It may come as a surprise to some of you (but not all) that there are different quality fabrics. Not just that silk is obviously finer than cotton, but even within the realm of cottons all fabrics are not created equal. One distinguishing factor is the thread count.
Thread count is the number of fibers both horizontally and vertically in a square inch of the fabric. Obviously, the higher the count the stronger the fabric. But what does that mean to a quilter?
Primarily, it means your quilt will stand a better chance of withstanding time. Lower thread count fabrics will fray easier and stitches will lose their integrity rather quickly. Imagine spending all that time on a quilt, hoping to turn it into an heirloom for your new baby granddaughter, and it pulls apart before she's out of diapers. But that's only if the thread count is horrifically low.
Higher thread count cottons are just softer. And when you imagine that newborn skin, don't you want the softest materials rubbing up against it? That's why it's important to ensure higher quality cottons go into your quilt.
Another element to your cottons you want to look for is that the pattern is woven into the fabric and not simply stamped on in ink. If it's just a pattern stamped in ink, it runs the risk of smearing or washing away too easily.
There are many fine cottons that are imported, and are always an excellent place to start, especially for an heirloom quilt.
When quilting, it's important to take the time to choose quality fabrics lest you want all of your hard work and creativity lost before it really has the chance to be appreciated.
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