Best quality plain cotton fabric for patchwork and quilting please?

[BigBoobiedBertha]

Title says it all really.

I am doing a final quilt for my City and Guilds course and I have some lovely patterned fabric, good quality a bit like a poplin, but my plain navy, which makes up a lot of the quilt is actually quite starchy and stiff and seems to be quite loosely woven. It is fraying easily which drives me nuts and the final straw is that my tutor questioned whether it is even cotton (it definitely is but not a well known brand).

Does anybody know of any soft, drapey lovely plains so I can rescue this from the jaws of disaster. I am running out of time - the end of course exhibition is at the end of the month. Eeek!!

I don't have time to shop and will have to order online so recommendations for shops that stock the good stuff and deliver quickly would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

You don't say what you've already tried, but Cotton Patch are the bees knees of patchwork fabric. They definitely do plains in normal quilt fabric but steer clear of the Shot Cottons as they are more handwoven (which is not the effect you are after).

Thanks for the reply. I love Cotton Patch but they can be a bit slow on the delivery. However, I shall just stick to the brands they stock because you are right about the quality.

Did you get your fabric? I'm sure if you rang them up and explained the urgency they would make sure it caught the post. I work near the shop they have been vv helpful for my small purchases!

They might just as well take my salary straight round to the shop if I worked close to it.

I did get some fabric elsewhere thank you. A MNer PM'd me and said she had an on-line shop and so I have ordered some Moda from her now which she recommended and she understands I need it quickly so all is well. She was worried about advertising so didn't post on the thread ut since I am not advertising and merely saying where I got it from this is it.

I feel a bit mean about Cotton Patch and delivery times - I could have paid extra for faster delivery. Lots of the smaller retailers despatch next day, 1st class as standard so it annoys me a bit to have to pay extra. This quilt is already costing a fortune!

IKWYM. Fortunately I am more of a knitter than a quilter so it's not as much of a temptation as it might be.

Marking my place so that I can find that shop again when I have finished all some of my ongoing projects.

Kona solid are wonderful for patchwork and come in so many colours, I love using them. The village Haberdashery sells a large range on line - www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/sewing-patchwork/fabric?fabric_collection=36&limit=all.

Thanks patchworkchick. Will have a look later.

Unfortunately, PIL are coming this weekend (annual visit) so no time for quilting.

Actually, probably shouldn't be MNing either.