My daughter verified that it has become more difficult to find fabric other than 100% cotton in many of the quilt fabric shops and even the general fabric stores.

Nancy asks:  I want to do quilts with a poly cotton blend of fabric, not 100 percent cotton.  Where do I buy it from online stores?  I live in London, Ontario Canada.

Sandra commented:  All the fabric stores carry mostly all cotton. If they do carry a poly/cotton blend, the fabrics are not to my liking. Where can I go to get more diversity?

Does anyone have suggestions where to find online and other stores that tend to carry fabrics in additon to 100% cotton?

Post from: Blisstree

Finding Polyester Fabric for Quilts

Image: sxc.hu

The early quilters used mainly cotton, wool or linsey-woolsey fabrics because that’s what was available.  In the latter part of the 1900s, polyester and poly/cotton fabrics became available and were popular.  However, the traditional quilters looked with horror upon this new innovation and felt to be a “purist,” you must use solely cotton.

Many quilters still prefer cotton, so much so that it’s difficult to find in some quilt fabric stores, I’ve been told.  Others like a combination and still others prefer simply poly/cotton fabrics for their work.

Here are some comments I received:

Cyndi says: The more options, the better! Bring it on!  Seriously though, although I tend to prefer pure cotton (many of my fabrics are plain muslin that I paint or dye), I love variety. I agree with your assessment that cotton was used because that’s what was available. Now, however…

According to Gina: I made a quilt with the theme being the very beautiful colors that appear in the high desert behind the Sandias in New Mexico in the late summer and early fall. To find the colors I needed, I had to use synthetic blends. I think one should be free to use whatever is needed, but I would also say that some synthetics tend to fray more than the pure cotton. Watch out for some that also will not stand up to wear as well as neighboring pieces.

What has been your experience with various fabrics?  Do you have any preferences?

Post from: Blisstree

Cotton vs. Other Fabrics for Quilts

Of course, sales on yummy quilting cottons don’t help much either!

I’ve got a real problem and/or passion for quilting cotton – I swear it’s an addiction!  I see a bolt of freshly marked down cottony-loveliness and my palms start sweating.  Luckily, I do actually use many yards of the stuff a year

Post from: Blisstree

this isn’t helping my organizing

Fabric.com is carrying the prints & coordinates, click here to see the collection.

Post from: Blisstree

Olivia the Pig fabric