Red Quilt Fabric Yardage

Red Quilting Cotton for Traditional, Holiday and Patriotic Quilts

Red is the colour that makes a quilt look like a quilt. It is in the Ohio Stars, the barn quilts, the Christmas quilts, the Quilts of Valor and most of the reproduction prints in the shop, and a small amount of it lifts a palette that has gone flat.

It is also the colour that needs the most care in the wash, and the one most worth understanding before you cut into it.

You will find red quilting cotton here in solids, tone-on-tone blenders, small reproduction prints, batiks and large-scale florals, from true reds through scarlet, crimson, brick, barn red and deep burgundy.

The One Thing to Know About Red: Bleeding

Red carries a heavier dye load than almost any other colour, and it is the colour most likely to release dye into the wash water. Put a red beside a white background, wash the finished quilt, and you can end up with a pink halo that no amount of regret will remove.

This is manageable, not a reason to avoid red. Either prewash your reds before they go anywhere near a quilt top, or use colour catchers in the first several washes of the finished quilt. If your quilt combines red with white or cream, do both.

Modern quilting cottons are far better behaved than they used to be, and the manufacturer information on each product listing is worth reading. But red is the one colour where it is genuinely worth the extra step.

Choosing the Right Red

Reds divide by undertone. A blue-based red reads cool and slightly formal: think crimson and cherry. A yellow-based red reads warm and rustic: think barn red, brick and tomato. Put a cool red beside a warm one and the pair looks accidental.

Depth is the second decision. A true red is bold and takes over. Burgundy and wine behave almost like dark neutrals and give a quilt weight without brightness. A soft brick or faded red suits reproduction and 1800s-style quilts where a modern red would look too new.

Shop Red Quilting Cotton at Quilted Joy

Quilted Joy is a destination quilt shop and skill-building studio in Louisville, Kentucky, serving quilters in our shop and across the country.

Our Quilt Fairies help with red constantly, because it is the color quilters most often get slightly wrong. Tell us what the red is going beside and whether the quilt will be washed often, and we will steer you well.

Planning the back as well? Our red wide quilt backing comes 108 inches across, wide enough to back a bed quilt in one seamless piece. You can also browse all of our quilt fabric if the palette is still open.

Frequently Asked Questions About Red Quilt Fabric

Does red quilt fabric bleed in the wash?

It is the colour most likely to. Red dyes carry a heavy load and excess dye can release in the first washes, which shows up badly against white and cream.

Prewash your reds, or use color catchers in the first several washes of the finished quilt. If the quilt pairs red with pale fabrics, do both. Check each product listing for the manufacturer’s care information.

Should I prewash red fabric before making a quilt?

With red, more quilters say yes than for any other color, even those who never prewash otherwise.

If you do prewash the red, prewash the rest of the quilt too so everything shrinks at the same rate. Mixing washed and unwashed fabrics in one top can cause puckering later.

What is the difference between scarlet, crimson, brick and burgundy?

Scarlet is a bright red leaning slightly orange. Crimson is deeper and leans blue. Brick is a muted, earthy red with a brown cast. Burgundy is a very deep red-purple that behaves like a dark neutral.

These names vary between manufacturers, so compare in daylight rather than trusting the label.

What red should I use for a Quilts of Valor project?

A true, clear red rather than a burgundy or a brick, so it reads correctly beside navy and white. Tone-on-tone reds and small prints work well and give the quilt texture without breaking the flag palette.

Because these quilts are washed often, prewashing the red is worth the time.

What colours go with red quilt fabric?

Red with cream or white is the classic traditional pairing. Red with navy and white is patriotic. Red with green is Christmas. Red with black is bold and graphic. Red with tan and brown reads as reproduction or 1800s.

Red is strong enough that a little goes a long way. It is often better used as an accent than as a background.

Can red work as a background fabric?

It can, but it takes over. A red background makes a dramatic, high-energy quilt and works best when the other fabrics are quiet.

If you want the warmth without the intensity, a deep burgundy or a muted brick behaves much more like a neutral.

How much red fabric do I need for my quilt?

That depends on your pattern, quilt size, and whether the red is the background, the feature or an accent. Check the yardage requirements in your pattern before ordering.

If you are substituting fabrics or changing the size, a Quilt Fairy can help you work it out.

Can Quilted Joy help me choose a red?

Yes, and with red it is worth asking. Tell us what the red is sitting beside, whether there is white in the quilt, and how often it will be washed, and we will point you at the reds that will behave.