Quilting Cottons and Sewing Clothes: Yes, You Can!
May 2022
Written by: Anne
You may have read somewhere that quilting cottons are only meant for quilts and NOT for sewing garments. You might have even made a garment as a newbie sewist out of quilting cotton and thought “ugh this isn’t what I was thinking”. This month, here at Bolt Fabric Boutique, we will be talking about and showing you ways to successfully incorporate quilting cottons into your wardrobe.
Why would you want to consider using a quilting cotton for a garment?
Quilting cottons come in a variety of fun prints and colors not often found in Apparel Cotton fabrics. Who doesn’t love a good cat print or rainbow geckos or parrots in sunglasses? Aside from a wacky print, there are also some lovely florals, geometrics, ginghams and dots that all come in a quilting weight.
They are 100% cotton, therefore a natural fiber and biodegradable at the end of their lifecycle. The vast majority of quilting cottons are printed with low toxic inks and are often certified as OEKO-TEX (free from 100 known toxic substances). Premium Quilting Cottons like those we stock at Bolt Fabric Boutique are manufactured primarily in Japan and South Korea in high tech factories. Labor practices are of a higher standard in those two countries than in other parts of the world where different types of textiles are made.
Easy to cut, sew and press, quilting cottons are great for beginners as well as experienced sewists who want an easy make. I would especially recommend them for kids learning to sew.
And lastly, price point. Quilting cottons are often in a more reasonable price range. It’s a little less scary to experiment with a new pattern without worrying about cutting into the “precious” stuff that costs more.
What else do you need to know about sewing clothes with quilting cottons?
The most important consideration in using quilting cottons for clothes is to consider carefully the pattern and how the final garment will fit and feel. Quilting cottons do have a structure to them although some of the premium quilting cotton brands now have a much softer feel than in previous years. Art Gallery, Ruby Star Society and Free Spirit are some of my favorite brands to use due to their softer, lighter feel.
The types of garments that work best made in a quilting cotton are more structured ones such as: button up shirts, boxy tops, pajamas, shift dresses, kid’s clothing, fitted dresses, gathered skirts, and some pants and shorts. I’ve made a tiered sundress in two different cottons and I think it works great.
Stop by the shop this month and check out the Shop Samples made by our staff using quilting cottons. We’ll also be posting on Instagram and in our weekly newsletter if you’re not local. You might just change your mind about using a quilting cotton for your next garment!
Leave a comment telling us about a garment you’ve made up in a Quilting Cotton.