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Quilting Fabric Vs Apparel Fabric - The Difference

by Shiraz Nasir on Jul 25, 2022
Quilting Fabric Vs Apparel Fabric - The Difference

Quilting fabric and apparel fabric are similar in many ways, but there are important differences between the two. Apparel fabric is used to make clothing. Many quilters start with apparel fabrics when they first get into the craft. But it’s important to know the difference between the two types of fabrics.

This guide will explain what quilting fabric and apparel fabric are, how they differ, and which type is better for you.

1. What is Apparel Fabric?

Apparel fabric is made up of yarns, thread, and other materials that are sewn together to make clothes. The fabric may be woven or knit and be plain, printed or embroidered. It can also be plain or patterned.  Apparel fabric can be manufactured from any natural or synthetic fibre, and it can be dyed or printed.

Apparel fabric has been used to make shirts, pants, skirts, blouses, dresses, and accessories. It is also used to make carpets, rugs, curtains, and furniture.  Apparel fabrics can be made in cotton, wool, silk, nylon, polyester, acrylic, rayon, and modacrylic.

2. What is Quilting Fabric?

Quilting fabrics are thicker than apparel fabrics, and they tend to have a more unique texture.  They are more expensive than apparel fabrics, and some people find that they are less attractive than apparel fabrics.

Quilting fabric is a woven textile product made up of yarns, threads, or fibres that are bonded together with a durable adhesive. It’s used in quilt making, upholstery, bedding, clothing and accessories.

3. What are the Differences?

Both the fabric and apparel fabric are used in fashion design. Both fabrics can be used to make clothing items and home décor items.  In order to help you distinguish between the two types, we have outlined some differences between the two.

Quilting Fabric is a fabric that has been pieced together, whereas apparel fabric is a flat piece of material. So, why would you need to quilt fabric for your clothing, you might ask. Well, if you sew your own clothing then you would need a quilting fabric to work with. If you buy clothes off the rack, you would need apparel fabric because it is a flat piece of material.

So that is the basic difference between the two fabrics, but there are plenty of other differences that you need to be aware of.

The second difference between quilting fabric and apparel fabric is that quilting fabric is much more durable than apparel fabric.  Apparel fabrics can be washed repeatedly but most quilting fabric is designed to last for years. Apparel fabrics are also cheaper than quilting fabrics.

4. How do you decide what fabric to use for your project?

Choosing the right fabric for your sewing projects is an art form in itself. But it's not just about the right colour, pattern or look. It's all about knowing what type of fabric is most suitable for your specific needs. Both fabrics have their own unique characteristics.

When we talk about quilting fabric, it is the type of fabric used to create a quilt.  You can make all kinds of quilts with this type of fabric, including baby quilts, bed quilts, throw blankets, table runners, placemats, etc.  If you’re going to create a quilt, you want something that will withstand lots of wear and tear so that it can be used again and again. If you’re looking to make clothing, you need a fabric that will be comfortable to wear. You need to determine if the fabric will shrink or stretch when washed.

Apparel fabric is the type of fabric that you'll use to make clothing, such as pants, shirts, jackets, bags, etc. It is commonly used to make everything from jeans to suits. Apparel fabric is made of yarns that are either made of polyester, cotton or wool. You can use apparel fabric for anything from clothing to home décor.

There are some differences between the two that you need to consider when you are choosing fabrics for your project.

6. Similarities 

Quilting fabric and apparel fabric are similar in many ways.  Both fabrics are made of yarns that can be manipulated to produce a wide variety of textures and designs. Both types of fabric have a yarn called a filament, which creates the structure of the cloth.

However, there are some differences between the two types of fabric.  Quilting fabric is generally created with one or more layers of fabric, while apparel fabric is created with one or more layers of nonwovens. Quilting fabric usually has a thicker structure than apparel fabric.

7. Conclusion

When it comes to choosing fabrics for quilting and apparel, the difference between the two is huge. The reason is that you want to be able to use your fabric to work as much as possible. So, if you can make something from a fabric you already have, that is a good thing.

Apparel fabrics are designed for comfort and durability. They don't wear out or tear. They're more durable. On the other hand, quilting fabric is made for beautiful designs. So, if you want beautiful designs, you want to use quilting fabric.

If you need to cut, sew, and stitch, you should use apparel fabric. If you just want to make a great-looking garment, you should use quilting fabric.

Tags: Apparel Fabric, Quilting Fabric
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  • Activewear
  • Apparel Fabric
  • Denim Fabric
  • Luxurious Fabrics
  • Quilting Fabric
  • Suit Fabric

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