Wool & Wool Blend

What You Need To Know About Wool Batting

Crafters have a lot of choices when it come to batting. After all, batting can be made from numerous fabric fibres, including manmade fibres such as polyester. So, why would you choose wool batting over others? This is what this article will tell you.

What Are The Main Advantages Of Wool Batting?

Wool is a fabric fibre that is seen as sustainable, this means that the environment is not harmed when this fabric fibre is harvested. As you know, wool comes from a variety of different animals, mainly sheep. As wool grows back and its harvest does not hurt the animal, it is one of the most sustainable options in the world.

In addition to being renewable and sustainable, wool is also a breathable material. If you are making a quilt that will be used on a bed or a sofa, that breathability will benefit the quilt greatly. Wool has quite the pleasant drape as well, so you will not have to worry about the aesthetic of your quilt in that regard.

Most wool batting comes prewashed nowadays, which is great as you do not have to worry about shrinking. Cotton shrinks substantially when it is washed for the first time, but this is not the case for wool. In fact, wool is quite similar to polyester where shrinking is concerned.

Even though wool does not shrink as harshly as cotton, it is still important to wash it before you start using it. However, if the manufacturer has washed it already, you do not have to do so. Simply check the label on the batting to ensure the manufacturer has done the prewashing for you.

Most wool batting manufacturers use a chemical bonding process to get the fabric fibres to stay together. There are various compounds that can be used for this, so they can vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Resin bonding is one of the most common, which is done with a thermal heating process. Obviously, the bonding process can have an influence on the eco-friendliness of your batting. If this is something that is of concern for you, be sure to check the label for more details.

Another major benefit of wool batting is that you can use it for machine quilting as well as hand quilting. However, the biggest benefits is how visible your stitches are when you use wool batting. This also means that wool batting is most suitable for anyone with considerable sewing experience, as stitching mistakes will be more visible too. However, if you are an experienced quilter, then wool batting can do your elaborate stitching efforts justice.

Is There A Downside To Wool Batting for Quilting?

There are certainly more benefits than downsides. Of course, it is still a good idea to know the downsides, since you can then make a more informed decision about your batting choice.

One of the bigger downsides of wool batting is the overall cost. As it is not a manmade fabric fibre, it is a little harder to source than polyester and even cotton. So, many crafters will find that their wool batting is a lot more expensive compared to cotton and polyester options. However, finding the right supplier can make a huge difference. If you are shopping at Spotlight, you can find wool batting for the most affordable price.

Crafters should also consider that some people can be allergic to wool. If you are making a quilt for yourself and do not have this allergy, then you do not have to worry about it. However, if you are making a quilt as a gift, then make sure the recipient does not have any allergies to the material.

Finally, consider that wool is never bright white. While the colour of the batting is not that important for most projects, the colour does become more important if you are using white quilting fabric. As wool batting tends to be a little yellow, the batting could become visible through the fabric. Of course, if you are using thicker and darker fabrics for your front and backing, batting colour becomes far less important and you do not have to worry about it.

Affordable Wool Batting

Spotlight has a great range of affordable wool batting, so everyone can benefit from this material. Since we offer the best prices around, you can expect some great deals and regular discounts on this range. Check back with Spotlight often to acquire your wool batting and get the best deals for your future projects.