Just as there are many patterns, there is also an insurmountable selection of fabric. The beauty of your quilt comes from choosing fabrics that will make the pattern come alive. Many quilters choose both the pattern and the fabric together.
While fabric color and type are important so is the pattern you choose to make. Choosing a pattern was discussed in Part 3. Once you have chosen your pattern, you must now choose the fabric.
Fabrics come in many different materials. Find out which are the best for quilting.
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A WORD ABOUT COLOR
A very important thing to note when choosing fabrics, is that no matter the pattern, you can ALWAYS change the colors! If you love a pattern but the color is not quite right – change it.
A while ago I wrote a post on choosing fabric colors which you can read HERE.
Many times you may fall in love with the pattern and the fabrics are no longer available. Don’t let that discourage you because with the amount of fabrics out there, substitutions will not be hard to find.
If you really want a quilt to look EXACTLY like the picture, you must find a recent pattern and order the kit. Many quilting companies offer a variety of quilt kits.
Most fabrics contain more than one color combined into a variety of prints including florals, licensed and themed prints, plaids, stripes, dots and more. Conversation prints, also known as novelty prints, often have large-scale or unusual designs. Directional prints have an obvious one-direction design, such as a stripe or floral bouquet with a north-south orientation. You will require extra fabric for these prints in order to match the direction of the print.
Finally, fabric can also be Tone-on-Tone. This is when you have variations of the same color such as white on white or black on black.
FABRIC TYPES
When choosing fabrics for your quilt, you must also consider the type of fabrics you want use to make your quilt. Although almost every type of fabric can be used to make a quilt, there are a few that are used most commonly. These include:
100% cotton
Cotton is the most common fabric used in quilting. But not all cottons are the same. Quilting cotton is intended to go into a quilt that will last a long time. It is actually a much closer, more even weave than most other cotton fabric. Cotton is a very durable, natural fiber.
Cotton is easy to work with. It does not stretch or slip, holds its shape and is easy to press. Cotton also allows air to circulate but still keeps you warm.
Some cotton fabrics are too heavy for quilting. These include poplin, chino, and velveteen. Others are too light – if you can see through it when you hold it up to the light, the weave will likely be too loose for quilting. The best choice is quilters weight 100% cotton.
Flannel
Flannel is so soft and snuggly and a favorite of my family. It is especially great to make rag quilts or used as backing.
As with cotton, not all flannels are the same. Flannels come in wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers. For quilting, your best bet is cotton. High priced flannel is often double-sided, washes and wears well, and shrinks and frays a little less. A sure sign of low quality flannel is the price. Cheaper cotton usually has a lower thread count.
Many fabric companies are making flannels specifically for quilting. These include Moda, Riley Blake, Robert Kaufman and others.
Flannel frays and flannel shrinks, A LOT, so it is recommended that you purchase slightly more fabric than required and prewash before quilting.
Flannel produces lint. Lots of lint. ALWAYS clean your machine after working with flannels.
Minky or Fleece
I have been using a lot of minky lately especially for baby quilts. Minky is a type of fleece that’s not only beautiful, but is super durable, too! It’s 100% polyester and is available in over 100 different colors and prints.
For quilt tops, minky is available with a smooth, ultra-soft surface. But for backing, you can also get textured minky in various patterns such as cabbage rose, chevron, and dimpled.
Other types of fleece are generally used as backing and can create a nice light, warm, washable and durable quilt with or without batting.
When choosing fabrics for your quilts
ALWAYS, ALWAYS – Choose GOOD quality fabric and
ALWAYS, ALWAYS – Choose GOOD quality thread
OTHER TYPES OF FABRICS
Quilters have also been know to use other fabrics in quilting such as silk, linen, denim and batiks.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match textures – you may join together cotton, flannel, minky, etc. to create stunning combinations
PRECUTS
In Part 2, we mentioned that precut fabrics, also called specialty cuts, are fabrics cut into specific shapes and sizes and typically packaged by collection. They are a great way to match colors, and are fast and easy with less waste.
You can also find many patterns that are written to be used specifically with one type of precut.
The types of precuts include:
- FAT QUARTERS – Fat Quarters are quarter-yard cuts of fabric cut wide The approximate size is 18″ x 21″
- FAT EIGHTHS – Fat Eighths are half a fat quarter and measure approximately 9″ x 21″
- JELLY ROLLS – Jelly Rolls are collections of 2 1/2″ x 42″ strips of fabric produced by Moda Fabrics. Other fabric manufacturers offer similar products such as Pops, Roll Ups, Rolie Polies, and Strip Sets. The amount of strips in a roll varies by manufacturer. Be sure to check the quantity when purchasing.
- LAYER CAKES – Also named by Moda Fabrics, Layer Cakes are collections of 10″ x 10″ squares of fabric. Once again other manufacturers offer these 10” fabric stacks under different names.
- CHARM PACKS – Charm Packs are collections of 5″ x 5″ squares. The popularity of Charm Packs and other 5″ square precuts stem from the fact they are affordable, easy to use, and a size commonly used in quilting.
- OTHER LESS COMMON SIZES include Jolly Bars (5″ x 10″), Mini Charms (2.5″ square) and Honey Buns (1-1/2″ x 42″ strips)
Choosing fabrics can be daunting at times. We hope this post helps make that task a little easier.
Now you are ready to go out there and get your pattern and fabrics (don’t forget the thread). Next you will want to put them all together. Stay tuned for Part 5 – Cutting your fabrics. Coming soon!