I use cotton batting in most of my table runners, they do not seem bulky at all. Still getting used to new format and a busy weekend.

Quilters Dream Poly is nice for Table Runners.

I used regular batting so I could set a hot serving dish on one (that was made for protecting the table). I'm glad i read your post tho cause I hadn't thought about not needing that much thickness every time. Thanks

I've read that a good idea for table runner batting, especially one that might be used frequently, is to use thinsulate or a heat resistant batting.

Okay, now that you have way more opinions than you needed I will give you one more. I love Hobbs 80/20 fusible batt in my tablerunners. The fusible keeps them really flat for machine quilting. It is especially nice if your doing the french braid one where you start with a square in the middle and sew and flip the side pieces. I fuse the backing to the batt and the starting square first and sew and fuse the pieces as I go. It keeps everything in place, it's all quilted and all I have to do is trim and bind it.

I didn't see your question before this morning either...glad you asked it since my next project is going to be a Christmas Table Topper. I certainly don't want it poufy so I will buy cotton batting.

I was at a craft show on Saturday and only 1 person had quilted items; another person had sewn items...placemats etc. with no batting...I didn't care for the fabrics that she used...or the pattern. The quilt lady had a few full sized quilts, table runners, wallhangings and candle rugs. The candle rugs were not quilted they were large circles of felt with either felt gingerbread men or snowmen appliqued around the edge...kind of like a mini tree skirt. They were cute but I couldn't justify the price...$15.50 for one when she was selling a quilted wallhanging (18" X 36") for $7.50.

batting in your table runners is a personal choice- some people use batting---very thin---some prefer them to be flat- and simply use a layer of muslin- or a lightweight stablizer. i've made them both ways- and the one i made my mom with warm & natural---was not a good choice- when she washes it- it fluffs up- and is too thick for her liking- vases tend to tip over- a flatter thinner batting would be a much better choice....i suppose it depends on what table you are planning to use it on too. and the amount of seams in it- a batt will smooth the runner when there are alot of seams-
i have alot of lightweight single sided white flannel- i prewashed that and found it works nicely - gives some body- without (puffiness) but it is a personal choice- and the project itself should be part of the decision

I use Warm & Natural in the ones I made. Thin enough to protect the surface of the table, but not poofy enough to make lighter weight articles placed on it unstable.

I use my scraps from odd sized quilts that I have made - mostly warma nd natural -. I din't think no answers has anything to with the subject - but with the new format of the board - I spend more time looking for the areas I used to frequent - then just reading.

I don't use poly batting as I sometimes will use my table runner/placemats as trivets and I fear the poly melting and ruining my work.

I have also seen a pattern recently that had no batting at all. In fact I think there is a tut here - possibly called ten minute runner.

I use warm and natural. I save all my scraps from my quilts for this purpose.