The pretty prints beckon... the adorable colours call to you... sometimes their allure is just too strong to resist. Yes, we're talking quilting cottons.
Quilting cottons - or just "medium body weight cottons" - are fabrics often useful for house and accessories stitching. Think cushions, bags and, definitely, quilts. They come in a range of breathtaking styles and quirky prints, and - crucially - tend to feel rigid and hold their form, in the place of hanging lightly.This tightness puts numerous stitchers off utilizing quilting cottons for stitching clothes. Another approach, meanwhile, fully embraces this sort of material for apparel - a few of the larger quilting textile designers also create sewing patterns designed to be utilized in tandem with the cotton fiber. Personally we sit somewhere in between, thinking they may be able work amazingly well with a few projects, but could be disastrous for others.
So whenever will it be fine to make use of quilting cotton for sewing attire? Of course section of this comes down to individual choice, although instructions I often follow tend to be these:
1. Figure out how much drape or body your project needsQuilting cottons are apt to have quite a lot of human body to them, therefore will not cling or move over your curves. We learnt the hard way in my beginning of stitching that quilting cottons make very crisp tops that stay away from your human anatomy and merely look a bit odd. Whilst it don't work with my blouse, this particular aspect can be a valuable asset for several projects. My lobster Picnic Blanket Skirt, for instance, appears great in a quilting cotton (especially when it features lobsters on it!) whilst keeps the shape for the top really well. A-line skirts may also work very well within particular product while they contain the bold framework really.
2. Prevent jobs with sleeves
I am not saying it will never be done, but personally I would personallyn't sew sleeves in quilting cotton. Armholes and sleeves have to be flexible enough to allow you to move your hands and shoulders easily, and quilting cottons could make this annoyingly uncomfortable.
like ease of use 2591 in Joel Dewberry textile (preceding right). Beautiful!
3. Be practical as to what images it's likely you'll use
I need to admit I'm able to gladly spend hours playing an unconscious online game with myself of find-the-quirkiest-fabric-imaginable while searching on line fabric shops (see right for a number of my favourites). But before buying 3 metres of the squirrel print fabric, think about really whether you may put on a squirrel printing gown. In the event that you will, great! (I wear lobsters, which is demonstrably waaay much more classy.) But it is worth considering whether you had get more use out of a make up bag or cushion, including. You are able to appreciate a fabric and never having to wear it!
4. Give consideration to incorporating a lining
Incorporating a silky lining underneath the cotton enables the garment to glide over yourself more quickly. And yes it'll feel much nicer against your skin. Yes, it will require much more time, nonetheless it are worth it. Find out more about including a lining to a skirt.