GamGam, I really think that the classifications retailers use for fabrics is more of a marketing technique than anything. They keep telling us that fewer and fewer people are sewing these days (which I do NOT believe), so they are trying to get their fabrics sold to different segments of the market than home sewers. To me the some of the most important things to look for in a fabric are: 1. hand (the way the fabric feels: soft, scratchy, stiff, etc.) 2. drape (the way the fabric hangs: stiff, flowing, softly falling into shape, etc.) 3. construction (is the ground weave in a woven fabric tight? Hold it up to the light in just a single layer and look at how much light sifts through….you can do this with towels too!. If the yarns are not close together, then the fabric will not have much tensil strength; so you wouldn’t want to use it for something that will get a lot of wear. This will also allow for shrinkage to occur – so that would definitely be one you would want to pre-wash. For knits you need to be aware that the type of knit will determine the type of shrinkage. Plain knits will shrink in length not width; and rib knits (interlocks, etc.) will tend to shrink in width not length.)

These are just basic things I like to look for. I have even used home dec fabrics for clothing. The usual problem you will run into there (assuming you know the fiber content and how the fabric should be cleaned) is the fact that most of the dyes used in the prints are pigment dyes which are basically held onto the surface of the fabric with resin binders – thus every time you wash them they lose a bit more of the color; plus they feel stiff in the area of the print. They were printed that way for other colorfast considerations besides washing – like sunlight, etc. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m not averse to using any fabrics I see and like as long as I understand how they will behave with use and care. Since MK is so small, she will not be wearing anything for very long; so most anything I choosse will work!!

Nonie brought up a very good point – wrinkling. My daughter doesn’t have time to iron either, so I try to find things that will not require that total dampening and starching and ironing routine. I have found that many of the quilting cottons can really get by with some touch up ironing; but when I want to be SURE they won’t need pressing, I choose the poly/cotton Imperials and others that I can find (and they are getting fewer and fewer. ).

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Jerry