| Buying quilting fabric seems like it should be pretty | | | | your fabric will stay put without pressing it every step |
| simple. And, frankly, when I began quilting it was simple. | | | | along the way.) |
| At least I made it that way. I wandered through the | | | | - Cotton sticks together while you sew your pieces. |
| fabric store and found fabric I liked - the pattern, the | | | | Polyester tends to slip and slide, requiring pinning or |
| color, the design. But generally, I bought fabric just | | | | basting, lest your patches end up being sewn |
| because I liked it. | | | | cockeyed. |
| As a result, my quilting fabric stash included all types of | | | | - Cotton has a little "give" to it that synthetics don't |
| fabrics - polyesters, cotton/polyesters, rayons, and | | | | have. This allows you to pull and tug a bit (as well as |
| some wools. After a few quilting experiences (some | | | | bunch it up a little) in order to get the seams to match |
| of which were pretty bad), I learned the advantages of | | | | and make your corners square. |
| different fabrics. Now I look at a few different things | | | | - Cotton breathes. Whether you are making a baby |
| when I consider fabrics to buy. | | | | quilt or a bed quilt, 100% cotton fabric will allow air to |
| Generally I prefer natural fibers. It's probably a sense of | | | | circulate while capturing the warmth. How this works is |
| connecting to quilters of yesteryear. Or it may be that | | | | just a mystery to me, but it seems to be true. |
| a comment made to me years ago about "wrapping a | | | | - Cotton absorbs the dyes better. Maybe it's just me, |
| baby in plastic (polyester)" just stuck with me - in a | | | | but I think that the colors are more vibrant and the |
| negative sense. | | | | patterns have more depth. |
| While I prefer natural fibers, I have made some fun | | | | - Cotton is durable. It has stood the test of time and |
| quilts that include lame, and an occasional polyester or | | | | constant use. |
| poly/cotton blend, because it offered some design | | | | - Cotton can be torn (or ripped). Although this can be a |
| benefit that I couldn't find in cotton - like a sports logo. | | | | benefit or a drawback, it means that you will be able |
| This is one of a series of articles about different types | | | | to determine exactly how the fibers line up. You will be |
| of fabric quilters use in their quilts. For simplicity, I will | | | | able to "square up" the edge just torn, since it will not |
| focus on the natural fibers cotton, wool and silk. I have | | | | rip across the threads. |
| used them all (although not in the same quilt). So you | | | | Part II explores the types of 100% cotton fabric, and |
| will get my firsthand experience and observations. | | | | some of the considerations as you purchase and use |
| Personal opinion as it is. | | | | these fabrics in your quilts. |
| Since you can go online and find plenty of articles and | | | | Happy Quilting! |
| websites that describe the fascinating way fabric is | | | | Penny Halgren |
| made and dyed, I'll let them do the describing about | | | | Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters |
| that, and I will focus just on what quilters want to know | | | | Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts |
| - how will it be working with that type of fabric? | | | | Penny is a quilter of more than 24 years who seeks |
| Since 100% cotton fabric is clearly the most popular | | | | to interest new quilters and provide them with the |
| quilting fabric, let's start there. | | | | resources necessary to create beautiful quilts. |
| There are several specific reasons quilters prefer | | | | This article courtesy of |
| 100% cotton: | | | | You may freely reprint this article on your website or in |
| - Cotton is easy to work with. After you sew a seam, | | | | your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the |
| you can easily finger press your seam allowances in | | | | author name and URL remain intact. |
| the direction you want them to go. (That means that | | | | |