Clothes I’ve Made with Quilting Cotton and What Worked 

Have you wondered about making clothes with quilting cotton? Well, if you’ve ever seen the quilting section of the fabric store, it’s bursting with pretty colors and patterns.

But what kind of clothes can you make? And what is the difference between that and apparel cotton?

I’ll discuss the fabric characteristics, review the types of clothes I’ve made with it, and share what worked and didn’t. That might help you decide if or how you want to use it for your fashion sewing needs.

Why Sew with Quilting Cotton

If you’re like me, you love sewing with woven cotton. It’s easy to work with, especially for beginner sewing.

It’s a medium-weight fabric and doesn’t stretch. So, it’s easy to cut, press, construct, and sew.

Although I don’t make quilts, I have made many things from quilting cotton. It has many uses in the sewing and crafting world.

First off, it comes in so many pretty designs. Don’t you just love all those fun colors?

Second, you can make endless handmade items such as cloth napkins, tote bags, dolls, accessories… and clothes.  

Wait… Before you run out and buy bolts to create a wardrobe, let’s talk about it.

Quilting Cotton vs Apparel Cotton

Well, you can technically make clothes out of any material. Just look at the stuff coming down the runways.

Upcycled plastic bags. Leaves. Christmas tree lights, to name a few.

However, you probably want to know if the clothes will be functional and look good. Or if there’s a difference between all the cottons you see in the fabric store.

Well, let’s start by feeling the texture of quilting cotton and apparel cotton. You might already have them in your house. 

If not, the next time you visit the fabric store, find the quilting section and feel the fabrics. You might also find broadcloth, which is used for quilting.

Now, compare this bolt to, let’s say, poplin or shirting cotton in the apparel fabrics section (or in your closet). What do you think?

Notice that quilting cotton, or broadcloth, feels thicker. It’s stiffer and may not drape well for fashion sewing.

You’ll find that poplin or shirting fabrics have a lighter weight and feel smoother. They’re not as stiff and feel more flexible, right?  

If you wanted to make a cute blouse, which would you choose? Well, it depends.

Clothes I’ve Made with Quilting Cotton

If you make garments from sewing patterns, always look at the suggested fabrics to determine which to use. Some patterns may say laundered cottons, and quilting cottons might be used.

Let’s review the kinds of clothes I’ve made with this fabric. From my experience, apparel fabric works better for some types of clothing.

1. Mockups

For mockups, I usually use muslin, or a cheap fabric similar to the fabric I will use for my final project. Sometimes, I find very low-priced quilting cotton. 

So, I’ll use it to make mockups and experiment with them. I’ve used old bedsheets for this as well.

If you come across seasonal cottons marked down very low, you can always buy some to make mockups.

2. Skirts 

Ahhh… How I love skirts! I have made summer skirts using quilting cotton, especially gathered skirts and ones with elastic waistbands. 

The fabric will breathe just fine for summer. Plus, you can get all sorts of cute prints. 

The sewing pattern I used for this cotton skirt calls for some structure. So, broadcloth or quilting cotton would work.

Just remember cotton wrinkles, so that’s to be expected. But, after ironing, I’m pleasantly surprised that my cotton skirts don’t wrinkle as much as I thought they would.

I also line my cotton skirts with a soft polyester/cotton blend fabric. It’s very lightweight, and the fabrics don’t stick together.  

If the skirt is meant to flow, the sewing pattern may suggest using fabrics such as rayon or silkies. In this case, you may want to stick to apparel fabric for the drape.  

3. Dresses

Summer dresses, just like skirts, can be made with quilting cotton. If the sewing pattern calls for structure, this material may work for your project.

The pattern I used for this dress suggested laundered cottons. Guess which fabric I used that worked just fine… Yup!

For flowy dresses, remember that quilting cotton may not drape as nicely. You may wonder why your dress didn’t come out as you hoped.

I prefer to make my flowy dresses with silky fabrics like rayon. Shirting fabric also works well for some dresses, but these materials are thin.

