Andover Fabrics is the heritage brand of quilting, with roots stretching back to the 1890s. While other companies chase trends and social media visibility, Andover has carved out a distinguished niche in reproduction fabrics — historically accurate prints that recreate the patterns and color palettes of quilts from the Civil War era through the mid-20th century.
Andover's collaboration with fabric historian Barbara Brackman and their licensing of the Smithsonian Institution's textile archives has produced some of the most accurate reproduction fabrics available. Quilters making period-accurate quilts or participating in historical sew-alongs rely on Andover as their primary source for authentic prints.
Beyond reproductions, Andover also produces contemporary collections from designers like Libs Elliott, whose generative-art-inspired prints bridge the gap between tradition and technology. The base cotton quality is solid — comparable to Kona in weight and weave — and the print quality is excellent, with rich colors that hold up well through washing. Their Century Solids line provides 100+ colors specifically designed to coordinate with both their historical and contemporary print collections.
Andover's solid line with 100+ colors, designed to bridge historical and modern palettes. Good weight and consistent quality.
Historically accurate print collections recreating textile patterns from various periods, developed with museum archives and fabric historians.
Contemporary, algorithm-generated patterns that bring a modern edge to Andover's traditional catalog. Popular with modern quilters.
Andover is the brand you turn to when authenticity matters. Their reproduction fabrics are genuinely beautiful, and the Century Solids coordinate well. They do not generate the social media buzz of a Tula Pink launch, but they have the quiet respect of serious quilters who value craft heritage. Reliable quality, fair pricing.
Historical and reproduction quilts, traditional quilting patterns, and quilters who appreciate the heritage of the craft. Also for modern quilters via the Libs Elliott collaborations.
Windham Fabrics occupies a versatile middle ground in the quilting fabric market, offering both heritage reproduction prints and contemporary modern collections. Founded in 1987, the New Jersey-based company has built a diverse catalog that serves traditional quilters, modern makers, and everyone in between.
RJR Fabrics is a community favorite that has quietly built one of the strongest reputations in quilting. Their Cotton Supreme solid line, with over 200 colors, is often cited in online quilting communities as the "sleeper hit" — a brand that does not get the marketing push of Kona or AGF but consistently impresses quilters who discover it.
Timeless Treasures has built a distinct identity in quilting through two specialties: batiks and wide-format prints. Their batik collection is one of the largest in the industry, offering hundreds of colorways with the characteristic hand-dyed, wax-resist patterning that gives batiks their organic, one-of-a-kind quality.
Test Andover Fabrics color combinations in QuiltLab's free swatch editor before you buy.