Can we talk about white fabric?
 

I have fallen in love with the color designs on white backgrounds, or the blocks made with white in them. They seem to float right on the quilt and I'm in awe of what that much white can do for a quilt.

When I go to quilt stores, there is so much white, some whiter than white, some patterned, some look as if they have been woven with a little silver and some a little gray. From dull white to bright white to sheet white, there are a lot of whites out there.

My questions are when using white, is it best to use a flat white or a lightly patterned white, and do the whites have to match? Like if a colored fab has a lot of white in it, I suppose you would try to match the white as close as possible, unless you are looking for a slight contrast, but to get that floaty look, they would have to match.

What whites do you have in your stash? Can you post pics? Do you ever do white on white?

I use a lot of white on white fabrics. I put them together often using different prints, all about the same. *white* but different prints help add movement just like adding different prints in colors adds movement. The pictures here on the board of my. 'Connecticut quilts' have different whites as background for the appliqued blocks

I use a lot of white-on-white. There's lots of variations with that too.

I personally like to use a white print when I use white fabrics. Especially in quilts that use a lot of white. I just like the look of it more. White solid just seems too flat to me. Then again, I don't really go for solids in any color. If I have a colored fabric with a lot of white in it I do try to match the whites as much as possible, but again I think it depends on what design you are working with. It is all about your personal preference. There is no wrong answer.

I use to use a lot of white tonals but when doing charity quilts (especially for boys) I find myself using more black because it makes the colors POP!!

When I buy white fabric for a quilt, I buy enough of the same fabric, but there's nothing that says you can't mix and match your white fabric in your quilt since there are so many choices. Have fun.

I like the white on white with a small design in it.

I use one of the Kona whites. And you're right, there are a lot of variations of white!

I stash Kona white (bright white) and Kona snow (off white); and also white-on-white designs (also bright white), and use them pretty much interchangably. I decide what works when I'm shopping my stash and piling up fabrics - usually either the bright-whites or the off-whites will look a little weird with the rest of the fabrics and I can tell which should be removed. And if either works, I use whichever one I have the most of!

I have one quilt that I made with different white-on-white fabrics. I taught a dresden plate class at the LQS so I had several different blocks that I made while the students were making theirs. I would buy another white-on-white each time so none of them match. But they turned out to be a nice quilt when I decided to put all those blocks together. Would you like to see it?

If there are large pieces of white I sometimes tend to use the same fabric throughout (though that's certainly not a rule) but if there are smaller pieces I like to mix different whites. I like having some that are very bright and others that are not.

I tend to prefer white on whites as I think there's more movement and interest in the fabric. Rarely do I use plain colored fabrics and using a plain white to me just looks odd or as if something is missing.

I buy Kona white by the bolt because I use a lot of white sashing and want it all to match and as you noted there can be lots of variation. That being said, however I do mix whites, ivories, creams and neutrals in piecing and like the results.

It depends on the quilt's design and the look you're after. I have white solids ranging from bright snow white to antique white to very off-white, as well as white on white prints that offer a little pattern and texture when you want a little bit more interest without being distracting. It's good to have this type of variety in your stash so you can experiment and learn what appeals to you and what doesn't.

Try not to overthink this; embrace the choices we're offered from the fabric manufacturers and play away!

I use mostly Kona snow or Kona white prepared for dyeing instead of a bright white.

I also love quilts with lots of white, and I love all kinds of white. When I've had colored fabrics with white, and need a white background or sashing, I take lots of time choosing the right white. I use the hue of the white in the printed fabric as a guide, but they don't have to match exactly. Recently I ended up choosing a white I liked best with my fabric, and then I had to go back for more, and they had a different white that was so much more beautiful with it, I practically swooned. So I bought that one instead. I think you should try different whites until you get that swoony feeling, and that is the right one.

I recently used a bright, pure tone on tone white for sashing with fabrics that had very soft off whites in them, which I thought was a no-no, and I was quite worried about it initially, but it was the only thing that set off the soft whites enough, and no quilt police came for me. :)

I've chosen both solid and tonal whites for sashing depending on the quilt. Solids work well with modern fabrics and patterns. I think whites also mix beautifully with each other, though I haven't yet made a quilt using more than one white fabric (if that's what you meant by white on white). Normally I choose my whites in person, or audition on-line fabrics (which can be costly), but once I ordered the whole amount of sashing fabric on line, and it was perfect. That was from The Fat Quarter Shop, and they have good color representation, in my experience.

What a beautiful quilt! I love it!!

Dina

I rarely use white in a quilt, but the dresden plate above is wonderful. However, I did make my nephew a a big pinwheel quilt and used tone-on-tone stark whites with different prints for half of the pinwheel. Not my cup of tea but he loved it. Now if I'm doing a pattern that calls for white, I usually use a soft white (or off white) and buy enough for the pattern

I like to use white on white for "newer" quilt patterns but will use solid white in more traditional patterns and applique. When shopping I think along the lines of light bulb purchases - cool white or warm white. I can not really pin point a way to describe it except how it feels to me.

I love quilts with white sashing and backgrounds. I use Kona White or Kona Snow depending on whether I want a true white or an off-white. Here is a scrap quilt I made with leftover fabric from ten other quilts.[ATTACH=CONFIG]478780[/ATTACH]

Love that!

