Quilt Fabric Notes

Move over Madonna, you are not the only material girl in the world!!!!!! Quilters are material girls too. However, our idea of material is a little different then yours.

Just mention a material sale and we are off and spending. Who can resist the newest fabric lines available in any quilt shop today? The colors are gorgeous, the designs are new and innovate. There are reproduction fabric, batiks, color gradations and hand dyed fabrics at our finger tips whether we shop at our local quilt shop, at a quilt show, from a catalog or over the interned. Yes, we material girls are very lucky----we have it all!!!!!

The preferred fabric for quilting is 100% cotton. It is very easy to work with. It drapes well and is forgiving when pressed. It needles well and with the wide range of colors it is hard to find a better choice. Always purchase first quality fabric. Train yourself to recognize quality when you see and feel it. Does it feel stiff? Is it loosely woven and stretchy? This may mean excess sizing and a lower thread count. Remember you will be investing too much of your time and energy in this quilt to use a low quality fabric. The latest technology in the textile industry is laser printed fabric. This new process opens up a whole new world of possibilities for color and design.

There are a few things to keep in mind when heading out on that shopping trip. First, take a quick inventory of your fabric stash. Do you have at least a few fabrics from each color family in your collection? Even if there is a color you don't like consider adding it anyway. It may be just the color your next project needs. For many years I had a hard time finding good yellow and golds. However in the last few years I have been able to find a better selection in that color family so I have been buying yellows whenever I have the chance. A little yellow can go a long way, but it can sure add sparkle to a quilt.

Next consider value. Do you have light, medium and dark in every color range? Do your reds range from the lightest pink to a deep dark burgundy? Be sure to add this contrast to your fabric collection.

Visual interest is the next thing to keep in mind when checking your inventory. Do you have a variety of fabric designs? You need plaids, large as well as small prints, geometrics, strips, checks and polka dots for a dash of excitement. Black and white strips and checks are a good investment. Lastly, add a few fabrics you don't like. You never know it might be just what you next project needs to give it a little lift. I was just reading an article about a quilter who buys one fabric she dislikes for every four she likes. By doing this she stretches her fabric world.

Now you come to the question, how much fabric shall I buy? The least amount I buy from a bolt cut is 1/3 yard. I buy fat quarters rather than 1/4 yards. (A fat quarter is a half of a half yard and will measure 18 by 22) The reason I buy fat quarters rather than 1/4 yards is that if it needs to be straightened you can lose much of your yardage when trimming. The most I buy when adding to my stash is 3 or 4 yards. I actually consider it a challenge to run out of a fabric because it forces me to be creative to make up for the short fall.

Yes, we material girls can be thankful for the variety of material available here in the United States. Not everyone in the world is that lucky. And you can bet if we just follow a few simple guidelines we will find our material world less chaotic and more fulfilling than that of the "other material girl."

Happy Stitching, Carol Hodgden