Using broadcloth
 

In sorting through my quilting closet today I came across a bolt of white broadcloth that I had purchased many years ago when I was making porcelain dolls. Can this be used in quilting or will it be too heavy? Might it be another donation to the hospice thrift store? Opinions please. I also have a bolt of mint green cotton/polyester blend fabric. Do any of you use blends in your quilts? Pros/cons? Thanks.

I was always taught to use the highest quality of cotton fabric you could afford. I never used polyester batting or thread or fabric in a quilt. Polyester is stronger than cotton and there will be a war occurring in your quilt. Polyester will always win. For all those who love seeing the quilts on Antique Roadshow, there wasn't anything that I know of in those days made with Polyester. Just what I was taught.

For an 'heirloom' type quilt, no, I wouldn't use a blend. For a kid's drag around, sure. There are lots of folks on the board who use all kinds of fibers including poly. In the 70's quilts were made with double knit.
As far as donation quilts, check with the charity first. Some do have restrictions on fiber content, only new fabrics, etc.

I have backed with broadcloth with no problem.

The broadcloth will out last all cotton.

I've used it many times for binding. My mom always said the binding wares-out first so she used poly/cotton blends. I wouldn't use it for an heirloom quilt, but mine are just made to use.

It all boils down to use it if you like it.

Most broadcloth I've seen isn't too heavy. I'll use a blend if it suits my purpose. I'm not making heirloom quilts.

You didn't say? Is the broadcloth all cotton or a blend.

Most quilters cottons can be classified as broadcloth. That being said not all broadcloth is equal.

As for the blend ... I think it would depend on a number of things ... how high of a poly content? Does that fabric pill? Will it behave( actually crease and not melt) in the pressing process if matched with 100 percent cotton. Will it look notably thinner or thicker next to the other fabrics in the quilt? Back in the day , when I first started quilting ( pre - invention of the rotary cutter) , 100 percent cottons were not easy to find , and many many a quilt was made with blends. "back in the day" we liked them because they did not shrink, did not wrinkle like 100 percent cotton. Even sheets had poly in them as to reduce the wrinkling. If it preforms well in the wash ... but the merging/ironing in the piecing process is a problem... consider using it for a backing.

Quilting cotton IS broadcloth.

you don't mention if your broadcloth is cotton or a blend- seem some are 'assuming' it's a blend. I use cotton broadcloth in quilting all the time. if it's a poly blend it would still be ok to use -- holds up well- great for kids quilts that may be dragged around- laundered a lot. around here most of the solids we find are broadcloth- they are 100% cotton and work great in quilting projects. my 'Connecticut quilts' I have pics here on the board of {white, appliqued} have mostly broadcloth solids.

Polyesters and cotton fade differently. You can certainly mix them in a quilt. Just be aware that down the line (could be years later) the polyesters will retain their color whereas the cottons will fade. Most vintage quilts are all cotton, and the fabrics gently fade together so the result is a very soft overall look. One that has polyester in it will have patches of the original, bright colors.

I think the meaning of "broadcloth" may have changed over the years. When I look at colored solids for quilts (Moda Bella and Kona), they all seem to say they are "broadcloth". The white and off-white solids usually don't say they are broadcloth, and none of the print cotton fabrics say they are broadcloth either. I have Kona solid-colored navy and black on hand, both of which are "broadcloth" in their online descriptions, and they have a much meatier hand than my regular quilting cottons. My Kona snow, on the other hand, seems to be simply a high quality muslin. The Moda Bella solids I have gotten seem to have a hand similar to my other quilting cottons, but I think they are also described as "broadcloth". Very confusing.

The end of the bolt says it is 100% cotton but it feels heavier than the regular cotton that I buy for piecing. I bought this bolt about 15 or so years ago. I guess it is more like the Kona cotton I had gotten for a quilt I made last year. Guess I will hold on to it then and use it. Thanks for all the replies. I just love this forum. Spend too much time here some days. Seldom post though.