Types of Premium Cotton for Quilting

A quilt can combine several kinds of cotton fabric. Choose them for their construction, handle and role in the design, as well as the colours you enjoy.

Solids, prints and tonal designs

Solids help show piecing and quilting lines. Prints can provide a focal point or a background, depending on scale and contrast. Tonal or textured prints can bridge the two. Look at a piece large enough to see the repeat rather than judging from one tiny crop.

Batiks and other finishes

Batik describes a wax-resist dyeing process; check the individual fabric's composition and handle. A printed fabric is not automatically softer or less durable, and the word batik does not itself guarantee a particular fibre.

Weight is not thread count

Fabric weight is mass per area, commonly grams per square metre (gsm). Thread count describes the number of threads in a stated measurement for a woven fabric. They are different properties. Consider the weave and feel alongside any quoted thread count when choosing for your quilt.

Mixing fabrics

Consider whether fabrics behave comfortably together when pieced, pressed and cared for. Test doubtful combinations. A familiar brand or collection name does not guarantee an exact colour match, identical weight or identical shrinkage across every range.

Precuts or fabric by the metre?

Precuts can suit a pattern written for their dimensions. Fabric sold by length gives more flexibility for borders, backing and motif placement. Check the pack count, usable width and selling unit before calculating your order.

Preparation and care

Follow reliable care information and your pattern's preparation advice. Test colour transfer or shrinkage on an offcut if concerned. Small precuts can fray or distort during washing, so do not give every fabric format the same treatment.

Browse our current fabric range and quilting precuts. Individual listings show the design, selling unit and current availability.