Fabrics
- For best results use 100% cotton, quilt shop quality fabrics.
Specialty fabrics can be used for some design elements by stabilizing them with a iron-on woven interfacing.
- Lengthwise grain follows along the edge of the selvage of the fabric. There is less stretch on lengthwise grain so it’s usually the grain of choice when cutting borders for the outside edge of your quilt.
- Crosswise grain goes from selvedge to selvage. The majority of your template and rotary cutting will follow this grain line.
- The true bias of a fabric is a 45 degree angle from the lengthwise and crosswise grains. The natural stretchiness of bias strips make it the perfect direction of choice when cutting strips for binding to go around curved edges.
- Do I pre-wash my fabrics or not? This question is always a point of discussion among quilters. Whatever your decision, be sure that your project includes either all washed fabrics or all unwashed fabrics.