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To make a quilt sparkle, use metallic or glitter-enhanced fabric for the shimmer, or add metallic thread or floss through stitching and appliqué. The ideas below draw on projects in American Patchwork & Quilting Editors’ “Quilts That Sparkle,” updated November 7, 2019. They show how the effect can work in throws, wall hangings, table projects and a pillow.
Choose where the sparkle comes from
Shimmer can be part of the fabric or added with stitching. The projects in the roundup use metallic prints and stripes, glitter-enhanced fabrics, gold metallic thread and metallic silver embroidery floss. These are design examples, not a head-to-head test of materials.
| Approach | How it appears in the examples | Effect to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Metallic or glitter-enhanced fabric | Metallic accents in prints, stripes on star points, or glitter-enhanced fabrics in a cool palette | Shimmer is built into selected fabric pieces. |
| Metallic thread | Gold thread in decorative stitching around table-runner blocks and its border | Stitching can pick up metallic details already present in the fabric. |
| Metallic floss | Silver embroidery floss used to appliqué winter motifs on a table mat | Floss adds a metallic accent to appliqué. |
Fabric-led ideas for quilts and wall hangings
Radiating Diamonds
Machine-quilt gold swirls over lighter prints to emphasize their metallic accents.
#1 Best Overall
- 100% Cotton Fabric.
- 42'' wide. Fabric is sold by the yard and cut to order. For example, order of 1 yard (Qty=1) is 36" x 42"'. Order of 3 yards (Qty=3) is 108" x 42".
- Perfect for quilts, home décor accents, craft projects...
- Fabric Care Instructions: Machine Wash Cold / Tumble Dry Low
Holiday Sparkle
Fussy-cut a holiday print with metallic touches for the center of gemlike blocks in a throw. This makes the selected print the focal accent.
An Icy Path
Build a cool palette from silver, gray, blue and navy, using glitter-enhanced fabrics for the sparkle.
Rank #2
- Designed by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics, this cotton print fabric is perfect for quilting, apparel and home decor accents. This fabric is heavily printed with metallic ink for a more crisp hand.
- Washing Instructions: Machine Wash Cold/Tumble Dry Low
- 44'' Wide. Fabric is sold by the yard and cut to order. For example, order of 1 yard (Qty=1) is 44" x 36''. Order of 3 yards (Qty=3) is 44'' x 108''.
Seasonal Stars
Combine a metallic gold stripe and red print with green and white backgrounds for a star-focused palette.
Midnight Blooms Quilt
This throw-size design pairs metallic glints in Asian-inspired fabrics with fusible appliqué and three sizes of hourglass blocks.
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Rank #3
- Bundle includes: 40 fabric strips, precut to approximately 2.5" x 44" each
- 100% USA-Grown Quilting Cotton: Connecting Threads quilting fabric is made of 100% American-grown cotton and produced by one of the world’s most premium mills. All our fabric is Oeko-Tex Certified to be free of harmful substances.
- Great for Quilting: Specially designed for quilting, Connecting Threads 100% cotton 2.5 inch strips bundles are also perfect for any sewing and crafting projects, from apparel to home décor.
- Quartz Metallic Tonals: Reflective surfaces of natural stone inspire the texture of this Connecting Threads collection with the same gold metallic highlights and multi-dimensional veins that are admired in quartz, marble and granite. Made from 100% American-grown cotton and produced by one of the world's most premium mills, a selection of Quartz Metallic Tonals is an absolute necessity for any stash.
Blazing Stars Wall Hanging
Four Blazing Star blocks use prints with metallic stripes so the star points seem to radiate light.
Stitching and appliqué ideas for smaller projects
Sparkling Holiday Table Runner
Gold metallic thread and a decorative stitch around the blocks and border draw out gold in a mottled fabric.
Snowflake Love Table Mat
Winter motifs appliquéd on icy blue and white wool are accented with metallic silver embroidery floss.
Metallic Fireworks Pillow
Simple machine straight-stitching forms red and white metallic bursts against a dark blue background.
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Best Value
- Fabric Type: 100% Cotton
- Import Designation: Made in the USA or Imported
- Fabric care instructions: Machine Wash Cold/Tumble Dry Low
- Designed for Timeless Treasures this cotton print fabric is perfect for quilting apparel and home decor accents. Colors include metallic gold burgundy brown orange and maroon.
Plan the shimmer around the design
The examples suggest several ways to control how prominent the sparkle feels: use metallic detail within a print, reserve a metallic stripe for star points, place a fussy-cut print at the center of blocks, or add shine with thread or floss around stitching and appliqué. Color also changes the impression, from gold with white and tan prints to creams and metallics alongside blues and teals, or red-and-gold flower centers.
Choose the method that suits the project format and motif: the roundup spans throws, a wall hanging, table runners, a table mat and a pillow. It names material categories but does not specify brands, current availability, prices or comparative performance.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
