Why Plain Solid Fat Quarters Belong in Your Quilting Stash

Whenever I put new fabrics out in the shop, it’s always the prints that get all the attention. They’re the ones everyone falls in love with. But I often find myself saying, “Don’t overlook the plain solids.” They’re the fabrics that quietly make everything else look better.

Why Choose Plain Solid Fat Quarters for Quilting?

If you’ve ever looked at a quilt and wondered why it just seems to “work”, there’s a good chance plain fabrics are doing more than you realise. Solids create breathing space between your patterned fabrics, so the eye has somewhere to land before moving on to the next detail.

That matters most in quilts built from detailed blocks. When every fabric in a block has its own pattern, the piecing itself gets lost. Add a plain solid into the mix and the block shapes suddenly become the star, not the fabric printed on them.

Solids also stop patterned fabrics fighting each other for attention. Two strong prints sitting side by side can clash even when the colours match. Put a solid between them and both prints get to shine on their own terms.

I’ve always loved putting colours together. Long before Overdale Fabrics, I studied textile design and later taught art, so choosing colours has become second nature. Even now, when I’m planning a quilt or sewing project, it’s usually the plain fabrics that help everything fall into place.

When Solids Make the Biggest Difference

Not every project needs a full stash of plains. But certain projects lean on them heavily, and knowing when to reach for a solid saves you from a finished quilt that feels flat or overcrowded.

Detailed block designs are the obvious case. Star blocks, log cabins, and anything built from lots of small pieces benefit enormously from a solid background or a solid set of sashing strips. The pattern gets the chance to be seen clearly, rather than competing with a print underneath it.

Appliqué backgrounds are another. A busy print behind an appliqué shape muddies the outline you’ve worked hard to create. A solid gives that shape a clean surface to sit on.

Borders and sashing are a subtle addition to a quilt but matter just as much. They frame the quilt centre and give the whole design a visual edge to stop at. A patterned border can pull focus away from the blocks you’ve spent hours piecing, unlike solids.

How I Build a Bundle That Actually Works Together

Most fabric stashes grow one print at a time. You spot something you love, buy a metre or so, and your stash fills up with fabrics that look wonderful individually but don’t necessarily work together.

What makes fabric collections really come together is if you have plains or blenders mixed in with your favourite patterned fabrics. The colours of your plains should match or complement those in your focus patterned prints.

If matching colours isn’t your favourite part of quilting, here’s a little shortcut for you. I’ve created a range of plain solid fat quarters in a variety of colours, all are 100% cotton. Each bundle has been put together so all the shades work beautifully together.

You can use them exactly as they are or keep them in your stash so you’ve always got the right solid when you discover that oh-so-gorgeous new print that you simply have to buy!

My New Coordinated Solid Bundles

I’ve recently put together four new plain solid fat quarter bundles, each built from Dashwood Studio’s cotton solids and coordinated as a colour story rather than a random selection.

Apple Orchard brings together warm and fresh natural tones, with a countryside feel that suits autumn projects or anything with a rustic edge.

Moonstone is a calming set of soft blues and greys that sits comfortably alongside almost any print palette you already own.

Kaleidoscope is the boldest of the four, mixing bright colours for projects that need real energy.

Morning Dew uses gentle, early-morning shades that suit a soft, peaceful quilt.

Each bundle is made from 100% cotton quilting fabric, so they behave consistently and sew as easily as the prints you’re used to working with.

Building your Stash the Right Way

When you’re starting out, it’s easy to buy prints because they’re the exciting fabrics. I did exactly the same. But over time I realised that having a handful of reliable plain colours in the cupboard  allowed me to actually use some of my favourite patterned fabrics in a project.

These solids became the background, the borders, the binding or simply the fabric that ties everything together.

FAQs for Plain Solid Fat Quarters for Quilting

What’s the difference between plain solids and blenders?

A plain solid is one flat colour with no pattern at all. A blender has a very subtle, small-scale print, often tonal, which can sometimes look solid from a distance. Both work well next to bolder prints, but true solids give you the most contrast and the cleanest background for appliqué or detailed piecing.

Can I mix plain solid fat quarters from different collections?

Yes, as long as the shades share a similar tone. Two solids in the same soft, muted family will sit together happily even if they come from different bundles. Mixing a very bright solid with a dusky, muted one is where clashes may appear.

How many plain solid fat quarters do I need for a quilt?

It depends on the project, especially the design, size of quilt (baby, throw, single or double) and amount of sashing and borders. Your pattern will normally tell you exactly how much fabric or fat quarters you’ll need, so it’s always best to check before buying.

Are plain solid fabrics harder to sew with than prints?

No. A good quality 100% cotton solid sews exactly the same as a printed cotton of the same weight. One benefit is you don’t need to worry about getting patterns facing the right way. However,  any puckering or uneven seams show up more clearly on a plain fabric, so it’s worth taking a little extra care with pressing.