Question about hand stitching fabric from Spoonflower
 

I have some fabric I purchased from Spoonflower and I'm having a very difficult time stitching it by hand. The cotton fabric is "stiff" and unlike regular quilt shop fabric. I'm using size a size 11 John James Sharps needle but it does not like to go through this fabric. This is their basic cotton fabric but I've tried the next better fabric and I didn't see any difference. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

I agree that both of their cottons are stiff. Have you prewashed it? Maybe that will help?
Good luck!

I too, found their fabric to be stiff.

It's probably the printing method that they use that makes the fabric stiff.

I do like some of their prints but have been surprised by the feel of their fabrics, especially since they cost about 50% more than quilt shop fabrics.

I second the recommendation of washing it. I bought some a few years ago and it softened a bit after washing.

when I ordered some, directions came separately from the fabric package explaining how to wash the fabric before using... I think it was by email.

I got the impression that their fabrics were more like upholstery types. I could be wrong though.

I have never used that fabric but I think you might wash it before using it.

I agree with all the above and I will not order from them again

Many fabrics are treated with heavy sizing at the manufacturer. Pre washing helps a great deal with these fabrics. Wash and press before you cut and sewing will be so much easier. I don't pre-wash everything but I do wash fabrics with heavy sizing or fabrics that feel like they have no sizing. Even so there is a risk, as I recently found out, that goes with not pre-washing.

They have all kinds of fabrics. I got a little book of their fabric swatches a couple of years ago, here's what's included:

Basic combed cotton ultra
Kona cotton quilting weight
cotton poplin
cotton sateen
silke faille
cotton interlock knit
heavy cotton twill
performance knit (100% polyester)
cotton voile
silk crepe de chine (100% silk)
cotton silk (55% cotton 45% silk)
linen-cotton canvas (55% linen 45% cotton)

I think they've added a couple fabrics since then.

I have never ordered anything from them. The suggestions to prewash seem reasonable to me.

I just got done washing up some red fabric that was so stiff, I didn't think I would get it softened up, but I did.

If you can, hand wash the fabric in hot water, put laundry detergent in the water, splash it until it gets some good suds, then dunk the fabric in and let it sit and soak for about thirty minutes. Give it a good rinse, then soak it again in hot water and laundry detergent, give it a good rinse and then put it in a final bath of warm water and fabric softener and let it soak for at least an hour. Wring it out and hang it up to dry.

I only suggest hand washing because when I prewash fabric, I always do it by hand so I can actually monitor for color bleeding. If you're more comfortable using the washing machine, by all means, do it, just kill the cycle when the tub is about half full and let it soak.

I think the difference is that those other companies are making large quantities of fabrics and can use different methods of printing than small batch companies can. I don't believe its the fabric. It's the printing process that makes the difference.