Quilting & Patchwork Fabric

The absolute best material for quilting is 100 percent medium-weight craft cotton. It is breathable, holds sharp creases when ironed, does not stretch out of shape while you sew, and is incredibly easy to cut accurately. This makes piecing together intricate patchwork blocks a breeze for beginners and experts alike.

Yes, it is highly recommended to pre-wash all your quilting fabrics. 100 percent cotton can shrink slightly during its first wash. Pre-washing ensures that your beautifully finished quilt will not pucker or warp the first time you launder it. It also helps to wash out any excess dye that might bleed into lighter, contrasting fabrics.

A fat quarter is a specialized cut of fabric beloved by quilters. Instead of cutting a quarter of a metre straight across the roll (which leaves a long, skinny strip), the fabric is cut half a metre down the roll, and then cut halfway across the width. This results in a squarish piece of fabric that is much more versatile for cutting out patchwork shapes.

While you can physically sew different fabrics together, traditional quilters strongly prefer to stick to 100 percent cotton for the entire quilt top. Mixing materials like stretch jersey or slippery satin with stable woven cotton can cause the quilt to warp, pucker, and wash unevenly over time. If you want the longest-lasting results, stick to a uniform fabric weight.