The best fabric for quilts depends on the job. Piecing a quilt top calls for cotton in small cuts such as squares, fat quarters or strips. The back of the quilt calls for a wide, plain cotton that avoids a seam down the middle. Many quilters buy precut bundles for the top and a wide yardage for the backing.
The six fabrics below cover both jobs, from a 50-piece square bundle to a 108 inch wide backing cut. Fiber, size and weight come from each product’s listing page, and where a listing leaves a detail out, we say so. We have not used these fabrics ourselves. Softness, shrinkage and durability claims are the makers’ own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Fiber | Cotton is the usual choice for quilt tops, backings and binding |
| Form | Squares, fat quarters, strips and yardage each suit a different stage of the project |
| Width | Standard cotton is about 44 inches wide; wide backing avoids piecing a seam |
| Weight | A medium weight is easy to cut and sew; lighter cloth drapes more |
Specs at a Glance
| Fabric | Material | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aubliss 50-piece squares | 100% cotton | 50 squares, 10 x 10 in each | Solid colors; hand cut, so sizes may vary |
| Craftido fat quarters | 100% cotton | 10 pieces, 18 x 21 in each | Medium weight, 5.2 oz |
| ROC-lon quilt backing | 100% cotton | 108 in wide, 3 yards (108 x 108 in) | Preshrunk, per the listing |
| Craftido jelly roll | 100% cotton | 40 strips, 2.5 x 44 in each | Pinked edges; mercerized finish |
| Craftido solid yardage | 100% cotton | 44 in wide, 3 yards | Medium weight, 5.2 oz |
| LUMANSUO muslin | Cotton muslin | 64 in wide, 2 yards | 4 oz per square yard |
The 6 Best Fabrics for Quilts
1. Aubliss 50pcs 100% Cotton Fabric Bundle (10 x 10 in, Solid)
A bundle of 50 precut squares in assorted solid colors, each 10 x 10 inches. The listing says the squares are cut by hand, so edges may be slightly frayed and sizes can vary by 0.5 to 1 cm.
Suits: scrappy patchwork and layer-cake style tops. Strengths: a large count in one pack. Weaknesses: hand-cut sizes can vary. Skip it if you need exact, uniform cuts.
View Aubliss 50pcs Cotton Fabric Bundle on Amazon
2. Craftido 100% Cotton Fat Quarter Bundle (10 pcs)
Ten fat quarters, each 18 x 21 inches, in printed patterns; the version we looked at is a Baby Boy collection. The maker lists a medium weight of 5.2 ounces in a plain weave and says it will not shrink much after washing.
Suits: quilt blocks and baby quilts. Strengths: a stated fabric weight and a themed set. Weaknesses: only 10 pieces per pack. Skip it if you need a single large cut.
View Craftido Fat Quarter Bundle on Amazon
3. ROC-lon 100% Cotton 108 Inch Wide Quilt Backing
A single 3 yard piece measuring 108 inches wide, described by the maker as preshrunk, lightweight cotton for backing bed quilts, throws and baby quilts. The listing says one cut backs most quilts up to queen size.
Suits: a seamless quilt back. Strengths: extra width and preshrunk cotton. Weaknesses: plain solid look. Skip it if you want a printed back.
View ROC-lon 108 Inch Quilt Backing on Amazon
4. Craftido Jelly Roll Precut Cotton Strips (40 strips)
Forty strips, 2.5 x 44 inches, made from 20 prints with two of each. The listing mentions pinked edges and a mercerized finish, and gives the same 5.2 ounce medium weight.
Suits: strip quilts, rag-style projects and binding. Strengths: pinked edges that reduce fraying. Weaknesses: narrow strips only. Skip it if you want wide pieces.
View Craftido Jelly Roll Strips on Amazon
5. Craftido Solid Cotton Fabric by the Yard (3 yd)
A 3 yard piece of solid cotton, 44 inches wide, in medium weight 5.2 ounce plain weave. The maker suggests it for quilt blocks, binding, sashing, borders and even a whole backing piece.
Suits: binding, borders and plain blocks. Strengths: a stated width and weight. Weaknesses: 44 inches is narrow for a bed-size back. Skip it if you want prints.
View Craftido Solid Cotton by the Yard on Amazon
6. LUMANSUO 100% Cotton Muslin Fabric, 64 Inch Wide
A 2 yard cut of cotton muslin, 64 inches wide, listed at 4 ounces per square yard. The listing says it will shrink slightly after washing and suggests it for quilt backing, pillows and doll clothing.
Suits: a light backing for smaller quilts. Strengths: extra width over standard yardage. Weaknesses: lighter weight than the Craftido cotton. Skip it if you want a heavier cloth.
View LUMANSUO Cotton Muslin on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Check each listing’s care note; the muslin and the backing fabric both give washing guidance.
- Wash and press fabrics the same way before cutting if you mix brands.
- Keep precut bundles flat or rolled so the edges stay even.
- Use a fresh rotary blade on strips and squares for clean cuts.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing fabrics of very different weights in one quilt top.
- Choosing a 44 inch fabric for a backing without planning a seam.
- Assuming hand-cut squares are all exactly the same size.
- Skipping a size check before cutting a bundle into blocks.
Quilt Fabric FAQ
What is the best cotton fabric for quilts?
Plain-weave cotton is the common choice. The Craftido listings state a medium weight of 5.2 ounces, while the muslin lists 4 ounces per square yard.
What is the best backing fabric for quilts?
A wide cut avoids a center seam. The ROC-lon piece is 108 inches wide, and the muslin is 64 inches wide.
What is the best fabric for rag quilts, flannel quilts or baby quilts?
None of these six is flannel, and none is marketed as rag quilt fabric. The Craftido fat quarters and jelly roll are cotton bundles that the maker suggests for baby clothes and crafts, so check the print and size before choosing.
The Short Version
For a big bundle of squares, the Aubliss. For fat quarters, the Craftido bundle. For a seamless back, the ROC-lon. For strips, the Craftido jelly roll. For plain solid yardage, the Craftido 3 yard cut. For a wide, light backing, the LUMANSUO muslin.
