VMaterials & Tools
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 nightwear, it’s comforting and
cosy – and it washes well, so it’s ideal for
baby quilts and toys. It’s stretchy, so you’ll
need to keep an eye on it when stitching
to make sure it doesn’t lose its shape.
Denim is a popular patchworking and
quilting material, largely because old
jeans can easily be turned into a
hardwearing, attractive quilt (see page
144 for an example). Because denim can
be quite thick it’s best to stick to larger,
simpler shapes for patchwork, but the
variations in shades of blue usually
provide plenty of visual interest.
UTILITY FABRICS
‘Utility fabric’ is a broad term to describe
a range of materials that are commonly
used as backings. Calico and muslin are
most popular, although hessian and other
non-cotton materials can be used.
A loosely woven cream cotton fabric,
quilting muslin works well as a quilt
backing, and can easily be dyed to suit a
particular project. Calico is made from
undyed, unprocessed cotton and can have
a slightly uneven feel.
It’s worth noting that in the US,
‘muslin’ refers to what UK crafters would
more commonly know as calico. However,
in American quilting terms ‘calico’ refers
to a type of patterned fabric, so if you’re
following a pattern that specifically calls
for muslin or calico, check whether it’s a
British or American pattern.
Beginner’s Guide to Quilting 11Some fabrics are best prewashed before working
to check for shrinkage – turn to page 30 for our tips
on prewashing and checking for colour fastness