Extra Thick Quilt Batting: How Thick Is High Loft Batting
When you want soft and comfortable you need to look past the exterior fabric and concentrate on the quilt fill. That is where you will find the real softness of any quilt. That is one of the good things about quilting, you get to choose how thin or thick the batting will be.
How thick is high loft batting? To some people, high loft batting measures 1/2 inch, and extra high loft measures in at 1 inch thick. A low loft is measuring in at around 1/8 of an inch approx. This will depend on where you draw the line on thickness.
To learn more about quilting batting and how thick high loft materials are just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can plan your quilting project accordingly
Extra Thick Quilt Batting 101
What Does Extra Loft Batting Mean?
Extra loft batting simply means that the fabric will be thicker than other forms of quilting batting. The word loft also means lift and extra loft will make your quilt a little softer and a little more comfortable.
Even though we gave one thickness measurement above, you will find that the loft measurements are not static and can range a little bit. For example, some extra loft will weigh 20 ounces and be 1 1/4 inches thick.
The weight measurement given on the packaging is how much the batting weighs when one yard is placed on the scales. One yard of 20-ounce extra loft batting will weigh 20 ounces.
The weight will also help you figure out which type of batting you will use in your quilt. if you want a lighter blanket, then you can still get extra loft at a lighter weight. it just might be at that 1-inch thick level we mentioned earlier.
Poly batting may be lighter than the cotton version as some 1-inch poly batting weighs in at 8 ounces and is still considered extra loft.
How Thick is High Loft Batting?
The safest option when you are looking for high loft batting is to go with the 1/2 inch thick material you can buy just about anywhere. That way you know you are getting the true high loft batting that you want for your quilt.
But since extra high loft batting starts at 1 inch you have some leeway and can go a bit thicker without moving up another level in the batting category. If you find 3/4 inch batting then you should still be using high loft material and not extra high loft.
Some people think that batting comes only in 2 sizes, low and high loft. But as you can see already there are more levels to this category and you have lots of choices to make. It will depend on how thick you want your quilt which option you choose to use.
Take your time as you do not need to rush this decision. Adding a little extra comfort never hurt anyone. Consider the cost, as well as high loft batting, should be cheaper than extra high loft materials.
How Thick are Quilts?
This is the good thing about sewing in general and quilting in particular. You can make your quilt any thickness you want. Plus, you can make them fit any season you want to use them in.
Some summer quilts are just 2 exterior pieces of fabric sewn together in a nice design and contain no batting. Those exterior fabrics can be thin or thick material as well.
Then if you want to make one for the colder region you live in, you can double up the batting and make your quilt thicker than normal.
There is no set rule saying your quilt has to be so many inches thin or thick. You have complete freedom to design your quilt to be as thin or as thick as you want or need. That flexibility is what makes sewing a wonderful hobby.
You get to express your creative talents in so many different ways. The key is that you need to be really good if you want to have that creativity make an impression on those who see your handiwork.
How Thick is Upholstery Batting?
Upholstery batting will make extra loft batting look like the skinny kid at the beach. It measures about 2 inches thick and that is just the 100% cotton version. Polyester upholstery batting can come in sizes ranging from 1 1/2 to 2 inches or more.
What that means is that you will have lots of choices once again to make. Do you go with the cotton or do you save and go with the synthetic materials? Plus, with that range of thickness, you get to make your furniture more comfortable to sit in.
One retailer also warned its customers that the polyester batting may vary by 1/8 of an inch. What they mean is that while they advertise 1 1/2 to 2-inch thick batting the actual measurement may be a little bit more or a little bit less than the advertised thickness.
Also, upholstery batting is very bulky so you need to make sure you have enough storage room when you make your purchase. This version of batting is sold in different sizes and you can get a swatch, a piece, a roll, and by the yard.
How Thick is Dacron Batting?
This will depend on where you buy this batting option. One store advertises that their dacron batting is between 1 1/4 to 2 inches thick while another store sells it at 3/4 to 1-inch thicknesses.
What that tells you is that dacron batting can be found in high loft, extra loft, and possibly low loft increments. This material is also made from 100% polyester so it should be lighter than other natural batting options you can purchase.
