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Lofty Decisions
Choosing The Right Batting
Part 1, Natural Fibers
Pre-washing, Pre-shrinking,
and Quilt Appearance
Though the manufacturers make
reference to pre-washing batting, what they are generally referring to is pre-soaking and
rinsing the batting. (The agitation involved in washing a batt could pull the fibers
apart.) Most companies say that pre-washing their natural-fiber batting is not necessary;
only two of our samples in this fiber category recommended pre-washing, which we did. Be
sure, however, to read and follow the manufacturer's directions on the packaging. Some of
the cotton battings say do not pre-wash. In these, the fibers are held together only by a
light glaze on the surface of the batting; pre-washing will cause the batt to fall apart.
A quilt made with natural-fiber batting that has not been pre-washed will shrink when
washed, generally between one and five percent, as all of our samples did. Some quilters,
preferring a flatter look, will choose a batting that they can pre-shrink to pair with the
pre-washed fabrics in their quilt tops and backings.
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