The choosing of quilting fabric is by far the most important element of quilting. The quilting fabric is largely chosen based on the ultimate use for the quilt. It can come in any size, shape and color you desire and it can also be of any material type that you choose.
Consider using old clothes, or you can even use old stuffed animals as quilting fabrics for quilts that might remind you of your childhood. These are great places to find quilting fabric, but sometimes you might want to make a quilt that doesn’t use older materials. If you’d like to make a quilt out of brand new quilting fabrics, then you still have many options to choose from.
There are various quilting fabric out there, so you can choose anything from velvet to cotton to polyester if you so wish. The choice is yours. However, you may want to put some thought into it before you make a decision. Regardless of the type of quilting fabric that you do eventually choose though, be sure to choose the best quality of material that you can afford. Velvet or pure wool quilting fabric are more expensive than any other type of quilting material, with the exception of silks.
Here are some criteria to keep in mind when making fabric selections: colorfast quality; fiber content; surface design. If you stick to some guidelines about these criteria, then you’re sure to be pleased with the final result of your project.
Fabric selection:
1 – Try to pick fabrics with the same color value so one doesn’t stand out in the finished quilt.
2 – Check to see if there is a one-way direction in the design; you may need to purchase extra fabric to allow for cutting fabrics with plaids or stripes.
3 – The size and design, as well as the background spaces are also important. Check if the designs are large, medium, or small, and if the background area is prominent. Imagine how it will look when it’s cut into small quilt pieces because if the design is too widely spaced, it may be lost in the cutting of the fabric.
Colorfast Quality:
Of course you want to avoid fabrics that fade. Wet-printed resists light up to 20 hours, and pigment-dyed will resist light up to 40 hours.
Fiber Content:
Fiber content is particularly important because the way fabric responds to manipulation is determined by the fiber content. 100% cotton fabric is the best choice and it’s easy to work with.
Cotton blends are harder to work with because they tend to shift while cutting or sewing them.
The quilting fabric you choose will determine your final product. If you choose wisely, your quilt will reflect all the care and attention you put in to choosing the appropriate materials.
Don’t neglect the quilting thread when shopping for quality materials. The role of the quilting thread, after all, is to hold the quilt together. Quality quilting fabric will ultimately mean very little if the thread binding it is of poor quality.
