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Choosing Your Fabric and Batting
Fabric
Some fabrics are not recommended for use with the quilting machine. Thick fabrics, such as denim
or leather, have a lot of resistance that can bend or snap a needle, and misalign or break internal
machinery. When quilting, avoid any fabrics that are difficult to pierce, and take care that the fabric
layers of the quilt are well balanced.
Batting
To choose the best batting for your project, consider the look and feel of the quilt that you’re going
for. Batting thickness is measured by its loft. A low loft batting is thinner and lighter, ideal for a quilt
with a flatter appearance. High loft batting should be used if a fluffy, full quilt is the goal.
Typically, wool batting is the thickest batting while bamboo is the lightest. Wool provides the most
warmth, followed by synthetic batting like polyester, and then natural plant-based fibers like cotton
and bamboo.
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