Batting (Wadding)

Batting — called wadding in the UK and Australia — is the insulating middle layer of a finished quilt. It sits between the quilt top and the backing. Batting comes in cotton, polyester, wool, bamboo, and blended fibers. Cotton batting gives a flatter, antique look with minimal shrinkage; polyester batting is loftier and easier to hand quilt; wool batting is warm and lightweight. The loft (thickness) of batting affects how visible quilting stitches appear. Most batting has a maximum quilting distance — the largest area that can go unquilted before the batting migrates.