Is Comforter Batting in Strips?

Pre-cut Batting

• To make things convenient for quilters and sewers, manufacturers offer batting in large pieces that correspond to standard bedding sizes. These pieces usually have a few extra inches on all sides to allow for sewing. A crib-sized piece of batting is approximately 45 by 60 inches, twin-size is 72 by 90 inches, full-size is 81 by 96 inches, queen is 90 by 108 inches, and king is approximately 120 inches square.

Rolled Batting

• Batting manufacturers also sell their products by the yard. By-the-yard batting is wrapped around cardboard tubes and, thus, is sometimes called rolled batting. Rolled batting is often available in 45-inch, 48-inch and 90-inch widths. With rolled batting, you purchase only the amount you need, whether it is only a portion of a yard or several yards. However, you must buy the complete width. For example, if you bought 2 yards of 90-inch-wide rolled batting, your piece would measure 72 by 90 inches. If you purchased 1/2 yard of 90-inch-wide rolled batting, your piece would measure 18 by 90 inches.

Piecing Batting

• If you have odd-sized batting remnants from earlier projects or if your batting is otherwise too small, you can piece the batting together to get the size you need. However, it is important that you join the pieces together before making your comforter or quilt or the batting will shift and give your comforter a lumpy, uneven look and feel, according to the St. Croix International Quilters' Guild's website. This group recommends placing the pieces next to each so that they are touching but not overlapping and joining them together with a whip stitch.

Cutting Batting

• If your batting is too large or if for some reason your project calls for comforter batting that is in strips or in a certain shape, you can easily cut rolled or presized batting with scissors. However, scissors that are used often for crafts and paper cutting may not be sharp enough to cut through some thicker battings. If you have trouble cutting your batting, have your scissors sharpened or invest in a pair of high-quality sewing or quilting scissors.