Comments on: Pick the Right Fabric – Some Advice

By: Nikki

Nikki — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:43:41 +0000

Unfortunately, most of the time I cannot afford fabric that is 8.50/yard and up plus $10 shipping, as much as I love the fabric. Not hating, it just doesn’t fit into my budget. And that 1.99 fabric at fabric.com- are you kidding me? Would YOU buy that garbage? And since Fabric Mart shipped my order to my old, out of state address despite my account with them and my credit card all having the correct one, they won’t be getting my money. Some of us are of a lower socioeconomic level but would still like to sew.

By: Mardel

Mardel — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:47:51 +0000

I suppose I have to modify my previous comment. It apparently depends on one’s definition of quilting cotton, as I use Kaffe Fassett cottons, which are sold as quilting cottons, although they are thinner and finer than most, for blouses. I particularly love their bright colors mixed with tweed and/or denim.

By: Mardel

Mardel — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:22:18 +0000

Great information about which I agree wholeheartedly. I did use quilting cottons when I was young and naive, and have still used them for toddler clothes and children’s pajamas, where the child picks the print. I have also been known to pick up cheap quilting cotton at Joann Fabrics for muslins usually when I happen to be out of real muslin, although a few of those muslins turned out so nice I wore the garment.

I understand Bunny’s comment about the print sucking us in though. I am using some quilting cotton for aprons, where it is okay if they wear and fade, and it allows me to indulge in a few brighter prints that I would probably wear in a garment.

One aside. Some years back I had a couple of holographic swimsuits made by Speedo. They held up fabulously well, and they didn’t fade or flake or anything like that. If I could find stretch holographic material of that quality I would go for it in an instant.

By: Bunny

Bunny — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:48:52 +0000

Great info on the fabric choices, Phyllis. I am in total agreement on the quilting cottons. I do use them sometimes in toddler’s clothing and an occasional heavily interfaced bag, but wouldn’t think of dressing myself in them. I have purchased great garment fabric for as little as a dollar a yard so it is out there with hunting and luck. I do think one of the issues of almost any vivid print, cotton or charmeuse, is that it is very seductive. Those lively prints suck us right in. Doesn’t mean they make a great garment. Just means they suck us in.

By: Mickie

Mickie — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:56:53 +0000

On the topic of the swimsuits made in material “other” than swimsuit material,, might I add, that if you try to swim in a suit made out of one of these types of fabrics,, a little more may show than you want,, my neice kept insisting that what she was wearing was fine for swimming,, although it looked like a dance/workout suit,,(no lining) fortunatley we were at a lake, and she was able to “hide” till we got her bathing suit to her,,

By: Kai Jones

Kai Jones — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:27:27 +0000

But how do I tell whether a bolt is quilting cotton or fashion fabric, other than the silk section, “wedding” section, and wools section?

By: Summerset

Summerset — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:52:18 +0000

You can ditto what you said about silk dupioni for satin. This fabric is just not forgiving for anything fitted below the waist.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:08:09 +0000

I agree in regards to the quilting cotton. I make some fun little novelty shirts for my nephews who WANT skeletons and sharks on their clothes, but when sewing for myself I don’t use it. With the exception of two A-line skirts that I really wanted to have a lot of body, so in that regard I agree with Karla.

The cottons that I use for my nephews still runs between 7 and 9 dollars a yard for the good quality stuff, and at only 45 inches wide I have to buy more than I would otherwise. I find there to be no savings in using quilting cotton for garments and if I could talk those two little buggers into wearing shirts from a great cotton shirting I could save a ton of money. Of course, stripes or (the horror) solids are not NEARLY as exciting as dancing skeletons.

By: Elaray

Elaray — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:20:15 +0000

Most of the blunders I make are due to wrong fabric choices. Thanks for the information.

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:10:12 +0000

Regarding your comments about dupioni as a pencil skirt or jacket fabric, I made both out of good quality dupioni for my wedding 20 years ago – cobalt blue double-breasted YSL jacket and magenta pencil skirt. Jacket was lined, skirt was underlined and they both looked fabulous the whole evening – no wrinkles at all in jacket (which I still wear from time to time), a few minor wrinkles in the skirt but no more than I’ve seen in many pencil skirt.