"Quilting Fabric"

Everything you need to know about selecting
and caring for your quilt fabric!

Learning About Fabric

Quilting is all about fabric -- fabric, fabric and more fabric! And it's well worth your while to learn about fabric and how to best put it to use, before you get started. It's helps to understand fabric characteristics and how to care for your fabric, as well as the essential guidelines for cutting and sewing fabric.

It's also critical to learn about "collecting fabric" (of course, you'll need to learn all the right terms) and how best to disguise your most recent purchases! :)

1. Choosing Quality Fabric

2. Selecting Fabric for a Quilt

3. Fabric Color and Value -- Coming Soon!

4. Purchasing Fabric: terms and quantities

5. Collecting Fabric: Reasons to add to your stash (Like you really need any!)

Choosing Quality Quilt Fabric

100% cotton fabric is recommended for quiltmaking. Cotton fabric has "give" in it, compared with synthetic fabic where the weave cannot be eased. When quilting, the fabric pieces need to meet accurately and the "ease" in cotton fabric allows you to do this.

Fabric that is woven too tightly, (like sheets) or woven too loosely, (like gauzy cheesecloth) are not suitable.

Like most items, quilt fabric is available in a "range" of qualities. I recommend that you buy the best quality fabric you can afford. Good quality fabric will handle better, look crisper and last longer than cheaper fabric. However, quality fabric does not have to cost a lot, especially if you look to purchase fabric when it is “on sale”!

Poor quality fabric is thin, see-through and often has dull colors. The design may not be printed clearly and may overlap in areas. The fabric may be loosely woven or have "flaws" or "slubs" (irregularities) in the threads and often, will not sit "square". Cheaper fabric also has a tendency to shrink markedly when washed and patterns may become skewed and not correctly aligned.

Good quality fabric, on the other hand, will have a smooth and even weave, with no irregularities in the fibres. The cloth itself will be soft to handle, and not easily see-through. Printed patterns will be clear and crisp, without flaws.

Quality fabric is best found at specialty quilting shops. These small stores only purchase small volume and therefore their prices are generally higher. But you'll also find that you get better service and qualified advice from an experienced quilter.

However, if you are budget conscious, you can find similar fabrics at the larger chain stores and if you have the time to shop around, you can pick up some great bargains. Well priced fabric can also be purchased at online quilting stores.

At home, fabrics should also be tested for colorfastness and new fabrics should be washed before using, then pressed so that the grain is straight. Recycled fabrics or used clothes can also be used, but check that there are no signs of wear and are a suitable fabric.

Useful Tip: When using a range of fabrics for a quilt, try to select fabrics that have a similar weight and thread count.

Selecting Fabric for Your Quilt

If you are anything like me, and even if you're not... selecting just the right fabrics for your quilt can be an agonizing task. But by following a few simple guidelines, choosing your fabric can be a most enjoyable experience.

A well chosen selection of fabric can make an otherwise ordinary pattern look stunning and clever fabric combining can truly make a quilt "zing"!

The first step is always to decide the purpose of the quilt and where it will be placed in your home. Based on the eventual use of the quilt and the chosen location you can then select your preferred color scheme. Have a couple of combinations in mind with just 2 or 3 main colors.

Remember... less is often best!

Once at the store, the first step is to select your main or focus fabric. Unless you specifically want plain colors, it's best to choose a fabric that has a medium to large print with a range of colors. Be sure to choose a fabric your really love! Next, you need to select fabrics that will best complement your focus fabric.

Don’t stress over every piece of fabric. It is the overall effect that matters. Don’t judge fabrics for your quilt up close - put them together and then stand back at least six feet to get the overall effect.

If you are new to quilting, go to a specialty quilting shop and seek their expert advice.

Fabric Color and Value

Expert tips on fabric "color and value" coming soon to this spot!!!

Purchasing Fabric

Buying fabric has to be one of, if not the best aspect of quilting. We all love to shop and some light (or occasionally heavy) retail therapy is always "good for the soul." And once you get the bug, buying fabric takes on a whole new perspective.

Colors catch our eyes, we become hypnotised by patterns and the mere brushing of the cloth between our fingers is almost as good as you know what!!! The only dampener can be that little tag with the exorbitant digits after the dollar sign.

Very often you only need a small amount of a range of fabrics to complete a project, or you simply cannot decide between the gorgeous shade of aqua blue and the stunning sapphire blue. Do not fear -- the clever retailers have created a simple and less "painless" way to satisfy your desire to purchase your favourite pieces, while keeping your spending in check.

If you are just getting into the game, you may have seen racks of fabric labelled as fat quarters, skinny quarters and even fat eighths, and you’d be right to wonder if the store owner had put the fabric on some kind of weird diet. Sounds confusing, I know, but it can be "simply explained."

Simply put, fat quarters and skinny quarters are -- a quarter of a metre of fabric. Now, for a few expert details...

... normally, fabric is purchased by the yard or metre (depending on where you live) but the principle is still the same. The metre or yard of fabric can be cut into 4 even sections a few ways.

To create a "fat quarter" -- the fabric is cut in half along the width of the fabric and then along the length so you end up with 4 squarish pieces, known as "fat quarters" – being approx 50cm x 56cm or 18” x 23”. A fat quarter will only have one edge that has a selvage. (The selvage is the edge of the fabric that is tightly woven and it is best not to use this in your work.)

A "skinny quarter" is achieved by cutting along the width of the fabric only. So, now you have 4 long, thin rectangular pieces that have a selvage on the 2 narrow edges. These pieces will be approx 25cm x 112cm or 9” x 44”.

Fat eighths follow the same principle. By cutting a fat quarter in half, along the width of the fabric, so both pieces still have one edge with a selvedge, you create a "fat eighth" -- an eighth of a metre or yard of fabric. A fat eighth will measure approx 25cm x 56cm or 9” x 23”.

"Skinny eighths" are rarely available pre-cut but you can usually purchase 10cm or 4” lengths off the bolt. A bolt holds the uncut fabric that has been folded in half and wrapped around a cardboard sleeve. Some retailers, however, do require a minimum purchase of 20cm or 8”.

Most quilters slowly build up a supply of fabrics by purchasing fat quarters and this supply is colloquially known as your “stash” and going on a fabric-buying spree is often referred to as... SEX (a stash enhancement expedition).

So, now that you are armed, with the right terminology, you are ready to head off to your nearest store and get into a bit of "SEX", in preparation for the projects ahead. Just incase you’re a little hesitant, the list below might help to encourage you.

10 Good Reasons To Buy Fabric

1. It insulates the cupboard where it is kept.

2. It keeps the "economy" moving, it is my duty to support cotton farmers, textile mills and fabric shops.

3. It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.

4. It's a contest – the one who dies with the most fabric wins.

5. It keeps without refrigeration, you don’t have to cook it to enjoy it, you’ll never have to feed it, change it, wipe it’s nose or walk it.

6. Like dust, it’s good for "protecting" previously empty spaces in the house, like the ironing board, laundry basket, the dining room table etc.

7. It’s not immoral, illegal or fattening. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul and makes me feel good.

8. Because it’s on "SALE."

9. Because I’m worth it.

10. And buy it now, before your husband retires and goes with you on all your shopping expeditions.

Enjoy your future sexpeditions!!!

I hope you've found this information on "quilting fabric " useful.

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