I don't like solids, especially white, so I always use tone-on-tones. I love the look that they give....not quite a solid, just a little more interesting. And then I usually dye (Dylon, not Rit) the leftover 1/2 yard or whatever. The fabric takes the dye well, leaving the white pattern showing as white, and the fabrics are always gorgeous!!!!! Sort of like getting two fabrics for the price of one. (Dylon dye is available online, as well as at JoAnn, Michaels and Hobby Lobby...at least it is here in the Atlanta area.)

I buy Kona White a lot from Joann's. If I want something a little less bright, I believe the white I choose is the Kona made for dying. (I hope that doesn't come back to bite me in the butt in the future...)
I also keep my eyes on the remnant bin for white on white and other lights and neutrals. I love to mix them up in scrappy quilts so they have a more homey feel.

I love white on whites and use them often. They also help a quilt "pop." I usually buy several yards of the same design. (I like the curly, swirly designs). I really should start buying by the bolt!

I agree with several comments that it all depends on the pattern and project. I keep both white fabric and unbleached muslin on hand. I have a number of white on white prints that I really like and use often. Sometimes that little white on white just makes the difference between a good and a wow choice. In the end.... it is always what you feel best about.

I've found I prefere the tone-on-tone. More interest….

As I do mostly scrap quilts, if using white/beige in the quilt, I'll pull all those that are similar in color value if you can even say that about whites. So my quilts will have lots of variety in the texture/design of the fabrics used. Wasn't a fan of scrappy before till I tried one of Bonnie Hunter's patterns. Now that seems to be the only kind I do or I'll take a pattern and make it scrappy.

I use Kona white and Kona snow. I purchased some Bella Solid white as I would like to compare it to the Kona. So far, most of the white/white combos have not seemed as durable as the solids. IMHO And yes, I'm talking quilt store selection...not Walmart or Joanne's, although I shop there, too.

I use a mixture of white on white fabrics when making scrappy quilts. Sometimes I do not know what size the finished quilt will be so this takes away the problem with figuring out how much white yardage I will need at the beginning of the project. If I am running short I just add some new white on white fabrics.

I like to use white on white fabric, I like a little variety even for backgrounds, I have no problem using different white on white if I run out of one fabric, I think it adds more movement to my block/quilt.

Like ckcowl I like to use a lot of white on white or beige on beige fabrics when making quilts. I just like the way the quilt looks with the tone on tone white and beige fabrics. While I try to use the same fabric throughout the quilt, occasionally I run out of a white or beige tonal I will use another one that is similar, and don't worry about it. If I have to look closely at the fabric to see which tone on tone print it is, I don't think anyone else will probably notice. When I run across a good sale, I will buy 6-8 yards of a white or beige tone on tone, so it's readily available to me.

First quilt class I ever took, I bought a directional white on white print... I agonized over getting the settings straight (and printed side up - LOL0). She said nobody (not even the quilt police) would notice. She was right, even I can't tell anymore. I do make sure that I have enough of whatever white I am using when I start. I do tend toward bright white whites, but that is what works best with my tendency to stash bright clear colors. Ivory /beige just look muddy next to them. Take your non white fabrics with you and get enough of whatever white you choose off of the same bolt.

(and Vivian, you were right - it didn't matter. Thanks)

A little off topic but still pertaining to using white fabric..I want to make a white rag quilt, using cotton white-on-white small print fabric on both front and back. I'm thinking about using white flannel for batting too. Then I decided I'd like to try using my Bernina 180 machine to embroider flowers in some of the squares instead of sewing the usual X. What do you all think? Would this work? I should probably confess that I've had this machine for probably 12 or 13 years now and have never even tried to embroider..:( Is it possible to embroider through 3 layers of fabric? Am I biting off more than I can chew??

Some quilts just seem to need white in them, even then I use more than one white print. This plaid quilt has Civil War type prints in it and the soldier quilt have all sorts of white prints.
Sharon W. in Texas

Not to long afo I realized I didn't have any white fabric so I went shopping for nothing but white on white's, I now have 2yrds of 4 different whites. And haven't used even 1" yet lol YET!

The quilts are beautiful and see how they pop! You've all given some great advice, and I do think I like the tone on tone, plain white reminds me of sheets, but I suppose they will also have their use.

I tried to slip in a few pieces of white with the little quilt I'm making now, but I don't think it belongs. My next one will def have it though as I bought it intending to try my hand at using white.

I tried some white called Supreme solids, I don't know if I can say where I got it, but it was impossible to get all the wrinkles out of it.

My daughter, who is expecting her 1st in September, and I were at Hancock's yesterday trying to pick out nursery colors. She spotted the white-on-white fabrics and really liked several to go with her color choices of royal blue/rose.
The thing we noticed about the fabric, was that some of it seemed like the patterned part of the white was printed on, and didn't appear as it would be as durable as some of the others that appeared to have the pattern woven into the fabric. Has anyone had issues with this? I'm going to be making sheets from the white-on-white, and also have concerns about a baby lying on that type of fabric. Am I too over-protective????

I love using white and usually use all the same color white in a quilt. I love white on white and will be using that in my next quilt. I have seen some lovely quilts with different whites in them your quilts are your own and can be done with any fabric you like. Our different taste is what makes so many beautiful quilts.