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Sewing cotton fabric: Everything you need to know

20.08.2020 by Sabine Schmidt

Baumwollstoff nähen: Alles was du wissen musst

Sewing cotton fabric: This sturdy fabric is THE universal solution for many sewing ideas. Learn now what you should keep in mind when working with cotton.

The most important things at a glance

  • Cotton fabric is a general term for non-stretch woven fabrics made of cotton
  • Woven fabrics can also consist of linen, flax, lyocell, and many other fibers and blends
  • Jersey can also be made of cotton; however, with this type of fabric, the threads are knitted rather than woven, which is also called weft-knitted
  • Cotton fabric (and that is what I call woven fabric made of cotton in this post) is the perfect choice for many sewing ideas: bags, wallets, accessories, beautiful items for children and babies, drawstring bags, pillows, patchwork quilts, potholders, and much, much more
  • Cotton is very easy to work with using a universal needle and an all-purpose thread, and it can be cut with a rotary cutter

Sewing cotton: The all-rounder for every occasion!

Cotton fabric is the perfect material for many great sewing ideas. But what is cotton fabric, actually? And why is it so well-suited for beginners?

Cotton fabric is made of cotton, obviously. The common term refers to a durable fabric that is woven 100% from cotton thread.

The fabric properties associated with this ensure that cotton can be used for 1001 ideas.

Can I sew cotton with an overlocker?

Yes! In my experience, these seams are very durable and do not add bulk, especially in clothing made of cotton fabric. The overlocker is also very suitable for finishing pattern pieces beforehand.

What thread can I use to sew cotton?

An all-purpose thread is perfect for this task. If you want it to be more sustainable, you can also use a biodegradable cotton thread.

Which needle is used to sew cotton?

Depending on the thickness of the fabric used, I recommend, for example, a size 70 universal needle for voile, an 80 for poplin, and a 90 or a denim needle for canvas.

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.