Be careful as some dacron batting is sold as upholstery batting. One store makes a point of telling its customers to not confuse their product with other dacron batting you buy for a quilt.
Watch the labels so you do not buy the wrong batting by mistake. The labels that we saw were clearly marked so there should be no confusion. There is nothing wrong with using upholstery batting in your quilt, except that your project may not look as good as it would if you went with extra or high loft batting material.
What is a Super Thick Quilt?
It is a quilt that is made with thick batting and heavier fabrics on the exterior. Of course, some people may call a super thick quilt a comforter or a duvet but a quilt is not a duvet. The two are entirely different types of bedding material.
There are other terms one can use to describe a super thick quilt. It will depend on the cultural influence of the region of the country you live in. What is a comforter to one person in one section of the country is a quilt to another person in another section of the country, and on it goes.
One thing about a super thick quilt is that it should be more than just toasty warm. If you live in a very cold region of the country, one of these over you while you are reading or watching t.v. should keep you very warm.
These are not quilts you want to make for someone living in very humid or hot regions of the nation. They are nice to have in the home but using them is another story.
How Thick Should Quilt Batting Be?
Like the question of how thick should a quilt be, this is entirely up to you. Some quilters making a summer quilt have used a thin flannel sheet or some other bed sheet as batting instead of using regular quilting batting.
If the batting is not thin enough for your project, you can improvise or just leave it out. Other quilters have used old clothing, fabrics from jackets, and so on to make their batting. Again, there is no rule you have to use traditional quilting batting.
Then if you want a really thick quilt, you are not limited to just using extra loft batting. You can double extra, high, or low loft batting to make the quilt the thickness you want. Or you can mix them up and use one piece of high and one piece of extra high loft to get the thickness you want.
You have lots of flexibility when you use batting. Just use your best judgment and consider all the important factors. For example, who is the quilt for, what season is the quilt made for, and what region of the country they live in.
Extra Thick Quilt Batting
This is a good option to use when you want to have a nice thick quilt that keeps the people under it from getting chilled. While we have said that you can double up the batting, extra-thick makes it easier to have a thick quilt without all the work that comes with doubling up.
If you want a thick quilt and do not want a lot of work, then choose this option to achieve both objectives. The thicker the batting the more comfortable and softer your quilt should be. This is not a hard and fast rule as many quilts made from thinner batting are also soft and comfortable.
You should find extra thick batting in the same locations as you would normal batting and sold in the same format. This batting should come in all different fabric types as well. That selection includes cotton, polyester, wool, bamboo, and some blends.
What is the Thickest Quilt Batting?
Most likely, the thickest quilting batting will be between 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick. The lines between low, high, extra high, and upholstery batting are not set in stone and you will see these batting materials thicker or thinner than the stated measurements in this article.
But extra high loft should be the thickest batting material for a quilt. Upholstery batting is not the same thing and you find that too firm for your quilt if you use it instead.
There have been some websites claiming that batting for quilts is sold only in two thicknesses, high and low, but their content is not up to date. You may find batting labeled as a low loft, medium loft, high loft, extra-high loft, and super loft.
It will depend on the stores you shop at which level of batting they sell and they may sell all of them. You are at complete liberty to use the thickness you want. If you need thicker than an extra high loft, double up and make your quilt your way.
Can You Double the Batting in a Quilt?
Yes, you can double the batting in a quilt and that is another aspect that makes sewing a wonderful hobby. You have lots of options at your disposal and no hard and fast rules on how to use different materials in your sewing or quilting project.
If the extra loft batting is not thick enough for your particular quilt, then double it and make it twice as thick. or simply mix and match and use low loft with high loft and so on. Your quilting project is totally in your hands and you get to design it any way you want.
Then if you want a thick quilt but do not have thick enough batting available, you can turn to thicker fabrics to help you get the loft, softness, and comfort you want. The flexibility you have should be kept to within reason of course and there is no need to think outside the box or push the envelope when making your quilt.
Use your best judgment when you want to double up your quilting batting and make a great blanket everyone will like.
