There have been many times when I have pieced a quilt, quilted it, bound it…and then loved, washed, loved, washed, repeat many years, and then I find it. The dreaded hole! Most of time I can blame no the kids, but the fabric.
The fabric wasn’t the best in quality when I started quilting, and to be honest I had no idea what I was doing, buying or sewing! I went off of- hey, I kind of like this emotion. I happily went home to sew something up right away with the new fabric that I had bought.
Come to find out a few years later, that that method wasn’t the best in determining what fabric to use in the quilt. I should have taken a look at the quality of the thread. Or noticed that it had a bunch of sizing so it would make a popping sound when my needle sewed through it.
There are a few ways to find out the quality of the fabric you are buying.
1) purchase fabric from online or local Quilt shops. These are the places that carry the best part of the fabric when it is produced. Go often and touch the fabric! It’s kind of like baking bread. After a few times, you just ‘know’ what the dough should feel like. You fingers will catch on to what quality fabric should feel like. Learn the feel!
2) hold the fabric up to the light. Single layered, if you can see the person you are standing next to through the fabric, it probably isn’t the best. It might be the cutest thing on the planet, but if it is translucent you will quickly not have a quilt after it is washed a couple of times.
3) check the salvedge edge. See who produced it. Sometimes there are lines of fabric that are printed for different stores. Make sure the original fabric design company is listed, and not the store it is printed for. You might be taking a chance on it if it has a different name.
4) can it stand on it’s own? this kind of goes along with #1. You will learn to have a feel for fabric. Some fabric has a lot of sizing on it- so much so that the fabric can almost stand on it’s own! It stiffens the fibers, and can be a bugger to wash out. This can be a sign of possible bleeding of color too- you never know.
My goal in life is to never make a quilt that will be around 101 years. I want the quilts that I sew to be used, and worn into the ground. I don’t mind that! I love to find my kiddos snuggled in something that I made them….or that they ask for a new one- just because. This to me is the ultimate joy of quilting for me.
With that though….I don’t enjoy my quilts falling apart because of shoty fabric, bad thread or crappy, fading prints. I am more careful in my selection now. I know that they will be worn out because of use, not because of the material I used.
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Q & A: What’s your take on fabric quality? Does it matter to you?
How do you make sure that you don’t get holes in your projects?
Have a suggestion, tip….let’s talk about it in the comments!
Becky Jorgensen is the creative quilter behind Patchwork Posse, the Patchwork Planner and her online quilt group Patchworkers Plus. You can find her patterns in books, magazines, and her quilt membership. Gather your quilting supplies, organize your sewing space, explore the process of disappearing quilt blocks, or finish a free quilt pattern. I'll help you use what you have, finish what you start and make your quilting journey fun!
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The first thing I do when looking for fabric is see whether it was manufactured in the USA or not (and I am not an American!). If the names of my favourite mills don’t show, I don’t buy. If it says India or China, it’s a no-brainer! Don’t buy it!
I only buy from name-brand American manufacturers. That way I feel I am getting my money’s worth and the fabric will last. I have used Hobby Lobby’s fabric in wall hangings/decorative pieces. It seems to hold up, but who knows in 20 years.
I made this mistake once. The very first quilt I started to make was made with fat quarters from a big name fabric and craft store and quilt store fabric. I cut everything up, sewed it together and when I went to piece the blocks, I was stopped in my tracks by how “off” they were. After looking at them for a long period of time, I could see the problem: the fabric from the big box store was just not the same quality. I was so angry that I threw most of it away and didn’t start a new quilt for a good six months! That was one mistake I’ll never make again! I know what I like and if I’m going to invest all that effort and time into a quilt, I want it to last. Now I only buy quilting fabric from certain producers. It may cost me more initially, but it’ll pay off in the long run!
When I started quilting some years ago, my older sister, who had quilted a long time, told me not to buy cheap fabric or use cheap thread. Her advice has held up. She said “If you are going to spend your time making something, be sure it is of good quality.” I have been given some other fabric, but usually I don’t use it an I pass it along.
I have added to her advice: Use good equipment, a great iron and good needles, which should be changed with each project.
I just love your comment that it is like baking bread! “Feel” is always important, and as a previous baker I understand that too well! I just finished a quilt where I had mixed good fabric fat quarters with some “not so good” fabric, it was a bear to work up and for the life of me couldn’t get seams to line up. I do worry about the life of it, however it was a quick put together I needed to get done.
I have learned quickly how important quilt store fabric can make a huge difference. I understand a lot of people feel it is expensive to buy the good quilter’s fabric, but if you keep an eye on things, you can find great discounts and clearance fabrics. If you do that, you can afford the fun stuff that you want when you want it!
Love reading your blogs!