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HELP & FAQ

Questions, answered.

Fabric care, shipping, classes, and community — the things quilters ask us most.

Do I need to pre-wash my African fabric?

If it’s a brand you know and trust, pre-washing for colourfastness or shrinkage generally isn’t necessary. With newer or unknown manufacturers, pre-wash with a colour catcher to be safe. Either way, a colour catcher sheet is cheap insurance — especially for deep blues and reds.

Why is my fabric stiff, and will it soften?

That stiffness is wax and starch from the dye-resist process — it’s not a flaw. By about the third wash it clears on its own and the fabric becomes soft with a beautiful weight. You usually won’t need fabric softener.

How should I wash and care for it?

Cold or maximum 30°C, delicate cycle, no hot dryer. Hand-washing with a good bar soap and air-drying in the shade keeps the colours vivid longest. Keep it out of blazing direct sun, which fades colour and weakens the fibres.

Can I mix African prints with regular quilting cotton?

Absolutely — go for it. African wax print is 100% cotton with a lovely weight, and it blends beautifully with solids and other prints of similar weight. The contrast is often what makes a quilt sing.

Where do you ship, and how long does it take?

We ship worldwide to quilters across the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Africa and beyond. For current shipping times, costs, returns and customs, please see our Shipping, Returns, Exchanges & Customs page.

What is the Block of the Month?

A monthly membership where we make a block together — with the technique, the cultural story behind the fabric, a show-and-tell with the community, and access to every block released that year. Your 12 months begin the day you join, and you work at your own pace.

I’m a beginner — is this for me?

Yes. Our classes and community welcome every level, and the free guide, Before You Cut, is the gentlest place to start. The Whole Cloth Way begins where every quilter begins — by simply coming to know the cloth.

Do you offer talks or workshops for guilds?

Yes — lectures, trunk shows, hands-on workshops, and a deep-dive masterclass series, virtual or in person. See the Work With Me page and request the full offerings and rates.

Do you offer online classes I can take at my own pace?

Yes — we have a growing library of self-paced video classes, from traditional piecing to fabric-portrait art, each taught with the cultural story behind the fabric. They’re yours to keep and you learn on your own schedule. Connecting the Dots is a lovely place to start.

Does Quilt Africa give back?

Yes — through African Blossoms, our initiative empowering girls in Nigeria through menstrual health education, school-fee support, and building safe sanitation facilities so girls can stay in school with dignity. The tribe gives together, across the world. You can volunteer, donate, or send quilts and supplies — see the African Blossoms page.