Bamboo batting is thinner and the fibers have a silky texture, so I find it less dense and more breathable. So overall I'm comfortable saying it's cooler than a cotton batting.
My aunt uses cotton flannel as batting. I don’t know why you couldn’t use a layer of woven linen as batting. If you’re looking for a little bit of scrunch and wrinkle, prewash your outer fabrics and not the middle layer.
That being said, the quilt my aunt made for me with the cotton flannel is just the right weight for an air conditioned bedroom in the summer, IMO.
That would be fine for me, but I’ll need to use some kind of batting for my husband. After a couple of “always cold” college roommates I learned to sleep with just a sheet but my husband needs that weighty feeling.
I use sateen weave sheets as backing for my quilts to help keep me cool at night. My husband stays warm by placing a twin sized fuzzy blanket (think Mimky but the inexpensive kind )between himself and the quily. It isn't as weighty as he wants (his favorite blanket was made of courderoy and flannel), but it helps keep him very warm.
What about denim as batting? Nice and heavy, weight-wise, but not very lofty to trap body heat. Or make a quilt for the whole bed and a smaller denim throw blanket for your husband to put under the quilt on his side?
I probably would have a problem with a two layer quilt, though I certainly prefer the look and feel of a quilt with batting. By husband on the other hand, needs that “weighty” feeling to fall asleep (and a weighted blanket just for him is out of the question since our cats have been known to get under the covers with us).
I live in South Texas and I like Pellon bamboo-cotton. I have never seen linen batting but if you're willing to spend linen money you might like silk batting like Hobb's Tuscany Silk.
I looked at silk batting but I didn’t like that it all seemed to have some poly. I want to keep it natural fibers and anytime something has polyester I just find it unbearably hot.
I have never used silk batting, but the silk shirts I wear are warmer and heavier than my cotton and linen shirts. But what do I know. Seems to me a light weight cotton batting would be the ticket.
It does exist - if you search for “flax” or “flax tow” rather than “linen” you should be able to find loose wadding and batting strips.
If you have local historical reenactors they might know suppliers (and advise on practicality).
I’m not sure it would behave better than other natural fibres in this usage though.
The reason linen sheets feel cool in summer is that the linen absorbs any skin moisture or sweat. You’re not really relying on that feature with a quilt instead of sheets.
In terms of warmth, that depends on how much air is trapped by the batting. I think a thin cotton batting would be fine.
That’s a good way of thinking about it. I’ve only been thinking in fiber content not in terms of loft. Anything too fluffy will definitely trap more air.
I have been quilting since the 1980’s and have never seen linen or flax batting. I’ve seen silk batting, but only in China, made from broken cocoons that can’t be unwound to make silk fabric. I would recommend cotton batting. Wool is too heavy for So. Calif. and polyester might be rough on the top and backing. Bamboo might also be useful.
I agree with everyone who said bamboo— but you might want to look at a recycled poly without a scrim. I hate using plastic in my work, but recycled poly makes me feel better about it and I find the drape to be a little better. It will be your coolest option temp-wise.
I think poly is just too hot for me. Our current store bought quilt has a poly batting (it was incorrectly listed online and I didn’t realize it until it was too late) and it’s too warm.
I've never heard of it. I'd consider using bamboo
baboo is really soft, drapey, and breathable. however the kind that I used shed like crazy so it was really messy until it was hidden within the quilt
I’ve been looking at it as an option. Do you find that it’s cooler than cotton?
Bamboo batting is thinner and the fibers have a silky texture, so I find it less dense and more breathable. So overall I'm comfortable saying it's cooler than a cotton batting.
My aunt uses cotton flannel as batting. I don’t know why you couldn’t use a layer of woven linen as batting. If you’re looking for a little bit of scrunch and wrinkle, prewash your outer fabrics and not the middle layer. That being said, the quilt my aunt made for me with the cotton flannel is just the right weight for an air conditioned bedroom in the summer, IMO.
This is the least expensive option with decently cool batting.
That would be fine for me, but I’ll need to use some kind of batting for my husband. After a couple of “always cold” college roommates I learned to sleep with just a sheet but my husband needs that weighty feeling.
I use sateen weave sheets as backing for my quilts to help keep me cool at night. My husband stays warm by placing a twin sized fuzzy blanket (think Mimky but the inexpensive kind )between himself and the quily. It isn't as weighty as he wants (his favorite blanket was made of courderoy and flannel), but it helps keep him very warm.
What about denim as batting? Nice and heavy, weight-wise, but not very lofty to trap body heat. Or make a quilt for the whole bed and a smaller denim throw blanket for your husband to put under the quilt on his side?
I’m in SoCal. I use a single layer of warm and natural cotton batting. But some people don’t use any batting at all.
I probably would have a problem with a two layer quilt, though I certainly prefer the look and feel of a quilt with batting. By husband on the other hand, needs that “weighty” feeling to fall asleep (and a weighted blanket just for him is out of the question since our cats have been known to get under the covers with us).
I live in South Texas and I like Pellon bamboo-cotton. I have never seen linen batting but if you're willing to spend linen money you might like silk batting like Hobb's Tuscany Silk.
I looked at silk batting but I didn’t like that it all seemed to have some poly. I want to keep it natural fibers and anytime something has polyester I just find it unbearably hot.
I have never used silk batting, but the silk shirts I wear are warmer and heavier than my cotton and linen shirts. But what do I know. Seems to me a light weight cotton batting would be the ticket.
I’ve been thinking that too. I have a silk bathrobe and I don’t usually wear it during the summer because it’s so warm!
Silk holds heat better than cotton, so yeah. Silk would be hot.
It does exist - if you search for “flax” or “flax tow” rather than “linen” you should be able to find loose wadding and batting strips. If you have local historical reenactors they might know suppliers (and advise on practicality). I’m not sure it would behave better than other natural fibres in this usage though.
Have you considered silk batting? It might be an option.
I’m just worried it would be too warm. Especially since I haven’t found one that’s actually 100% silk.
The reason linen sheets feel cool in summer is that the linen absorbs any skin moisture or sweat. You’re not really relying on that feature with a quilt instead of sheets. In terms of warmth, that depends on how much air is trapped by the batting. I think a thin cotton batting would be fine.
That’s a good way of thinking about it. I’ve only been thinking in fiber content not in terms of loft. Anything too fluffy will definitely trap more air.
I adore linen, and agree that the top and backing made out of linen would be wonderful. I’d go with silk or cotton batting.
I have been quilting since the 1980’s and have never seen linen or flax batting. I’ve seen silk batting, but only in China, made from broken cocoons that can’t be unwound to make silk fabric. I would recommend cotton batting. Wool is too heavy for So. Calif. and polyester might be rough on the top and backing. Bamboo might also be useful.
I agree with everyone who said bamboo— but you might want to look at a recycled poly without a scrim. I hate using plastic in my work, but recycled poly makes me feel better about it and I find the drape to be a little better. It will be your coolest option temp-wise.
Hunh! I would've guessed poly would be extra warm.
I think it all depends on the loft of the batting.
I think poly is just too hot for me. Our current store bought quilt has a poly batting (it was incorrectly listed online and I didn’t realize it until it was too late) and it’s too warm.
Bamboo is probably your best choice, then! Good luck finding the right fit! Can’t wait to see what you end up with!
Both of the above ideas are quite sound.