best fabric suggestion please

[tealover12]

Hello
I started to dabble with sewing when my Mum died, needed something that she enjoyed to fill the massive void, and stop my mind from wandering.

I made a quilted throw - its nothing special but I wanted to try patchwork - for the dogs part of the sofa, I think I just bought the fabric from ebay but it was just the right mix of colours - beiges, duck blues, browns. I want to make one now for the caravan for him but looking at his other one the plain brown squares - ONLY those squares - have "bobbled". I just thought they were all cotton, but I don't really know the difference between the fabrics.

I want to avoid bobbling on the next one I do - exactly what kind of fabric do I need please that won't bobble, but I can just wash it regularly without worrying about it changing appearance? Thank you xx

I go to Abakhan for their "craft cotton" (I think that's what it's called). I do quilting and usually try to use 100% cotton. If the bobbling is on a part of a dog's blanket could it have succumbed to more wear and tear than a usual blanket?

If it's for a dog I would go for something sturdier like a cotton duck that is used for soft furnishings and curtains. They wash well, but prewash before sewing as you do get some shrinkage.

If it’s bobbled I’d guess it was polycotton, to a cotton with a brushed finish. to avoid bobbling I’d suggest going for plain quilting cotton, which is also sold as craft cotton.

If you go to Aldi, my local one had some cheap fat quarters of cotton fabric in yesterday. A cheap way of getting fabrics ideal for quilts, they were all pure cotton. Hobby craft have fat quarters too

If you want something fun go to Etsy.

These two are my faves
Felix Loves Fabric for really funky modern fabrics
The Fabric Hare for pastel prints.

With quilting fabric I think you really do get what you pay for, and you don't want all your hard work to get ruined quickly.

Oh and make sure you pre-wash your fabric before cutting and sewing to stop shrinkage

I had someone make this so it might not help!
But it's riley Blake wanna be a cowboy fabric collection (so you can see what it's made of) and it is 14 years old now and well you can see it's held up perfectly!