Windham Fabrics
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.
Windham's strength lies in its breadth. Their designer roster includes names like Whistler Studios for Americana and folk art, Heather Ross for whimsical illustrations, and Windham Basics for workhorse blenders and coordinates. This range means a quilt shop carrying Windham can serve multiple customer profiles from a single brand.
The base cotton quality is consistent and reliable, sitting squarely in the same category as Kona and Moda. Windham fabrics press well, hold seam allowances cleanly, and wash without excessive shrinkage. Their Artisan Cotton line — a shot cotton with a subtle two-tone weave effect — has become a standout favorite among modern quilters who want texture without the commitment of full linen or chambray.
Quick Specs
- Thread Count
- 60x60
- Weight
- 4.1 oz/sq yd
- Shrinkage Rate
- 3-5%
- Color Range
- 80+ (Artisan Cottons) colors
- Price Range
- $10-13/yard
Quick Specs
- Thread Count
- 60x60
- Weight
- 4.1 oz/sq yd
- Shrinkage Rate
- 3-5%
- Color Range
- 80+ (Artisan Cottons) colors
- Price Range
- $10-13/yard
Popular Fabric Lines
Artisan Cotton
A shot cotton with a two-tone weave effect that adds depth and texture. Each color has a subtle heathered quality that reads beautifully in quilts.
Heather Ross Collections
Whimsical, illustration-driven prints from one of fabric design's most sought-after names. Collections sell out rapidly and become collector's items.
Windham Basics
A comprehensive range of blenders, tone-on-tones, and small-scale prints that serve as the building blocks for quilt designs.
Our Verdict
Windham is the brand that surprises you. You might not seek it out specifically, but when you find the right Windham fabric, it is exactly what you needed. The Artisan Cotton line alone justifies keeping them on your radar — nothing else at the price point gives you that handwoven texture look.
Best For
Quilters who want variety and versatility from a single brand. Excellent for modern quilts (Artisan Cotton), children's projects (Heather Ross), and traditional work (Whistler Studios).
Where to Buy
Related Brands
Andover Fabrics
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.
Free Spirit Fabrics (Tula Pink)
Free Spirit Fabrics occupies a unique position in quilting: it is the designer-driven brand. While other companies have broad catalogs of basics, Free Spirit lives and breathes through its roster of celebrated designers — and none more famous than Tula Pink, whose bold, eclectic prints have generated a cult following that transcends traditional quilting demographics.
Timeless Treasures
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.
Preview These Fabric Colors in Your Quilt Design
Test Windham Fabrics color combinations in QuiltLab's free swatch editor before you buy.