You’ll probably need a lining or a slip. I tend to line all my handmade dresses, except for those made of denim or twill. 

4. Tops

Quilting cotton can be used to make slightly structured tops, such as camp shirts. With the wide variety of prints, you’ll never run out of options.

If you plan to make a flowy top like this one, a very stiff cotton will not work. You’ll want a thinner, drapey fabric.

For this blouse, I used an apparel cotton from the fashion district. If I used quilting cotton with this sewing pattern, the sleeves would be much stiffer.

I prefer to make button-up shirts with shirting fabric or poplin, but I’ve also made some with broadcloth. Sometimes, I find cool prints I can’t resist.

For structured jackets, I stick to heavier-weight fabrics such as denim or twill. Tweed, polyester, and wool are commonly used for coats.

5. Shorts

I’ve made the majority of my summer shorts out of quilting cotton. They come in many cool colors that can be mixed and matched. 

I want them to be durable, and cotton quilting cotton lasts me a long time. Although cotton may fade, I’ve had shorts that have gone through many washes and wears.

These shorts that I made years ago have held up. I used to wear them all the time. 

I can’t believe how small they are. There’s no way I could squeeze into them today!

The fabric has softened up quite a bit throughout the years. I wish you could feel how soft they are! 

6. Pants

I’d stick to apparel fabric for pants unless you make pajama pants. Even then, you might find more comfy fabrics like cotton flannel. 

Most pants patterns will call for a bottom-weight fabric or drapey fabric. Quilting cotton is either too lightweight or too stiff for pants. 

For more structured pants, I prefer to use cotton apparel fabrics such as cotton twill and denim.

For more drapey pants, I’ll use lightweight denim such as chambray, rayon, Tencel twill, linen, and polyester.

7. Accessories

You can use quilting cotton to make all sorts of fun accessories, such as aprons, purses, and tote bags. Bow ties, tie belts, scrunchies, and headbands also make fun sewing projects. 

Quilting cotton gives them the right amount of stiffness and structure. I like making aprons and headbands in summer colors.

Plus, they will hold up pretty well. My handmade headbands have lasted over the years and still look good. 

Making accessories out of cotton is a great beginner sewing project. They also make great gift ideas for birthdays and holidays.

Additional Notes

Quilting cotton may start out a bit stiff, but it will soften up over time. Adding a cup of vinegar to the wash helps.

Just like all fabrics, there are different kinds of quilting cotton. The cheaper ones can feel scratchy against the skin. So, look for high-quality fabric that’s softer to the touch.

Also, I tend to use all-purpose polyester thread to sew all my clothes. Some people prefer to use cotton thread with cotton fabric. 

Remember, cotton fades easily. So, avoid hanging your cotton clothes out in the sun.

There are so many different brands and types of quilting cotton. As you start sewing with it, you’ll discover the higher quality ones.

I’ve found the lower quality fabrics may have looser weaves. You don’t want to use those for making clothes, but they may be just fine for mockups.

When shopping online, I get fabric swatches before buying yardage. It’s difficult to tell how material looks and feels from a picture.

You might be in for a big surprise when you place an order and find the fabric doesn’t look like you thought it would. Yes, this has happened to me.

Fabric choice plays a big role in the outcome of your sewing project. If you choose the wrong materials, your project may not turn out as planned. 

Final Thoughts

I’ve made some clothes with quilting cotton, and it can work. Just keep in mind that it might not work for all your fashion sewing projects.

At the end of the day, it’s not too pricey and you can experiment. You’ll never know what amazing things you might create. 

More About Sewing

I have more related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.

• What about making fabric swatches to keep track of what’s in your lovely stash?

• You’ll want to check out my cotton shorts that are quite colorful! 

• I’ll tell you where to learn to sew, including free classes. 

• Check out the sewing supplies you’ll need when starting out.

• What about some fashion sewing tips for making clothes?

I’d love to hear about your sewing adventures!

Originally published: February 21, 2025