Using dress fabrics for quilting
10-03-2010, 04:08 AM
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada
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Hi, Just getting back into this. I have seen quilts of course in cottons, denim, flannel, and did a couple tiny flannel ones for my kids years and years ago, and since then have sewn a lot but not quilted. What I'm wondering...I have boxes and boxes of light and medium-weight "dressy" fabrics that I just love, in a multitude of colours. Any tips/cautions on using these in a quilt?
10-03-2010, 04:11 AM
#3
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Illinois
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Some of the "frilly" fabrics don't wear well in quilts. If they're thin or stretchy make sure you use the appropriate wieght and type of stabilizer. Oh, and ALWAYS remember that you're only limited by your imagination. Try it and see what you can come up with. Not all patterns translate well into other fabrics---if it's a big quilt stick to simple, if it's a wall hanging there're no limits or rules do what you want.
10-03-2010, 04:16 AM
#4
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
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You can use any fabric, however, here are some things to watch out for:
- excess fraying - (a lot of the dressy fabrics do) use a larger seam allowance or use a serger to seam and overcast the edges. also consider quilting it by stitching down the seam allowances to prevent further fraying.
- deal with washability issues ahead of time by prewashing all fabrics. this way you get the shrinking done and you can see how the fabric reacts to water and drying (some dressy fabrics look horrible after water hits them!)
Otherwise...go for it.
- excess fraying - (a lot of the dressy fabrics do) use a larger seam allowance or use a serger to seam and overcast the edges. also consider quilting it by stitching down the seam allowances to prevent further fraying.
- deal with washability issues ahead of time by prewashing all fabrics. this way you get the shrinking done and you can see how the fabric reacts to water and drying (some dressy fabrics look horrible after water hits them!)
Otherwise...go for it.
10-03-2010, 04:16 AM
#5
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Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada
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Originally Posted by raptureready
Some of the "frilly" fabrics don't wear well in quilts. If they're thin or stretchy make sure you use the appropriate wieght and type of stabilizer. Oh, and ALWAYS remember that you're only limited by your imagination. Try it and see what you can come up with. Not all patterns translate well into other fabrics---if it's a big quilt stick to simple, if it's a wall hanging there're no limits or rules do what you want.
10-03-2010, 04:29 AM
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 5,142
Originally Posted by neeng
Originally Posted by raptureready
Some of the "frilly" fabrics don't wear well in quilts. If they're thin or stretchy make sure you use the appropriate wieght and type of stabilizer. Oh, and ALWAYS remember that you're only limited by your imagination. Try it and see what you can come up with. Not all patterns translate well into other fabrics---if it's a big quilt stick to simple, if it's a wall hanging there're no limits or rules do what you want.
:lol: :lol: I have no idea, I hate using stabilizer so I avoid things that need it. However, I do know that you would need some type of it.
10-03-2010, 04:36 AM
#9
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,453
Originally Posted by neeng
Originally Posted by raptureready
Some of the "frilly" fabrics don't wear well in quilts. If they're thin or stretchy make sure you use the appropriate wieght and type of stabilizer. Oh, and ALWAYS remember that you're only limited by your imagination. Try it and see what you can come up with. Not all patterns translate well into other fabrics---if it's a big quilt stick to simple, if it's a wall hanging there're no limits or rules do what you want.
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