Quilt vs. Comforter: What’s the Difference?
The right bedding can make your sleep space more inviting. When you are cozy and surrounded by soft, comfortable materials, you are more likely to relax and drift off to sleep quickly. But, with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to determine the best style of bedding for you.
In this article, we explain the differences and similarities between quilts and comforters. Plus, we highlight why you might prefer one over the other. Read on to discover more about these two popular bedding styles.
What’s a Quilt?
A quilt consists of three layers—the top, bottom layer, and the batting. The quilt’s top layer is typically decorative and made of various pieces of fabric sewn together in a particular pattern. These patterns can be simple or complex—some even connect to one’s heritage or culture. For this reason, quilts are often passed down through generations and become family heirlooms.
Unlike the top layer, the bottom of a quilt consists of one type of fabric that complements the design on the top. The material used for the top and bottom of the quilt is generally one hundred percent cotton because it is the most widely available and most durable fabric.
Quilts provide warmth and comfort when lounging on a sofa or chair, so they are usually found resting on the back of an armchair or couch. Quilts can also be placed on top of a bed as a decorative accent. Due to their intricate designs and patterns, they are frequently used as wall hangings, table cloths, table runners, or displayed on a quilt stand.
A thin layer of batting, generally made of wool, polyester, or cotton-poly blend, (typically 80 percent cotton and 30 percent polyester), sits between the top and bottom of the quilt. Wool batting is fuller and fluffier than batting made of 100 percent cotton and is best for colder climates.
One hundred percent cotton batting is thin and best for mild to warm climates. Cotton blends are the best choice for batting because they can provide warmth in the winter months, plus they are breathable enough for the summer months.
A traditional quilting stitch is used to connect the three layers of the quilt. Today, this stitch is often done by machine because it is faster and more accurate. However, quilt stitching has been done by hand for many years.
What’s a Comforter?
Like quilts, comforters are also made of three parts—the top, bottom, and filling. However, that is where the similarities end. While the top and bottom may be made with a printed fabric, comforters are not made with various pieces of material or sewn together with a traditional quilt stitch.
Instead, the top and bottom of a comforter, (also called the shell or case), are made with a single piece of fabric, typically a solid color or print. The two layers and filling are sewn together with a sew-through stitch and a baffle box construction. The sewn-through method goes through all layers of the comforter in a box or panel stitch design.
Box stitching is the most popular method of construction for comforters made with down. This method creates a grid format so each square can be filled with down feathers and clusters. Panel stitches run vertically along the comforter, creating uniform rows for the filling.
In addition to the sew-through stitches, comforters have a baffle box construction to give the filling more room to expand, creating a fluffier, high loft blanket. To create a baffle box, pieces of cloth are sewn inside the comforter to connect both sides of the shell, giving it a three-dimensional design.
Like quilts, the filling inside a comforter can vary. Those filled with duck or goose down are fluffy and luxurious. Those filled with wool and cotton are warm, but they may not have the same cloud-like softness of down.
The terms comforter and duvet are often used interchangeably, which can confuse shoppers. While comforters and duvets are similar, comforters have a finished look and can be used on their own. However, duvets are fluffier and have a down or down alternative filling. Plus, duvets should be paired with a duvet cover to prevent feather quills from sticking up through the cover.
