Quilting cotton is everywhere. If you've been to any fabric store, you've definitely seen the racks and racks of colorful, patterned fabric known as quilting cotton. But if you're a beginner or even an experienced sewist, you might have wondered—can I use quilting cotton to make clothing? How does it compare to apparel cotton, and are there limits to its use in garment making?
In this post, we’ll explore the ins and outs of quilting cotton, its differences from apparel cotton, and how to make it work for your clothing projects.
What Is Quilt Fabric?
Quilt fabric is any type of fabric used in quilting, but it most commonly refers to high-quality, tightly woven cotton fabrics designed specifically for this purpose. Quilt fabric is typically soft, durable, and easy to work with, making it ideal for creating patchwork quilts, bedspreads, and other textile projects.
Related read: What is Jacquard Fabric?
Key Characteristics of Quilt Fabric
Material: Most quilt fabric is 100% cotton due to its breathability, softness, and durability. Cotton also absorbs dyes well, resulting in rich colors and patterns.
Thread Count: Quilting cotton generally has a thread count of around 60-80 per inch, giving it a sturdy yet soft feel that works well in patchwork, applique, and sewing projects.
Patterns and Colors: Quilt fabrics are available in a wide range of prints, colors, and patterns, often designed in coordinating collections. This diversity allows quilters to mix and match fabrics to achieve visually appealing designs. Check our Ginkgo leaf pattern.
Size: Quilting fabrics are usually sold in yardage or pre-cut bundles like "fat quarters" (18" x 22"), "jelly rolls," "charm packs," and other convenient cuts that allow for various design options without needing to buy large quantities of each fabric.
Other Fabrics for Quilting
While cotton is the most popular, other fabrics like linen, flannel, silk, and wool can be used for quilting, especially in specialized projects. However, these materials can be harder to work with and may require specific techniques to handle their unique textures and weaves.
In quilting, the fabric quality is crucial because it affects the durability, softness, and appearance of the finished quilt.
What is Quilting Cotton?
Quilting cotton is a 100% cotton fabric with a basic weave. Think of it as a sturdy, no-frills fabric. The weave is simple—over, under, over, under—both ways. This results in a fabric that is the same on both the front and back, without intricate patterns or textures in the weave itself.
Typically, quilting cotton is a medium-weight fabric with very little drape. It holds its shape well, especially after being washed, which makes it ideal for projects that need structure—like tote bags or, naturally, quilts. It comes in an endless variety of colors and prints, from solids to whimsical designs. If you want a fabric that’s playful, bold, or unique, quilting cotton is an obvious choice.
However, because it holds its shape so well, it doesn’t tend to flow or drape beautifully on the body like lighter fabrics. It sort of stands away from the shape of the body, which may lead to limitations when making certain types of clothing.
Watch Out for Off-Grain Prints
When choosing quilting cotton, be cautious with prints, particularly stripes or plaids. Sometimes fabric gets stretched during the printing process, causing stripes or patterns to go off-grain. If a printed fabric is off-grain, the stripes or patterns won’t align properly when you cut it correctly on the grain. If you're going to be picky about pattern or stripe alignment, this could become an issue. It’s challenging to correct, so keep an eye out for this when buying patterned quilting cotton.
Quilting Cotton vs. Apparel Cotton
While quilting cotton and apparel cotton can both be 100% cotton, there are some key differences between the two.
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Weight: Quilting cotton tends to be heavier and thicker, while apparel cotton can be much lighter. Think of fabrics like chambray or voile—these are apparel cotton that are much lighter and have more “give” than quilting cotton.
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Width: Quilting cotton is usually about 44 inches wide, while apparel cotton can be anywhere from 50 to 60 inches wide. This means you’ll often get less fabric per yard when buying quilting cotton compared to apparel fabrics.
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Drape: Quilting cotton holds its shape, while apparel cotton tends to drape or flow better along the body. If you're making something like a dress or top that needs to conform to body curves, apparel cotton will usually perform better.
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Wrinkling: Both quilting and apparel cotton wrinkle fairly easily. Cotton, by nature, is a fabric that shows wrinkles. While quilting cotton wrinkles faster and holding onto those wrinkles tightly, apparel cotton might still wrinkle, but it's usually a bit more forgiving.
- Appearance: The prints and patterns designed for quilting cotton lean toward smaller, repeated patterns because they’re designed to fit into quilt squares. When making garments, you might want a larger-scale print to suit the full dimension of your body. The small prints on quilting cotton can sometimes make a garment look “handmade” or less professional.
Can You Use Quilting Cotton to Make Clothing?
Yes! You can absolutely use quilting cotton for clothing projects. But whether you should depends on your preferences—and the type of garment you’re making.
Here’s what to consider:
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Look and Feel: Quilting cotton might make a garment look more “homemade,” especially since you don’t often see store-bought clothes made from it. If you're okay with that aesthetic and love the print—go for it!
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Casual Vibes: Quilting cotton is more casual. It’s a great option for fun, playful pieces, but it's not ideal if you're looking for something dressier due to its matte finish and lack of sheen.
- Scale of Print: The smaller-scale prints that are common in quilting cotton can look busy on a larger garment. If you want a more polished look, consider a fabric with a larger print.
How to Make Quilting Cotton Work for Clothing
If you’ve decided that quilting cotton is right for your project, there are a few things you can do to get the best results.
Prewash Before Sewing
Fabric shrinkage is real. Most quilters don’t prewash their fabric because quilts are washed after they’re finished. But if you're making clothing, this is a must. You don’t want your shirt or skirt shrinking after it’s made. Always wash and dry your quilting cotton before you cut and sew. Wash it on hot to get out all the shrinkage.
Use Lightweight Interfacing
For areas that need structure—like collars, waistbands, buttonholes, or pockets—use a lightweight interfacing. Quilting cotton by itself isn’t as soft and drapey as apparel fabrics, so adding interfacing helps those areas hold up better.
Press Your Seams Well
One of the benefits of 100% cotton fabrics is that they iron easily. Press every seam as you go, and your result will look smoother and more professional. A quick press can make a big difference in getting your finished garment to look polished.
What to Make with Quilting Cotton
There are plenty of garment options that work well with quilting cotton, especially if you embrace its structured nature. Here are some ideas:
- Pencil Skirts: The stiffness of quilting cotton holds crisp pleats and darts well, making it perfect for pencil skirts.
- Full Skirts: If you’re into gathered or pleated skirts, quilting cotton does wonders by holding the shape and giving your skirt a well-defined silhouette.
- Fit-and-Flare Dresses: Anything with a fitted bodice and flared skirt works beautifully with quilting cotton because the fabric helps define the shape.
- Button-Up Shirts: For both women’s and kids' shirts, quilting cotton offers just the right amount of sturdiness. You can have fun with quirky prints too!
- Pajamas: Pajama pants or tops in fun prints are a great, comfy option.
- Aprons: Since aprons benefit from a structured fabric, quilting cotton is a natural choice.
You can even use quilting cotton for pocket linings or as a fun inner lining for jackets. Get creative!
Wrapping It Up
Yes, you can use quilting cotton to make clothing—but whether you should depends on the project and your style preferences. While quilting cotton doesn’t drape like apparel cotton and tends to look more casual, it’s an affordable, widely available fabric that can be perfect for certain garments. Its stiffness makes it ideal for skirts, structured dresses, and button-up shirts. Just be sure to prewash, press your seams, and consider using lightweight interfacing.