Fabrics perfect for quilting

Quilters have traditionally relied on cotton for quilting, normally a high quality 100% cotton fabric. Depending on your item, you may want to use other quilting fabrics too, but you should match the weight and/or thickness of these fabrics to that of your cotton to avoid stretching and fraying, which will spoil the integrity of your quilt. It's a good idea to pre-wash fabrics before quilting, in case of shrinkage or bleeding of colours.

Standard quilts feature three fabric layers - the quilt top (the design), the batting and wadding (or the 'substance' of the quilt) and the backing fabric (the bottom, final layer of the quilt). If you wish, you can buy your pre-cut quilting fabrics.

In terms of style, choose colours and patterns of fabrics that complement each other rather than clash. For example, if you select a large-scale floral fabric as the focal point of your quilt, you should pair it with two or three smaller print fabrics that don't compete for visual attention. If your quilt has a border - like a blanket or rug - plain blocks may be offset by a floral or checked border or, if your quilt is quite colourful and busy, you may prefer to go for a simple border in the one colour.

Quilting for beginners

There is so much you can do with quilting but we recommend you start with a small project to build your confidence. Similarly, choose a design that is simple - for example, with straight squares and lines - so you're not biting off more than you can chew.

Some of the tools you will need include quilting rulers, tape measure, fabric pencils or markers, rotary cutter, fabric scissors, craft scissors, snips, seam ripper, iron, pressing cloth, pins and quilter's safety pins, and binding clips. A special sewing machine for quilting is also desirable.

We've got some great quilting and patchwork projects that you might like to try to kick off your quilting adventures.

Find the right quilting supplies at Spotlight

Ready to purchase? You can click through quilting supplies on our website and buy online. However, we encourage you to take a look at our guides on choosing quilting fabric and choosing quilting tools first, so you can make your purchasing choices with confidence.

Alternatively, head into a Spotlight store to check out the complete range and speak with one of our friendly customer service team who'll be happy to answer your questions.