Thin fabric help
 

I am getting ready to hand quilt this top that has taken forever to hand piece. I love it and I'd like it to last a long time. Unfortunately, the Kaffe Fasset fabric I used as the blue center square is extremely thin. I'm afraid it won't hold up to a lot of hand quilting and then use through the years. Do you have any suggestions for how I can reinforce these center squares? Could I attach some kind of interfacing before I quilt it???

You can add some interfacing to those squares if you wish.

Can you put some interfacing behind it ? How about appliquéd on it using the wadding to hold it on.

I've never used interfacing before. Do I iron it on?

Hmm. What about big stitch with perle cotton in those sections?

I agree with what's already posted: iron-on lightweight interfacing and big stitches in those sections. Beautiful quilt.

I would think hand quilting through an interfacing would be very easy. Same thing for any kind of backing you might put on it to help it stand up to wear better. I think I'd just do some small stippling on it using a sewing machine and in the same color of thread as the block. The quilting will keep the fibers from moving around and the extra thread the quilting provides will help it wear better. I'm surprised the Kaffe fabric isn't a better quality considering the high price of it.

Joannes has a loose weave cotton fusible interfacing -- looks sort of like cheesecloth -- but it works well for quilting cottons and would be easier to hand quilt thru. Wish I could remember what the name of it is....guess you'll have to look for it by feel at the store.

Jan in VA

That's a Kaffe Fassett shot cotton - a high-quality fabric that you have there. It does indeed feel extremely soft, but should be no less durable than any of your other cotton fabrics. I found this note on a web site, regarding this fabric:

"The Indian-woven cotton stripes, below, come in regular and irregular width designs with the same rich colors. These fabrics are more loosely woven than traditional cotton fabrics which means that they ravel more easily; however, the looser weave gives them a smooth hand and makes them perfect for hand quilting. The book recommends washing and starching the fabric before cutting."

I made an entire quilt (2 actually) out of his shot cottons - no interfacing or other lining. They quilted beautifully (admittedly I was not hand quilting).

Thinner fabric can still be strong

I wouldn't worry about it. It will likely last just as long as the heavier fabrics.