Using white fabric

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01-21-2010, 12:23 PM

#21

Oklahoma Suzie

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Join Date: Aug 2008

Location: Home town: Rehoboth, MA Now living in OK

Posts: 7,774

You can use what you want to use.

01-21-2010, 05:18 PM

#22

Moonpi

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Join Date: Mar 2007

Location: Central FL

Posts: 4,829

The only remotely realistic reason to avoid white would be because whites (and blacks) are hard to match up. If you put a dozen whites next to each other, there will be subtle differences. That is one of the reasons you need to be careful with home dyeing - plain white and optical whites take dyes differently.

Think of all those Baltimore Album quilts done on white backgrounds. By any chance, did the people who told you this work on commission? Plain fabrics are generally cheaper than high-priced blenders and such.

01-21-2010, 05:45 PM

#23

elizajo

Senior Member

Join Date: Nov 2008

Location: Louisiana

Posts: 317

Lay pieces of the other fabrics on top of a larger piece of true white, then try them on cream to test which looks best to your eye. Then go with your instincts.

01-21-2010, 05:56 PM

#24

BellaBoo

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Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: Front row

Posts: 14,646

One thing I learned about bright white fabric, the one stray bright red thread will find a way to get underneath the white fabric in a very noticeable spot.

01-21-2010, 06:05 PM

#25

sewjoyce

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Join Date: Oct 2007

Posts: 9,496

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBoo

One thing I learned about bright white fabric, the one stray bright red thread will find a way to get underneath the white fabric in a very noticeable spot.

Isn't there a law about that?? :lol: :lol: :lol:

01-21-2010, 06:22 PM

#26

Barb_MO

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Join Date: Nov 2009

Location: Missouri

Posts: 2,485

I've used white in lots of quilts. I've used white as my light color in log cabins. Only had one person comment that I should have used something different.

01-21-2010, 06:58 PM

#27

JanetM

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Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: At my LQS

Posts: 2,326

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bag Lady

I have been told by several quilters that white fabric should not be used in a quilt. I can not figure out why this would be so because it is a good blender. I am not talking about a bright white. I am making another Bento Box quilt and some of the fabrics have a little bit of white so I am using white as the light color and it looks fine to me. Does anyone have any answers to this.

I have never heard of this "rule" and have seen many black,white, and red quilts that are strikingly dramatic.

Also, as you can see by my avatar, the quilt I made for my Mom is done on a white on white background fabric, so if there is a "rule" I am the biggest offender LOL.

My personal opinion is to use any and all colors that you like. Quilting is an expressive art and shouldn't be subject to arbitrary rules. Have fun.

01-21-2010, 07:07 PM

#28

sewnsewer2

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Join Date: May 2008

Location: FL

Posts: 16,574

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewjoyce

Well, if it's a law that you can't use white in a quilt, I'm in BIG trouble!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'd say use the color(s) that you want....

Me too!! Hey Joyce, love the new avatar!

01-21-2010, 07:21 PM

#29

MadQuilter

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Join Date: Mar 2009

Posts: 15,639

Do you think this person had a bad experience and felt the need to "warn" you? It would have been nice had she given a reason.

I have used white, white on white, off-white, cream, linen....

The lighter colors show dirt more, any seams pressed toward the light show more, but that's the only thing I can think of. There is no "ghost of the white fabric" haunting the unsuspecting quilter.

BTW, Peroxide does take blood out of white fabric. I just tested that.