FAQ

From time to time, we get some very intelligent questions about our products. We thought it might be helpful to share some answers here. Got a question? Send us a note and ask away! Our experts are standing by to make your crafting experience better!

Q: What are the advantages for Soy Blend and Bamboo Blend battings?

A: They are both soft, thin, easy-to-needle battings made from sustainably grown plant-based fibers blended with 50% cotton fibers. Because they are both made using plant fibers, as is cotton, they will exhibit similar qualities to this well-known fiber. Both batting types are excellent for quilts that are used for sleeping. Washing softens them and provides comfort.

Bamboo Blend Batting has a soft, silky hand and some naturally anti-microbial properties. It is durable, breathable, and comfortable. This regenerated cellulosic fiber has microscopic pores that allow for excellent wicking which draws moisture away from the body. It is an excellent warm weather option. Bamboo’s inherent properties also make it a natural selection for those who suffer from allergies.

Soy Blend Batting is also a regenerated cellulosic fiber meaning that the raw plant pulp is processed to produce the resulting fiber. This batting has a soft hand and wonderful drape. Soy also possesses the advantageous properties of durability, excellent absorbency, good comfort and thermal retention.

Q: What are the advantages of Rayon and Polyester battings?

A: Rayon makes for a very comfortable warm weather batting that is soft, smooth, absorbent and non-irritating to the skin. Our Flame Retardant Rayon Batting also has the added property of being flame retardant which makes it resistant to combustion. This batting is ideal for children’s bedding and clothing because in the event of ignition it will not burn, stick, drip or cause further damage. This is a regenerated manufactured fiber made from cellulose.

Polyester is a resilient and lightweight batting that cannot be harmed by moths nor mildew. It can be a very warm batting as it lacks breathability. This batting is suitable for a variety of applications, but should be avoided in children’s clothing or bedding. It is machine washable. Quilters value polyester batting for the loft that it provides. Polyester is a manufactured synthetic fiber that mimics natural fibers in look and texture.

Even though polyester is manufactured to mimic natural fibers, its properties differ from those of a plant-based fiber, such as rayon. Rayon has properties that are similar to natural cellulosics such as absorbency and being biodegradable.  Polyester is composed of man made materials and will not decompose or attract insects.

Q: What is the warmest batting?

A: Knowing the characteristics of fibers may help you come to your own conclusion. Polyester does not allow air to pass through which traps body heat inside, making for a very warm quilt. 100% Wool is a natural fiber and a natural insulator making it very warm and ideal for cold temperatures but is much more costly than polyester. A quilt made with 80/20 blend has 80% cotton and 20% polyester which offers good warmth retention and is substantial in weight without being stiff and heavy. If you live in an extremely cold climate, the answer may be to use more than one quilt as needed.

Q: What is the coolest batting?

A: Many prefer 100% cotton for a ‘summer weight’ quilt as the natural fiber breathes. Legacy™ by Pellon® offers soy and bamboo blended with cotton in a very thin, smooth, lightweight batting. Soy and bamboo blends are very soft and comfortable. Bamboo batting can be as drapable as silk and as soft as a fine wool.

Q: What batting is best for machine quilters?

A: Legacy™ by Pellon® Natural Blend 80% Cotton 20% Polyester with scrim binder promises to be a favorite with all machine quilters whether using a home sewing machine or a long arm machine. The scrim binder holds together the soft fibers with a gentle strength, preventing distortion. 100% Wool batting is extremely soft and has good drape.

Q: What is scrim binder?

A: Scrim binder is a thin sheet of polypropylene – which is very much like a dryer sheet – that is needle punched onto one or more sides of batting as it is processed. Not all scrim binders used today are alike. Legacy™ by Pellon® batting uses a very lightweight scrim. This adds strength and durability that is sought by machine workers yet allows softness and ease of stitch that everyone appreciates. Our scrim does not create heavy, dense and stiff results.

Q: What is needle punching?

A: Cotton quilt batting in today’s marketplace is the most commonly known needle punched product. This process bonds together fibers of any type by ‘carding’ or repeatedly punching the fibers with barbed needles. The more a fiber is needled, the more dense & strong it becomes. No chemicals are needed when using this method of bonding fibers. Legacy™ by Pellon® cotton battings are offered in white and natural, needle punched as well as needled onto scrim binder.

Q: What is thermal bonding?

A: Thermal bonding is a process where fibers are tossed in a large container and mixed with a very small percentage of ‘low-melt’ polyester. Once this is tumbled together, it is laid out onto a conveyor belt and passed through an oven. The poly fibers melt, surrounding the wool or polyester fibers. This is then passed through heated rollers that seal and compress the fibers to the desired height. The majority of ‘low-melt’ polyester is dissipated in the process leaving a minute amount remaining. Thermal bonding provides a very soft and airy result.

Q: What do the different colors on Pellon® Products mean?
A: Each color on a package or label refers to a different product usage as it relates to your project needs. This system helps identify the correct product easily. The segments and the products they include are as follows.

Basics: Basic Interfacing used mostly in clothing. These are some of our most popular styles and are often thought of as beginner friendly.
Luxury Fusibles: Used mostly for clothing, these fusible interfacings cater to a more experienced and quality minded consumer. They offer a more varied range of applications and features than the apparel basics products.
Specialty: These interfacings are mostly used for clothing and have a specialty use not found in any of the other apparel areas. They might be used for tailoring, aiding in garment construction and may have the ability to stretch or recover in a certain way.

Tracing Cloths: These are non-interfacing materials used in garment/craft patterning and creation. They do not become part of the final product. 810 Tru-Grid® is the patterning material we to use with all of our Pellon Project patterns.
Stabilizers: These interfacings are more firm than apparel interfacings and are mostly used for crafts and home décor projects. They can also provide extreme support in garment construction.
Mixed Media: Lutradur®, a mix between fabric and paper, is a spun bonded polyester sew-in for crafting, sewing, quilting and fiber art. It can be manipulated in in all the same ways that paper can but has the strength and permanence of a textile. Lutradur® can be printed, painted, dyed, stamped, foiled, burned and sewn.

Fleece: Fleeces are often used in crafting and small quilting projects. Several fleeces have special qualities such as fusible adhesive and insulation. All fleeces are 45” wide.
Batting: Used for quilting and quilting projects, batting comes in a variety of fiber content and thicknesses. It is sold in prepackaged sizes (18” x18” squares, craft, throw, twin, queen and king) as well as on boards and rolls.
Quilting Aids: A range of products designed to help quilters achieve better quality finished quilts efficiently.

Paper Backed: Webs that have a paper backing that is peeled off after application to reveal a second fusible side of the product.
No Backing: Webs that do not have a backing and must be fused on both sides at once.
Laminates: Provides a protective finish to fabrics used for accessories, apparel and craft & home décor.

Tear Away: Prevents distortion and avoids stretching while stitching. Use more layers for custom levels of stability and tear away layers separately.
Cut Away: Continued stabilization that remains with fabric. Fast cut away removal. Prevents stretching or sagging stitches.
Wash Away: Stabilizes embroidery materials to avoid pulls or distortion while stitching. Easy wash away removal for no-show stabilization.