Qualities of the Best Quilting Fabric
To begin with, quilt fabric requirements and raw materials are the questions most quilt users ask themselves. A good number of quilters prefer 100% cotton because natural fibers have a less complicated procedure when the quilters are working; they are easy to quilt, sew and press. The other important thing is the thread count. Normally, the lower thread counts wear out and fray easily as compared to fabrics having high qualities. The most excellent count should be between 68 and 78. This gives quilters a more durable and thicker quilting fabric that rarely tears, wears out and is shrink- resistant as well.
The other important aspect of the quit fabric requirements is the fabric’s grain. People weave fabrics using two directions; crosswise and lengthwise. Good quality quilting fabric is always straight along all directions, creating wonderful right angles where they usually cross. The print lying on the grain must be appropriately aligned with the grain too. If you do not do this, you might find yourself cutting to match the print rather than matching the grain; the outcome will only be a weak and a distorted pattern.
Of the numerous quilt fabric requirements, a little testing goes a long way in determining a good quality quilting fabric. This also ensures you that you have a material worthy of the price you paid for it. A number of manufacturers normally try to boost a low quality material by mixing chemicals. Does the fabric you are planning to buy have a strong smell? Powerful smells might be a sign of sizing or bleach, which several manufacturers incorporate to strengthen and thicken the material. Regrettably, such chemicals normally wash out right away, leaving you with a product that is of low quality. Such chemicals are qualities of bad fabrics; therefore, you need to avoid them.
Does the fabric leave color prints on your fingers? If this is the case, there is a high probability that the fabric is not colorfast – and this is not good. The best quilting fabric always seals colors in the material. In any case, there is no use of such attractive patterns and colors if they will end up fading with their first wash.
The other option of ensuring that a quilt fabric has good qualities is by unrolling the bolt so that you can look clearly at the colors and prints. The consistency of the fabric is also among the important quilt fabric requirements to consider. Is the design overlapping in some areas? Is the color of the material fading in parts? If the answer to the above is yes, then your quilt will likely be ruined.
So, is there any relevance in struggling to look for good quilting fabric- particularly if you can get a similar and cheaper print at the discount store? Is not this sufficient?
A precise answer is: no. when you plan to create something that is attractive and complex as a masterpiece quilt, this is not the right time for skimping. Additionally, when picking on a fabric, what you pay for is what you get. Although the store may have similar prints, there is a high possibility that it was printed using a low quality fabric. Therefore, you need to take time when looking for good quality quilt fabrics. After that, you will decide to pick on the fabric that has achieved the desired quilt fabric requirements and you can select amazing patterns and prints that you found attractive as you were entering the store (they will certainly last forever).
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