If you’re wondering what the best type of fiber to use for making your quilt is and you’ve stumbled upon bamboo batting, then you’ve found the right thing. It’s sustainable and an amazing quilt batting material amongst the newest on the market.
However, we need to know its advantages and disadvantages. How exactly does it compare to the other materials on the market? So, in this article today, we’re going to see what Bamboo Batting Pros and Cons are!
Key Takeaways
- Bamboo batting is a sustainable and eco-friendly option for quilting
- It is slightly more expensive if its 100% pure bamboo, however it is most commonly found in silk or cotton blends which makes it affordable with a mid-range pricing
- It’s anti-bacterial, therefore also non-allergenic and offers softness thanks to its silky smooth fibers that are perfect for anyone with sensitive or easily irritable skin
- Bamboo batting is amongst the newest products on the market, however, it’s supposed to be durable and last you as much as wool or cotton do (which is a lifetime)
What is Bamboo Batting?
Bamboo batting is a fiber that is ideally made out of 100% pure bamboo or more commonly a 50% bamboo and 50% cotton blend. This type of fiber is newer and more sustainable than previous contestants on the market. Also, make sure you read 50% cotton and 50% polyester blog and whether they shrink.
The batting used to be made out of wool, cotton, and feathers which would then be sewn together to create a comfortable batting for the quilt or bedding. Wool and cotton, however, are a lot harder to produce.
Bamboo is so much more sustainable than other plants, including cotton, as it is perfectly fine with growing practically anywhere and its growing speed is a lot faster.
Moreover, both cotton and bamboo are eco-friendly natural fibers, making them an amazing choice for any quilt-maker. This description helps us go on with the actual bamboo batting advantages listed underneath.
Bamboo Batting Advantages
- It is a non-allergenic fiber that doesn’t require a lot of toxic chemicals for its production.
- This type of batting is recommended for people who are allergic to synthetic materials or just have sensitive skin.
- Its fibers are natural, which explains its breathability and comfort in comparison to other synthetic battings.
- It’s great whether you are manually quilting or using a machine.
- The fact that it is natural makes it very lightweight and sustainable. Bamboo quilts are wonderful as bedding or hung up on walls as decor.
- When found in the form of 100% pure bamboo, the batting has a silky luxurious feel to it.
- Another pro is that bamboo is much more durable than cotton and wool.
Disadvantages Of Bamboo Batting
- To continue from our last advantage, finding 100% pure bamboo batting is hard. So, it is mostly mixed together with other natural fibers such as cotton or silk itself.
- The rarity of finding 100% pure bamboo batting makes it a lot more expensive than other fibers.
- A lot of people like pre-washing their material and this is doable with bamboo batting. However, washing the bamboo batting in the machine is not recommended as it causes shrinkage of the material.
Pre-washing bamboo batting
Is pre-washing bamboo batting good? Well, a lot of people like washing their batting before usage. This, however, usually shrinks the material – whether that be wool, cotton, or bamboo.
Washing bamboo leads to shrinkage of about 2 to 3%. This doesn’t mean you can’t wash your batting, just don’t wash it in the machine.
To keep it undamaged, rinsing it by hand is a way to treat it, as well as squeezing out the extra water very carefully. Also, it is great to have in mind what you’re going to be using the quilt for.
What is the purpose of quilts?
Quilts can be used for plenty of different reasons. For example, it can be used as actual bedding or hung up on the wall as home decor, the quilt could also be used as a tablecloth or as a baby blanket. It is multifunctional and can be used for almost anything you want it to be. Quilts have a very specific look to them and if they are handmade that adds a lot of love and extra comfort.
Quilts can be handmade or made with the help of a machine.
Popular Brands of Bamboo Batting
Quilter’s dream
Quilter’s dream batting offers a soft luxurious feel thanks to the blend of 25% silk 25% cotton 25% bamboo and 25% tencel. These fibers are mechanically felted with a thousand needles, hence needle-punched batting.
This makes it a silky soft quilt batting with enjoyable breathability, warmth, and strength. Its velvety, smooth, and strong fibers make it not at all stiff, instead, it drapes perfectly. Suitable for washing in the washing machine with cold water and tumble dry on low, else there will be shrinkage.
Pellon
This one is really easy to find online or in any big craft store. It is a bamboo blend batting made with scrim. As with all the other battings on this list, it looks very soft, and because it’s a blend it’s not that expensive.
Winline textiles
Winline textiles is a high-quality brand manufacturing needle-punched with a scrim 100% bamboo batting that has softness, durability, and longevity. It comes in a few sizes ranging from baby crib to king, queen, or full roll.
Creativesfun
It is 100% cotton fiber batting that is woven and needle-punched with premium machinery. They are eco-friendly and sustainable. Their premium quality luxurious silky feel is meant to last you a lifetime. It comes in different sizes such as baby’s crib, king, queen, twin, or full roll.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bamboo batting good for quilting?
Yes, it’s good both for hand quilting and with a machine.
Is bamboo batting better than cotton?
It is about the same price range as cotton, and as batting, they usually come together as a blend. Cotton has been in usage for way longer than bamboo, however, bamboo is a lot easier to produce and more sustainable. Their properties aren’t all that different. But, I would say bamboo fiber is a lot smoother and drapes better.
Final Words
Bamboo batting sure has its pros and cons, however, I think the pros make up for the bad things. Even though it shrinks while washing, it’s not that big of a drawback considering most natural materials do.
Sure, it might be expensive, but it’s also very breathable, non-irritable on the skin, soft, and velvety. Buy bamboo batting of any size and happy quilting!
Sewing is definitely one of my biggest hobbies. I’ve been doing it since i was young, thanks to my mother. I specialize in sewing, and that’s what i mostly write about.
