White is the color of so many amazing things: flowers, clouds, whipped cream, icing on cinnamon rolls….we could go on and on! But for now, let’s talk about white fabric, a staple in any quilter’s sewing room!

White quilt fabric is one of the most important ingredients to a quilt because it’s what makes the other colors and designs stand out. If you think about it, almost every quilt block you can make requires white fabric, or at least a lightly colored cotton fabric to make the rest of the block pop! Solid white cotton fabric is what most quilters use to make the main fabrics of their quilt stand out, and we have plenty of solid white quilting fabric for everyone to explore. From Bella Solids, to Kona Cotton Solids, and even Cotton Supreme Solids, you’ll find quite an impressive variety of solid white quilt fabric to choose from!

The same goes for printed white quilting fabric by the yard. That’s the lucky thing about white fabric--you can find it in almost any theme! We carry white cotton fabric that’s printed with florals, basic stripes, dots, foliage, sports balls, food prints, and plenty more.

And of course, we’ve got batik fans covered! Batiks are known to be supremely colorful, but we have white batik quilt fabric in our selection of hand-dyed fabrics as well. Tonga Batiks and Anthology Fabrics almost always have one or two beautiful collections of white batik quilt fabric that you can use for your next or current batik project!

White tone-on-tone quilt fabric is another popular type of white fabric that you will find here. No matter the color, tone-on-tone fabric is a brilliant way to add subtle texture and visual interest to a quilt without distracting from your main prints. They’re also a great alternative to solids when you don’t want completely plain fabrics! If it’s white tone-on-tone quilt fabric you’re after, we have a great variety to choose from, and we can even show you where to start. We carry several Wilmington Essentials collections, many of which include beautiful white tone-on-tone fabrics. Flowers, delicate filigree, dots—you’re guaranteed to find the right white fabric print for your project!

White fabric can be a versatile and essential element in quilting. Here are some common ways to use white fabric in your quilting projects:

➤Background: White cotton fabric can serve as a neutral background against which other colorful or patterned fabrics can stand out. Use it as the base for your quilt blocks or as sashing and borders to frame your quilt design.

➤Contrast: White fabric creates contrast when paired with darker or brighter colors. This can help highlight specific elements of your quilt or create visual interest in your design.

➤Negative Space: Incorporate white quilt fabric to create negative space within your quilt design. Negative space can add balance and breathing room to your quilt, allowing the eye to rest between busy patterns or colors.

➤Appliqué and Embroidery: White fabric provides a clean canvas for appliqué shapes or embroidered designs. You can layer colorful appliqué shapes or intricate embroidery stitches onto white fabric for a striking effect.

➤Modern Quilting: White fabric is commonly used in modern quilting designs, where clean lines and minimalist aesthetics are often favored. Experiment with incorporating white fabric in geometric or abstract designs to achieve a contemporary look.

➤Textured Effects: Choose different textures of white fabric, such as linen or cotton, to add depth and dimension to your quilt. Mixing different textures can create visual interest and tactile appeal in your finished piece.

In the quilt tutorial below, you’ll see just how much white quilt fabric can bring out the contrast of the other colors in a quilt. The Happy Trees quilt uses just two colors - red and white fabric by the yard - to create a stunning effect!

One final note: if you're planning to use white fabric in your next project, it's important to take steps to prevent fading and bleeding. Although we take care to source only the best quality fabrics from trusted brands, we do still recommend pre-washing all of the fabrics you plan to use in your project as an added precaution. Some quilters choose to use a Shout Color Catcher when washing to prevent any color transfer to lighter fabrics in their quilt.

White fabric offers endless possibilities in quilting, from providing a clean canvas for creativity to enhancing the visual impact of your quilt designs. Experiment with different techniques, styles, and applications to make the most of white fabric in your quilting and sewing projects!