While I love the drama that black fabric brings to a quilt, I've been avoiding it for a couple of reasons:

1. black typically fades fast and badly-- i.e., you don't knowif you'll end up with a red-black, a green-black or a charcoal-black, etc...

2. black is a magnet for dust and pet hair and sewing thread and anything else that happens to be around.

What are your experiences and thoughts about the best use and care of black-based quilts?

Never had a problem if it is good quality black fabric. The quilts I have made are usually applique and I don't have plans to wash them that often.

I use black in many of my quilts. So far, I have not had a problem. I try to buy good quality fabric so it shouldn't fade. I intend on keep using it. I think it is very dramatic in a quilt.

I used it once for sashing and a narrow border. I'm also a dedicated pre-washer of fabric and YES it's a magnet for all of the above. The quilt now resides in England and I only got to visit it once since I sent it over. It was well and good at that time (about 1 year after it's receipt), of course I have no idea how many times she washed it.

I didn't have any problem with the initial "fade" though. It was just as black coming out of the wash as it was going in. I had even used a dye catcher and I know the catcher wasn't darker.

I love to use black Kona in a quilt. I think it enhances it and really makes any other color "POP"

The key here is to buy GOOD quality. Ask me how I know! :roll: :roll:

Hate black material---nuf said!

I avoid black but only b/c of all my cats, and 2 of them are pure white lol

I've used black a couple times. Working with Warm & Nautral cotton batting, I really had a problem with the fuzz on the black. But once it was finished and washed it was ok.
I'm not sure what brand is a good black, I used Robert Kaufman.

I use a lot of black fabric, a LOT. I prewash it with Retayne, and when the quilts are done I wash them in cold water, using half the amount of detergent the label calls for, and use a detergent without optical brighteners (like Cheer Dark formula). They don't fade.

Dust shakes off; I don't have threads all over the house, just in the studio where there are no finished quilts; and my cats are black. No problems there. :D

If I really have to use black ( not a fan) I use a ploy cotton blend, it holds color better than the best 100 percent cotton , Yup I know this is not a popular choice, but it is theonly way to get the longest life from a black fabric.
The pet hair is another issue... thats one of the reasons I do not use much black, everyone I know has a dog. So unless its going on the wall, I rarely use it for a bed quilt.

Maywood Studios Black Magic will NOT fade or bleed. As for cats, well, pet owners wear black clothes. And black and grey cats lie ton white/light quilts. What's the difference?

thanks for all the great responses. So it sounds like Kona and Maywood Studios may have the best quality black AND that I should not exclude the idea of a poly-cotton blend... mmm... thanks so much everyone.

I use black. I like black. I'm making a quilt for my husband that has a completely solid black background with applique on it. If it fades, it fades. Stuff fades, it won't stay perfect forever...but it will be well loved, even if the black isn't true black anymore.

I have used a solid black that Keepsake Quilting used to call Amish black. I don't know if they still carry it, but it was excellent and did not fade. Lately with so much black in muted patterns and batik, I haven't used a solid black. They still have it. Just search for Amish Black. It's $6 a yard.

I use Micheal Miller JET black and it has never faded, even in the sun...I tested a piece before I bought the whole bolt...the Kona faded and turned purple...

I love this product!

This is what I've been using with great results. It has a really deep rich velvet-y look.

there is supposed to be a NEW double dyed black, but I have not found it yet, not even at my distributors!

Phew! Good (or not) to hear about the Kona. I almost JUST purchased a solid Kona black jelly roll that was on sale. Decided against it at the last minute. Thanks for this intel.

i usually get a black with very small prints in it...i use it a lot and never had any problem

I made an absolutely wild (and definitely not award winning) quilt with all the techniques I wanted to try and leftover fabric. I used black for the backing and bring it out for soccer games and picnics to toss on the ground. It never looks dirty and it has washed well.

Rinse the black fabric in clear water with vinegar added. The vinegar sets the dye.

I had to prepare for a tee shirt quilting class this past Saturday. We were told to rinse all of our FQ's til water was clear. Mine were fine, no fading 'til I got to the 2 1/2 yards that I plan to use for border; a light black. It kept fading and fading into the water.

Then I remembered from way back in the '60's when madras plaids were big. Instructions were to soak it in vinegar water before washing! Now why didn't I think of that sooner?? So I added about 1/3 cup of white vinegar to a pail full of rinse water and swished my black fabric in it over and over just waiting for the dye to make its de'but but hey, it came out clear!!

I have used the Kona cottons black with good results. Also, I believe it;s Keepsake Quilting that has the Amish black, which is a very good, true black. I use a lot of brights and autumn colors, so I love to use black to make those colors "pop" in my quilts.

Tudey the quilt in your avatar is beautifal.
I live to use black. I"ve not had any problems with.
And I have black dogs so I don't worry about that. It ads warmth and character to the quilt. :thumbup:

Gee, thanks! I have mentioned it before, but that was a HUGE project. 63 different blocks and when I quilted it, I didn't do an all over pattern, I chose to go block by block to try to detail each block on its own merit. Between the piecing and the quilting, it took the better part of 6 months! But my niece loves it. I think it's the best one I ever made.

Good to know that the Michael Miller black does not fade.

It does, however, shrink a LOT - up to three inches in width - although it seemed to maintain the length.

I really do love some black in the right quilt but I find black so hard to see when sewing. I will probably continue to use some black, at times and for the right quilts. I use Kona Solid and hoping it will not fade easily, over time.

I love black in quilts,,,,,,,,,, as you can see LOL

I use black quite a bit, love, love, love Michael Miller.

Has anyone used black muslin? I bought a bolt of 108" black muslin the other day and used a 50% off coupon on it. Now I am afraid to use it. I sure don't want it to fade. Maybe if I washed one quilt back at a time with retain it will work out fine. What ya'll think?

Depends on the muslin - not all muslins are created equally.

I had a phobia about black fabric. I was afraid to use it. Over the past 6 months I have delved into using it alot. It makes things pop.