How to Choose Patchwork Quilt Fabric
Quilting is a hobby loved by beginners, experts and everyone in between. Patchwork quilts are especially fun and easy for beginners as they are most often squares of random material sewn together. Choosing the right color and fabric for a quilt is very important and can make the difference between a good quilt and a great one.
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Instructions
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Color
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1
Decide the purpose of your quilt. For example, if you are making it for a baby you might choose pastel colors, or for a man you might choose darker colors. Maybe you want it to match existing furniture or bedding. Deciding the purpose is sometimes the easiest way to choose colors.
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Choose your color scheme. A monochromatic scheme consists of varying shades of one color. A multi-colored scheme uses a patterned fabric and pulls colors from it to make up the rest of the palette.
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Vary the prints, choosing from small, medium and large prints, to add visual interest and depth.
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Vary the color tones, choosing from light, medium and dark fabrics, to give depth and contrast.
Fabric
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Use 100% cotton or a cotton blend. This is the easiest to sew with and also washable, making the quilt great for everyday use.
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Check to see if patterned fabric is correctly on the grain. If lines aren't running parallel or the fabric is cut off square, you should look for another bolt or choose a different fabric.
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Look at thread counts if they are available. The higher the thread count, the better the quality. Look for 68-78 thread counts if fabric is labeled. If not, you can check the fabric's quality yourself by holding it up to the light. If you can see through completely through it, see loose threads or notice the threads pulling apart when you tug slightly on either end, the fabric is of lower quality. Obviously you may still use it, but may be more difficult to sew and definitely won't last as long as a higher quality fabric.
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Check fabric for details. Look for holes, stiffness and general problems with the pattern. Know what you are buying before you get home, because once the fabric is cut it becomes more difficult, or impossible, to return.
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Use a backing material that is similar in color and weight to the front. Experiment with fleece or flannel backs. Using a variation of fabrics may be more difficult to sew, but also gives a quilt more texture and character.
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Comments
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pmingin
Oct 01, 2008
This is very useful information - thanks for posting. I am new to quilting - in fact, I have just begun cutting out my squares for my very first quilt! Very exciting! I am doing all of this in a kind of self-taught manner-reading and discussing techniques with a friend who does this quite often, so it has been an interesting journey! -
pmingin
Oct 01, 2008
This is very useful information - thanks for posting. I am new to quilting - in fact, I have just begun cutting out my squares for my very first quilt! Very exciting! I am doing all of this in a kind of self-taught manner-reading and discussing techniques with a friend who does this quite often, so it has been an interesting journey!
