Thin Fabric Solutions
 

Happy Friday everyone, I've got a question about fabric and durability. I am a new quilter, so answers that seem obvious to you are appreciated.

I am currently planning a scrappy trip around the world quilt using this guide by Bonnie Hunter: http://quiltville.blogspot.co.uk/200...und-world.html

I was at the thrift store the other day and found an 100% cotton shirt with a cool floral print with the colors that I plan to use in my quilt. I went ahead and bought the shirt with plans to cut it up, but am worried about durability. It isn't exactly gauzy, but it is a lighter weight cotton than quilting cotton. I want my quilts to withstand washing and love. I've never worked with interfacing, but could that be a solution? The fabric will to distributed in small squares over just part of the quilt, so maybe durability matters less than if I was planning on using the fabric in a large panel? What do you guys think?

I was always taught to buy the best quality fabric you can afford for a quilt. The problem with using something of a lesser quality is that that fabric will fail first possibly by shredding.

I've used iron on interfacing on some thin fabrics. These were fairly recent projects so I have no idea how they'll withstand the test of time.

I would think something made to be a shirt would have to be durable. It certainly would be washed more often than a quilt.

If one fabric is obviously flimsier than the rest of them, it will probably wear out first - and then there will be frayed or shredded areas.

It won't matter if the piece was large or small.

I've seen quilts where just one or two of the fabrics disintegrated - and the rest were still more or less intact.

When possible, I like to have all the fabrics in a top be about the same for quality because then I think all the fabrics will wear out at approximately the same rate.

There is no law that says one has to do this - just my personal preference.

For art projects that are for visual enjoyment - anything goes!

PS - some fabrics that seem " thin" are tightly woven and might outlast a coarsely woven bulkier fabric.

I would probably try the interfacing idea. Something thin like you'd use for a tshirt quilt.

I would try a light weight muslin (pre washed) instead of interfacing. But I would also pre wash all other fabric because of the repurposed fabric already being laundered.

This is probably what I would do as well. Make it a double layer of fabric...first the muslin and then on top of it the thinner fabric. I think it will probably work.