Then, off we'd go to the fabric shop.
There are so many talented people designing and producing so many beautiful fabrics; it is impossible to name them all. A few of my personal favorites: Moda, Kaffee Fassett, Tula Pink, Grunge, Amy Butler, Robert Kaufman. The list is a long one.
I will say from the outset, for me this is the hardest part of making a quilt, choosing my fabric. Just a couple days ago I spent over $100 on fabric for a baby quilt....got it home, then changed my mind! I decided on an entirely different pattern, which means different fabrics. (Not all was lost, the fabrics I bought have been re-assigned to finish other quilts-in-process. And the new pattern will be completed with fat quarters, pieces and scraps I already have.)
Sorry to say, I cannot help you choose just the right fabric for your project. But, here are a couple of tips for choosing "good" fabric.
*Learn to read the end of the bolt.
The fabric selvage also has helpful information. (The selvage is the tightly woven edge of a fabric. It prevents the side edges of the fabric from raveling or fraying. Don't use the selvage in your project!)
The Selvage will show the designer, name of fabric and a color code. I use to think this color code was used for coordinating fabrics. As in, choose other fabric colors that match this code. Actually it shows the order in which the color was added to this fabric. (Between you and me and the fence post, I do still use it to pick coordinating fabrics.)
One last word on selvages. Save them; at least until your project is finished. On more than one occasion I've run short of a particular fabric and had to hunt the internet to find more. It sure helps if you know the designer, fabric line and color. (Some creative people use them to make all manner of items, search Pinterest.)
*Get to know your local, independent fabric shops. Spend time browsing and chatting up the sales people. People who work in these shops are generally sewers of some type and probably LOVE fabric as much as you do. They usually have lots of displays and ideas (and classes!). They will help you audition fabrics for your project.
* Buy quality. I know some people will swear they buy "off brand" fabrics and never have any trouble with fading or shrinking...and I know other people who were really sorry. That door swings both ways. For me, I almost never buy fabric from a big-box store, unless it is for something like Christmas stockings or a project that will not be washed.
...that brings to mind the age-old question: "To wash, or not to wash..." your fabrics before use. Some people do and some people don't. I mostly don't when quilting, but I do when sewing garments.
To get to know fabrics, designers and local quilt shops, look for an organized shop-hop. Many areas have annual hops with prizes and give-aways.
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| This one is in Southern California Click HERE |
If you can't find an organized hop, make your own. My fellow quilter, The Other Charlotte, and I have done several, all on our own. One we did last year; we hopped from Spokane, WA down to Orange County, CA. Click HERE.
I hope I was able to give you some useful ideas about fabric.
Happy sewing to all, and to all a good day!
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