Best Fabric For Quilting (Your Ultimate Guide)
The beauty of quilting is that a quilt can be made from almost any material. A handmade quilt can be a work of art and using good quality fabric is a great way to help your quilt last a long time. I know trying to find the right fabric while shopping around fabric stores can be overwhelming. However, when it comes to fabric, some materials are just better than others. Some fabrics are warm and cozy, some are easier to work with, and others will stand up better over time. In this post, I am going to break down all the best quilting fabrics, so you can choose the best fabric for your next quilt!
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What is the best fabric for quilting?
Quilting Cotton
Quilting weight cottons are the gold standard for quilters and with good reason. It is 100% cotton fabric and weighs around 140gsm/4oz. It is structured, easy to work with, and cuts easily with a rotary cutter. The most common type of fabric you will find in your local quilt shop is quilter’s weight cotton. For that reason, it is the best place to start if you are making a quilt for the first time.
Quilter’s Linen
Quilter’s linen is another popular choice. It’s actually not linen at all, rather it is similar to regular quilting cotton in that it is a 100% cotton fabric with a printed texture that mimics linen. It is produced by Robert Kaufman.
Flannel + Brushed Cotton
Flannel is another 100% cotton fabric that is another great choice for quilts. A cotton flannel quilt fluffs up and is super warm and cozy, making it perfect for baby quilts and children’s quilts. If you prefer not to use flannel to construct your quilt top, it is a good choice for your quilt backing.
Essex Linen
Essex linen is a woven fabric that is a cotton and linen blend, usually around 45/55. It is a slightly heavier-weight fabric compared to a quilting cotton. Essex linen has a wonderful texture and can be a better option compared to traditional linen.
Linen
Linen fabrics are 100% natural fibers and are excellent for quilts since they become softer over time. This one is definitely in a higher price range. However, they are a heavier fabric and have a much looser weave, so they can be difficult to work with. Linen tends to unravel, so for best results, use a shorter stitch length and a more general seam allowance. This one may not be the best choice for a first quilt.
Voile
Voile is a very soft and lightweight fabric that is made up of 99-100% cotton. It is sheerer than standard quilting cotton. Voile also has a high thread count compared to quilting cotton so it has a more silky texture which can make sewing pieces of fabric together a little more difficult. If you are piecing quilt blocks using voile, just be sure to pin more than you usually do.
Wool
Wool fabric can be a little harder to find as it’s not typically stocked at your quilt shops, but still a great choice for quilters. It has minimal stretch and cuts well. However, wool can be a bit bulky to work with and is prone to shrinking so care should be taken when washing. You may want to consider pre-shrinking your materials before cutting and piecing. You can do this by washing it in warm water.
Home Decor Fabric
Heavier fabrics like home decor fabric are perfect for quilting projects that will become throw pillows or tote bags. These usually are a cotton or cotton blend and are less stiff and structured than quilting cotton, but they will stand up to more wear and use.
Knits
Knit fabrics are not a common fabric choice. They have a lot of stretch and can be tricky to work with, but not impossible. This is a common material used when making a memory quilt with old clothes like t-shirts. The trick to quilting with knits is to use good-quality interfacing. Pellon SF 101 is an excellent choice for adding structure to the knit fabric.
Textile Fiber Types
Fabrics can be made from many different materials, but they generally fall into two main categories: natural and synthetic. Natural fibers, like cotton, are ideal for quilting. Pure cotton holds up to high heat and is much softer, however, it can become damaged and broken down over time, especially if not cared for properly.
Whereas synthetic materials, like polyester, will last longer and are not prone to fading. However, they can be damaged with high heat and are not as soft as cotton fabrics. Some quilting materials, like a polyester and cotton blend, can be both versatile and durable. They are usually less expensive and less prone to shrinking.
Natural Fiber
Natural fibers can be broken down further based on their source. Some examples include:
- Cotton
- Linen
- Wool
- Silk
Synthetic
Some examples of man-made materials include:
- Rayon
- Nylon
- Polyester
- Spandex
What is Fabric Weight?
The weight of fabric is determined by weighing a standard-sized piece of material (typically 1 square yard or 1 square meter) and documenting the weight in either ounces or grams. Material weight is usually standardized in g/sq.m or oz/sq.yd. There are three main categories of fabric weights: lightweight fabrics, medium-weight fabrics, and heavyweight fabrics.
| Fabric Weight | Grams/Square Meter | Ounces/Square Yard | Fabric Examples |
| Light | 1-150 gsm | 0.3 oz – 5 oz | Linen, Cotton, Silk, Lace |
| Medium | 150-350 gsm | 5 oz – 12 oz | Velvet, Polyester, Nylon, Jersey |
| Heavy | 350 gsm+ | 12 oz+ | Canvas, Denim, Wool, Suede |
Cotton Fabric can be divided even further into three different weights.
| Cotton Fabric | Grams/Square Meter | Ounces/Square Yard |
| Cotton Lawn | 70-100 gsm | 2-3 oz |
| Cotton Poplin | 100-130 gsm | 3-4 oz |
| Quilter’s Cotton | 130 gsm+ | 4 oz+ |
Cotton Lawn is a very lightweight cotton with a loose weave and is slightly rough to the touch. Cotton Poplin is also lightweight cotton, but smoother and higher thread count than cotton lawn. While quilter’s cotton is light to medium-weight cotton with a lot of structure. It is easy to use and work with and is ideal for quilting.
Best Practices
It is generally best to use the same kind of fabric throughout the entire quilt top. Using different types of fabric in the same quilt is not impossible, but it can become complicated. It also makes carrying for and washing your quilt more difficult, as different fabrics have varying wash instructions.
Fabric Companies
The following fabric manufacturers are just a few of the companies that produce high-quality fabrics perfect for quilting.
Robert Kaufman
- Kona Cotton Solids are available in 365 colors. Weight: 4.35 oz. Likely the most commonly used fabric and easiest to find.
- Robert Kaufman’s Quilter’s Linen is available in 90 colors. Weight: 4.3 oz.
- Flannel is available in solids and prints. Available in both cotton and cotton blends. Heavier weights.
- Wide selection of Essex Linens. 55% Linen/45% Cotton. Weight: 5.6 oz.
- A limited selection of linens.
Art Gallery Fabrics
- Known for its Pure Solids fabric collection in 162 colors. 100% premium cotton. Weight: 3.7 oz. Very high quality fabric.
- Cotton Flannels in 61 prints and colors. Weight: 5 oz.
- Pride themselves on some of the best quality quilting fabrics
Moda Fabrics
- Bella Solids is 100% cotton and available in 291 solid colors. High-quality quilting weight cotton.
- Extensive line of prints in the same high-quality quilt fabric.
- Best known for their precut fabric collections: fat quarters, fat eighths, charm packs (5″ squares), mini charms (2.5″ squares), jelly roll (2.5″ fabric strips), honey buns (1.5″ strips), and layer cakes (10″ squares)… yum!
- Also, have a large collection of 100% Wool Fabric
- Ruby Star Society is a division of Moda, known for its vibrant and fun designs and bright colors.
Want more?
Find all of my favorite quilting notions here.
Get downloadable PDF quilt patterns here.
Get more quilting tutorial blog posts here.
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