kjohnson0523

I really want to make some children's clothing and the cotton prints are very cute but now I have reservations about using them. I have been reading a lot about not using quilting cotton to sew clothing. Are there any particular reasons for not using quilting cotton for sewing clothing?
Thanks
Kim

bigsister63

I know of no reason why quilting fabric can not be used for clothing! The only issue that I see is that since it is 100% cotton then it may be wrinkled after washing and need to be ironed! UGH!!!! who likes to iron!

DebraK

I don't see why not. Just remove from the dryer immediately to avoid wrinkles.

Gladygirl

I wear blouses made from "quilting cotton" all the time ---you can't find the poly/cotton blend anymore that I used for years---I do a lot of ironing tho. Bounce Ironing Spray is wonderful for taking out wrinkles tho---one little spray and they are gone !!!!

auntpiggylpn

I make pajama sets for me from quilting cottons all the time! Can't beat the crazy novelty fabrics and some of the florals are just out of this world!! My LQS has some store samples of little girls dresses hanging in the store. I was in there one day and a lady came in that makes boutique childrens clothing on etsy.com and she bought lots of quilting cottons. (She gets $35-45 for a dress that wasn't fancy at all. It was the fabrics that drive her prices!)

bearisgray

That's what we used to 'live in' - feed, flour, and sugar sacks were made of cotton!

I'm still not sure why 'not suitable for children's clothing' is stamped on some selvages of smooth, woven cottons.

clsurz

Not trying to me mean or ugly here but that has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Many of us use all types of cotton for sewing and quilting. Cotton is one of the most manageable materials out there. I just make sure to prewash my cotton fabrics before sewing and/or quilting with it.

Yes, you can use quilting cotton as apparel fabric. The main thing to remember is that quilting cotton tends to be stiffer than apparel cotton. It isn’t particularly soft and has a stiff drape. It works best when made into structured garments. The fabric is sturdy and holds up through many washings. In general, quilting cotton makes very casual garments and is utterly adorable when made into simple little girl dresses. You’ll find that sewing with this fabric is incredibly easy. It’s easy to cut, doesn’t slip and slide, it holds a crease and irons nicely. See why it’s popular with quilters and sewers alike?

Whoever is passing that information on that you can't use quilting fabric to sew clothes with knows jack about fabrics IMHO.

Personally I can't wear clothing that has a blend in it and has to be 100% cotton and everyone around here that I know of uses what is coined I suppose as quilting cotton fabric to make clothes as well.

KalamaQuilts

from above: "I'm still not sure why 'not suitable for children's clothing' is stamped on some selvages of smooth, woven cottons."

They aren't fire retardant.

I made a couple sets of pillow cases from my stash and wasn't crazy about them. With lots of washing they have a tendency to look not so bright, and of course always need pressed (for me anyway)

I'm going to look for some kind of polycotton mix in the regular fabric stores next time I need something.

Daisy Kingdom pretty much based their marketing on how well their fabrics suited children's clothing.

LadyElisabeth

My clothes are made with 100% cotton, any kind. I always wash any fabric first before I use it.

clsurz

I also meant to say that I remove my cotton clothing from the dryer as soon as its done and hang it and smooth it down to prevent wrinkles.

Shoot I can remember my mother making our clothes out of those flour cotton sacks more than half a century ago and it wore well.