Quilting Fabrics

Choosing the right fabrics for your quilt is one of the most important decisions you can make.  Here are tips from other quilters who have been there, done that!

A popular batting material is "Warm and Natural" needled cotton batting. This batting comes in a sheet and will not bunch or clump together no matter how many times the quilt is washed. The cotton is needle punched that allows the batting to take on a comfortable texture without the additions of resins or glues. The even consistency of the batting makes hand quilting a breeze, but the material is also popular with machine quilters.

Instead of spending an excessive amount of money on an item that is labeled for quilting use, use a common household item and pay much less.

I store my fat quarters and other fabrics to be used for future quilts in the hanging shoe holders for your closet.  They can be purchased at WalMart or Big Lots or even Dollar Tree for half the amount some quilting catalogs are asking.  They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and fabrics.  I roll my fat quarters and then store them either grouped for quilts just waiting to be cut or by color for matching to a future quilt as needed.  They take up much less space than draping the fabric over hangers and it can be easily seen and the determination made for whether it can be used or not.

When you cut the triangle of fabric off each corner before washing, cut it with your pinking shears.  You get even less fraying than with the straight cut.