French country feel to it. Linen tends to fray
easily, so use a wider seam allowance than
normal –^3 / 8 in or ½in. It also creases easily so
you might prefer to reserve it for projects
that aren’t going to get folded too much.
Take care when ironing linen as it’s easy
to leave a shiny surface. Some linens are
densely woven while others are very loose,
so try to choose linens that are similar, if
using more than one. Machine sew and quilt
linen fabrics with needle sizes 70/10–80/12.
Hand quilt using needle sizes 7–12.
Felt
Craft felt and wool felt are not useful for
traditionally pieced quilts but are very
popular for small projects and appliqué.
Because felt is a bonded fabric, not a
woven one, it doesn’t fray which means
that the edges can be left cut and not
hemmed. Wool felt, which is made from
a mixture of wool and rayon, is softer
and more flexible than craft felt.
Flannel
Patchwork and quilting with flannel is
popular thanks to its soft, wool-like
nature, which creates super-cosy quilts.
For a different look, the seams used for
flannel can be on the outside of the work
and then snipped into to create a ragged
edge. Flannel is usually made with wool
but can be made from other fibres too,
including cotton and synthetics.
Hot wash flannels before you use them,
as they can shrink (although good quality
flannel will shrink less than cheaper types).
Using spray starch on the wrong side before
use will make them firmer to handle.
Flannels usually fray, so use a slightly wider
½in seam allowance.
Machine sew flannels using larger
needles – we recommend 80/12–100/16.
Using a walking foot in your machine will
help reduce flannel’s tendency to stretch.
If the flannel is quite thick, use a thinner
batting to compensate. Quilting can be
more difficult through flannel, so consider
tying your quilt instead, or hand quilting
with large stitches.
Synthetic Fabrics
Man-made fabrics, such as nylon, polyester,
acrylic, lurex and combination fabrics with
sparkly or metallic surfaces can be used in a
limited way in patchwork. Making a whole
quilt with these types of fabrics is not
usually practical as they’re normally quite
thin, they don’t crease well and the reaction
of some of them to repeated laundering
and ironing is unpredictable. Save them for
special effects, such as appliqué, and for
projects that will not need cleaning.Lightweight Fabrics
Lightweight fabrics you might like to try
include silk, satin and voile. Sheer fabrics,
such as organza and decorative lace, are
best saved for appliqué effects. Silk dupion
can be used for patchwork and quilting as
it’s easy to sew through, doesn’t stretch,
irons fairly well and comes in a good range
of colours. Satins have a lovely sheen but
are slippery to handle and prone to fraying.
Lightweight fabrics often fray more easily
than heavier woven textiles. To minimise
this, handle them carefully, avoid having cut
pieces lying around for a long time before
use, and increase your seam allowance to
around^3 / 8 in or ½in.
Large dressmaking pins can leave holes
in delicate fabrics, so try to use fine pins
when securing them. Back flimsy fabricswith lightweight fusible interfacing to
provide more body and make them easier
to work with.
Machine sew and quilt lightweight fabrics
with needle sizes 60/8–80/12. Hand quilt
using needle sizes 7–12. Match the batting
you plan to use with the fabrics – choosing
a thinner batting for thinner fabrics for a
light and drapey quilt.Heavyweight Fabrics
Heavyweight fabrics to try include denim,
wool and velvet, while thinner furnishing
fabrics can be useful for bag making. Avoid
using stretch denims. A thinner cotton
velveteen is easier to work with than a thick
velvet. Remember that because these
fabrics are heavier they won’t be as easy to
sew. Sewing heavier fabrics means using
stronger needles, so you’ll need to use
thicker machine needles, such as an 80/12,
90/14 or even 100/16 size. Press seams
open if you can, rather than to one side, to
avoid excessive bulk, and consider tying the
quilt layers together instead of quilting.Recycled fabrics
In the past, people couldn’t afford
to buy new fabric, so they’d turn to
recycled fabrics for their raw
materials. This ‘make do and mend’
philosophy has enjoyed
a revival in recent years, and more
crafters than ever are keen to recycle
and not waste materials. Recycling is
a great way to preserve heirloom
fabrics – precious pieces from the past
that bring wonderful memories of
times gone by. Why not turn old pieces
of clothing into a family memento?
The most useful fabrics to recycle are
linens and cottons, such as cotton
shirts. Thin, non-stretch denims are
handy for outdoor use, such as picnic
quilts and garden furniture throws. Bed
linen can also be used – old sheets are
great for quilt backing or cushion
backs. Avoid stretchy fabrics, such as
jersey or stretch knits, as they can be
tricky to sew. If you only have a small
amount of vintage fabric, use it to add
smaller accents or appliqué to a bigger
quilt design.
When making recycled quilts, choose
a simple design that will be easy to
piece. Make sure you wash all second-hand fabrics before use to check that
they are colour fast and won’t shrink.
When cutting fabrics, cut them out in
large pieces whenever you can,
discarding seams, collars and button
bands. Check the pieces carefully to see
if any have excessive wear or have been
stretched, such as elbows and knees.
Press all the cut fabric pieces and store
them flat if possible, ready for use.
Take care if you’re mixing vintage fabrics
with modern recycled fabrics, as the
older fabrics are likely to be weaker.