Quilted fabric is a multi-layered material, in which these layers will be at least three. This fabric has its own advantages and disadvantages, varieties and uses. And, of course, it requires special care.
What is it?
Typically, a quilted fabric combines 3 layers: 2 outer layers plus a middle filler. But all layers are firmly connected to each other. Thanks to this structure, the fabric acquires a convex pattern, and quilting helps to create this pattern. Hence the name. The composition of the material depends on the function. More often such a fabric is used to develop clothing and interior textiles.
Quilted fabric was first used in ancient China. Then the fabric appeared in Europe and in America. Quilted pattern even then began to form geometric shapes, floral and vegetal patterns or some fantasy themes. The fabric, which will be the basis, may have a layer of membrane or be water repellent.
Let’s see what the composition of the material depends on:
- If quilted fabric is used for sewing bedding, it will be microfiber, cotton, wool, blended fabric with polyester;
- bedspreads and plaids are also often made of polyester, but also of blended fabric with viscose and cotton;
- if they make outerwear, they use polyester, nylon and, of course, bologna, but the underside can be fleece or microfiber.
Pros and cons
The main advantage of the fabric is the external appeal. It is the quilted pattern that creates the charm that people like in jackets and coats, blankets and plaids. Besides the pattern of quilting can be different, sometimes even highly artistic.
What else can be attributed to the pluses of quilted fabric:
- comfort: the materials used are soft, very comfortable to wear;
- lightness: products are really lightweight;
- good thermal protection: quilted clothing little blown by the wind;
- breathability: the body under the quilted fabric breathes;
- durability: things do not lose their qualities with each wash, they last for a long time;
- resistant to sunlight: the clothes will not burn out in the sun;
- low stretchability: the fabric will not shrink, will not lose its shape.
Disadvantages are often associated with manufacturing defects. For example, it happens that the manufacturer uses low-quality artificial leather, and then in the place of stitching material can burst. Also the seams may unravel if the threads are of low quality. Also, pure cotton threads can tear. Therefore, threads with polyester in composition are preferable. The thicker the layer of insulation, the thicker should be the thread for quilting. If the fabrics are fastened with thermal stitch or ultrastep (modern methods of fastening), even a local peeling of the fabric can be a defect.
Types
The first type is a classic stitch, that is, the binding of fabrics is done with threads. Then the layers are literally stitched through, the threads form a pattern on top. And this method is good by the fact that it is suitable for absolutely all fabrics. Thermal stitching is a way of sewing synthetic fabrics together. Layers are glued together, not sewn, and this is done with a press with heated heads. Ultrastep is a method where the binding is done by ultrasound, which heats the individual zones on the fabric. Again, this method is suitable only for those fabrics in which the percentage of synthetics is not less than 30.
Let’s see what kind of quilted fabrics by purpose.
Lining fabrics. They can be made of polycotton, satin or calico, and the inner layer is made of sintepon or batting (possibly other insulators). Children’s and adults’ outerwear is often sewn using these fabrics. The material perfectly retains heat, while the skin breathes.
Quilted leather. Quilted usually leather (or eco-leather). Both thermal and thread quilting can be used. From such a material sew outerwear and also accessories.
Quilted raincoats. The top layer of fabric consists of either polyester or fleece, while the inner layer is usually fleece or polarflies. Filler is a sintepon. If it is a spring-summer series, the middle layer may not be. Coats and windbreakers – that’s what they make from this fabric.
Quilted jacket. On the front side goes synthetic, on the wrong side goes fleece, microfiber and cotton. Fillers are hollofiber and sintepon, and possibly fake fur. Such material is used to sew clothes for children and adults.
Knitted. They are made of cotton combined with spandex or polyester, and the inner layer is the synthetic veneer. Such a thin and soft material is malleable, it lies well on the human skin and is pleasant to it. It is used to make skirts and dresses, jackets, sweatshirts and bomber jackets, windbreakers.
Applications
It seems that the biggest area where quilted fabrics are so needed is the production of outerwear. Indeed, it is a very good and in-demand option for jackets. But quilted eco-leather, for example, is also used to make cool things, from belts to handbags to beautiful hats.
Home quilted textiles are already just a luxury for modern, democratic interior styles. It often imitates embroidery or patchwork, that is, expensive handwork. And imitates, it must be said, very realistically. For bedspreads, quilts, mattresses, quilted fabric is used more and more often. In the interior of country, provence, shebby-chic, boho similar products will look very convincing.
Care rules
Of course, buying a thing, you should always look at the designations on the label. This information is usually enough to understand on what mode to wash the product, at what temperature to iron, etc.
General recommendations are as follows.
Washing water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees for synthetics and 30 degrees for natural fabrics. If it is, for example, a woolen bedspread, it should be washed on a special mode.
Spinning in the machine wash is always a risk, and for quilted fabrics too. Therefore, you need to set the mode with low speed. If washing by hand, twist things without much effort.
Drying should be away from batteries and heating devices. When drying covers or clothes in the room should be established good ventilation.
If it is outerwear, store it hanging on hangers. If it is blankets and quilts, they need special covers to store them. And if it is a quilted fabric made of wool, it should be treated with products against moths.
Not only clothes are made of this fabric. Fashionable, for example, in recent times have become soft backpacks, quilted pattern on which is the main “highlight” of the thing. They can also be washed on a delicate mode, and then turned out and dried naturally.
If you wash a quilted item on a more powerful mode, the stitches may come apart. And this is the main problem that happens to such things in use. Therefore, when choosing a product, you should ask what threads are used, you can ask to see a quality certificate.
