Summertime party tips to keep things easy

Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high

“Summertime” by DuBose Heyward and music by George Gershwin for Porgy and Bess embodies my style of entertaining this time of year – easy, laid-back, unhurried. That’s why the arrival of my party pack from Bacardi got me so excited. I mixed the casual-style decorative items in the box with my own picks from around the house to create an Americana theme for my simple get-together. Here’s the breakdown.

Picnic placemats – Party Pack
White dinner plates (every day dishes)
Red and white check table runner – Party Pack
Antique quilt (off my bed)
Wire outdoor lanterns – Party Pack
Country French tray (off the wall)
Mason jar drinking glasses – Party Pack
Nito condiment caddy – Party Pack
Blue vase with dried flowers / Clear vase with flowers (picked from yard)
Wooden serving spoon and fork – Party Pack

Nibbles. To start things off, I filled the three ceramic bowls with peanuts, wasabi trail mix and dry roasted edamame. This was as simple as tearing open plastic bags. Alongside it, I placed some well-chilled watermelon, cut in cubes the night before. I laid frilled toothpicks beside the melon bowl.

Cocktails. I went easy. Chilled two bottles of Bacardi Classic Cocktails Light (Pina Colada and Mojito) in the fridge overnight. As guests arrived, I poured over ice. I stuck a parasol with skewered watermelon on top. Once my guests tasted the soaked melon, they wanted more. With the frilled toothpicks, all of us dunked chunks in our drinks. So yummy.

Supper. For small casual dinner parties I embrace home-style; I place everything in bowls/platters to pass around the table. Nothing beats homemade mac n cheese (I adapted a recipe from this cookbook), cornbread (cooked on top of the stove to keep from heating up the house), homegrown tomatoes, corn on the cob, and greens. My twin sister shared her recipe with me. Trust me, these are so good you will want to make them often. Go to Perfect Southern Greens.

Drinks – non-alcoholic. Tea, both sweet and unsweet and icy-cold water.

Dessert. A scoop of this Blue Bell ice cream (made with Splenda) was a sweet and guiltless end to my summer party.

BACARDÍ Classic Cocktails Light is a new line of low calorie, ready to serve cocktails. At less than 95 calories for a 4-ounce serving, BACARDÍ Classic Cocktails Light is available in Pina Colada and Mojito flavors and is made with natural flavors, real juice and pure cane sugar. Whether enjoying a favorite cocktail after a long day or throwing a party, BACARDÍ Classic Cocktails deliver classic cocktail taste that’s a hit with friends, won’t add inches to your waistline and won’t take all day to prepare.

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Bacardi via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Bacardi.”

Batting is one of those quilting decisions that feels strangely high-pressure.

It’s hidden inside the quilt. No one sees it.
But choose the wrong one? And suddenly your quilt feels stiff, too puffy, too flat… or worse, washes poorly.

I used to grab whatever batting was on sale. Then I made one quilt that felt like a winter doona and another that barely had any drape at all.

That’s when I realised — batting isn’t one-size-fits-all.

If you’re a hobby quilter making a few quilts a year, here’s how to choose batting confidently without needing a textile engineering degree.

What Batting Actually Does

Batting affects:

Warmth
Loft (how puffy it looks)
Stitch definition
Drape
Weight
Durability after washing

It’s the structure of your quilt.

The top fabric gets the attention — but the batting determines how the quilt feels in real life.

The 3 Main Types of Quilt Batting

Let’s simplify this.

1. Cotton Batting

Cotton batting gives a classic, traditional look.

It:

Lays flatter
Shrinks slightly when washed (creates that lovely crinkled look)
Shows quilting stitches clearly
Breathes well

Best for:

Heirloom quilts
Wall hangings
Summer quilts
Hobby quilters who love that soft, natural drape

If you prefer a quilt that feels traditional rather than fluffy, cotton batting is usually the safe choice.

2. Polyester Batting

Polyester batting has more loft and puff.

It:

Resists shrinking
Is lightweight but warm
Dries quickly
Holds its shape well

Best for:

Bed quilts
Utility quilts
Quilts that will be washed often
Gift quilts for busy households

If you’ve ever wanted that slightly “puffy” stitch texture, polyester delivers that beautifully.

3. Cotton-Poly Blend Batting

Blended batting gives you the middle ground.

It:

Offers more loft than cotton
Shrinks less
Still feels soft
Adds durability

For hobby quilters who want flexibility without overthinking, blends are often a very practical option.

Loft: Low, Medium, or High?

Loft refers to thickness.

Low loft:

Flatter finish
Easier for domestic sewing machines
Ideal for detailed quilting

Medium loft:

Balanced
Good stitch definition
Great for everyday quilts

High loft:

Puffy texture
Dramatic quilting lines
Best for larger-scale quilting designs

If you quilt on a standard home machine, low to medium loft is usually easier to manage.

Scrim vs No Scrim (And Why It Matters)

Some batting includes scrim — a light stabilising layer that holds fibres together.

Scrim batting:

Is more stable
Easier for machine quilting
Less stretching

No scrim batting:

Feels softer
More flexible
Often preferred for hand quilting

If you’re primarily machine quilting, scrim can make the process smoother.

How Batting Affects Stitch Definition

If you love seeing your quilting lines clearly, batting choice matters.

Cotton:

Shows stitching crisply

Polyester:

Creates raised stitching

High loft:

Makes stitches pop dramatically

If you’ve ever wondered why your quilting doesn’t look like the photos you admire, batting could be the difference.

Washing & Shrinkage Considerations

Cotton batting shrinks slightly after washing, creating that soft vintage crinkle many quilters love.

Poly batting resists shrinkage and keeps a smoother appearance.

Neither is wrong — it depends on the look you prefer.

For baby quilts or gifts, many hobby quilters appreciate predictable washing results.

Common Batting Mistakes

Choosing high loft for detailed block quilting
Not checking recommended quilting distance
Using thick batting on a small domestic machine
Ignoring fibre compatibility

Always check the manufacturer’s recommended stitch spacing. Some battings require closer quilting lines to maintain structure.

What Should Hobby Quilters Start With?

If you’re unsure, start here:

For traditional quilts:
Low loft cotton batting.

For everyday bed quilts:
Medium loft cotton-poly blend.

For puffy stitch texture:
Low to medium loft polyester.

You don’t need five types on hand. Choose based on project purpose.

Where to Compare Quilt Batting Options

Batting can be surprisingly varied, and seeing fibre type, loft, and recommended stitch distance clearly listed makes decision-making much easier.

Specialty quilting retailers like Fat Quarter Shop’s batting collection allow you to compare cotton, polyester, and blended options side-by-side so you can choose based on your specific quilt rather than guessing.

The Bottom Line

Batting is not just filler.

It determines how your quilt:

Feels
Washes
Drapes
Ages

For hobby quilters, understanding just three things — fibre type, loft, and project purpose — is enough to choose confidently.

You don’t need to memorise every product line.

You just need to match the batting to the quilt’s job.

This article is part of our Ultimate Guide to Quilting Notions for Hobby Quilters, where we break down essential tools without overwhelming you.

Next in the series:
Rotary Cutters Explained: Sizes, Blades, and When to Replace Them

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