1-Inch Thick Cotton Batting
This would be considered extra loft batting although you may find high loft batting in the same thickness. The actual lines between these categories are blurry and manufacturers tend to make all batting thicknesses in various sizes.
In fact, you may find that the batting may be 1/8 of an inch smaller than 1 inch and still be called extra loft. or the high loft will measure in 1/8 of an inch thicker than normal and still be called high loft batting.
It is hard to get precision thickness all the time when working with a material like batting. You will have to read the label or do your own measurement to see the actual thickness. Just be prepared for the fact that the batting will not be as accurate as it could be and you may need to make a few adjustments to your quilt.
Or you can add more batting to make it as thick as you need it to be.
2-Inch Thick Batting
This is often referred to as upholstery batting and it is made to work in cushions and other furniture. The exception may be polyester as some outlets offer this type of batting in 3 inch thick sizes.
We alluded to the 4 different categories of batting earlier and these categories are further split into 2 different types of batting processes. There is the bonded style that uses a resin to stop fiber migration.
Then there is the needle punched process which tangles the fibers up together so they are interwoven so to speak and hold together that way. 2-inch thick batting should also come in those two styles so you have another choice to make.
Not only do you need to decide how thick you want your quilt, but you also need to decide how you want those batting fibers to be held together. Just make sure that when you are picking up the 2 or 3-inch batting that it is made for quilting and not for furniture.
How to Make a Thick Quilt
The first decision you have to make is on the size of the quilt. Then you have to decide on how thick you want to make it. While you can get high loft cotton batting, the polyester is usually thicker and does not lie as flat as cotton will.
Then you make your squares like you normally would. If you are a beginner, you can get one of those quilting kits that have your material pre-cut and other supplies you will need. it will also have a pattern for you to follow.
Once you decide on your exterior fabrics and design, you can either buy thicker batting or double up on thinner batting to make sure you get the thickness you want. The problem you will run into is that thicker batting is harder to sew with whether you use your sewing machine or do it by hand.
Or you can combine polyester batting with cotton to make it fluffier without losing any of the benefits that cotton has. How you do your batting is up to you. Once you decide on which batting, you need to quilt the layers together.
You can sew your squares together and then sew the batting into place and finally add the backing. It will take some work as the thickness increases the difficulty. Quilting a thick quilt is the same as quilting a thinner one but just more work is involved.
How to Sew Through Thick Batting
The first step in this process is to use the right needle. For thick layers, you should use a denim needle with a 90 or 100 size to it. You do not want to use a needle made for thin fabrics or thin layers. That is just asking for trouble.
Once you have chosen the needle, next you can bypass the pins and use fabric clips. These are much easier to work with and can hold thicker material together better than pins can.
If you are using your machine, set the stitch length somewhere between 2.5 and 3.5 mm. The stitch length you use will also depend on the type of exterior fabrics you are using in your quilt. When you are hand sewing a baste stitch is your friend and the more baste stitches you use the merrier your project should be.
Or on your machine, you can replace the current foot with a walking one or use the handwheel more than the electronic motion. If all else fails, you can cheat and use your serger and save yourself a lot of work.
How to Cut Thick Batting
If you check different discussion forums you may end up with all sorts of wild ideas on how to do this. One person suggested using an electric knife but that would leave a messy edge as well as possibly melt the polyester batting.
The best tool to use would be a rotary cutter as you can press down on batting and get a straight cut. Just make sure the rotary cutter has a sharp enough blade in it. Sharp scissors are another option and should be able to keep your edges neat and clean.
Another suggestion was to use a utility knife and again, like the rotary cutter, press down on the batting with a solid straight edge to get a straight line. The straight edge can be a carpenter’s square depending on the size of batting you are trying to cut.
Some Final Words
The wonderful world of sewing or quilting provides you with a lot of flexibility, freedom, and opportunities to be creative. You do not have a lot of hard and fast rules to follow and can create a quilt the way you want it to look.
Part of that flexibility comes when you use batting as the filler layer. It comes in different thicknesses so you can tailor your quilt to match any season of the year. That freedom and flexibility make quilting a lot more fun.
