Some fabrics are best prewashed
before working to check for
shrinkage – turn to page 30 for our
tips on prewashing and checking for
colour fastnessbackings. It’s a good idea not to mix
cotton and polycotton fabrics when
you’re piecing, as they might wash
differently and cause seams to pucker if
one shrinks and the other doesn’t. This
problem can be prevented to some
extent if you prewash your fabrics before
cutting and sewing them.
Other woven fabrics
Apart from cotton and cotton blends, there
are other woven fabrics that you might want
to consider. Linen is made from flax and is
fairly durable, although it crumples very
easily. It can also be tricky to work with as it
can fray and slip around under a sewing
machine needle. That said, it ages very well,
becoming softer with washing, so you
might want to consider it for something like
a child’s quilt. Linen/cotton blends are
popular with quilters, as they look (and feel)
like linen but are easier to work with.
Not to be confused with the towel-like
flannel you’d find in the bathroom, flannel- or flannelette – is a soft, brushed cotton.
Often used to make bed sheets and De
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