes dimples on the side that it pushes through, so from the top. Pimples come through with the needle at the bottom and stays there.
What is the warmest batting for quilts? ›
Wool batting is a warm, breathable, super-soft type of batting that I happen to love, especially this time of year. Since wool is made from the coats of sheep, which subsequently will grow forever, it's actually a really sustainable fiber, and naturally renewable! Way to go wool.
How to lay quilt batting? ›
Center your batting on top of your backing and smooth it out until it is wrinkle-free. Now center your quilt top right sides up on top of the batting. You should see at least 4″ of batting and backing around all the edges of the quilt top. Smooth your quilt top so it is perfectly flat with no bumps or wrinkles.
Can you put two layers of batting in a quilt? ›
Loading the Double Layer of Batting
I chose wool batting for it's amazing loft and 80/20 cotton/poly for stability. Most quilters recommend layering the more stable batting (the cotton, poly blend) first.
How do I get my batting to lay flat? ›
A quick and simple solution is to throw the batting in the dryer with a damp washcloth (or spray the creases with water). Let it tumble on low for 5 – 10 minutes, then spread the batting out, smooth it flat and let it rest for a few hours. There may still be some faint creases but those are generally OK.
Well, most of it does, anyway! It may surprise you to know that many batting products have a right side and a wrong side, just like fabric. If you place the batting wrong side up, you’ll typically experience more batting “bearding” (small slubs of batting that pull to the back side of the quilt) or difficulty in maintaining consistent thread tension.