What Waved in Red Brings to Your Sewing Table
Waved in Red by Erin Borja for Paintbrush Studios is a quilting cotton that pairs a bold red base with swirling dashed lines. The print is part of a 40-colorway blender collection, so you can treat it as a statement fabric or a unifying element in a scrappy quilt. The medium-weight 100% cotton holds its shape after washing, which makes it reliable for piecing and for structured projects like tote bags or quilted pillows.
Planning Your Cut Around the Repeat
The waved pattern is a continuous linear design, not a centered motif. When cutting yardage, decide whether you want the dashes to run horizontally or vertically across your finished block. For a modern quilt, cutting strips parallel to the selvedge gives long, uninterrupted lines. If you are using fat quarters, you can rotate cuts to create chevron-like effects where the direction of the dashes changes between blocks.
Because the print is a blender, it does not require fussy cutting. You can stack multiple layers and cut with a rotary cutter without worrying about matching a specific motif. This saves time and fabric waste, especially when you are working with a limited amount of yardage.
Fabric Details That Affect Your Project
- Waved in Red by Erin Borja for Paintbrush Studios: 100% cotton, 44" width, machine wash cold delicate, tumble dry low. Do not bleach. Standard quilting cotton care means you can prewash the fabric to shrink it before cutting. The 44" width is typical for quilting cottons, so most patterns written for cotton yardage will work without adjustment.
Waved in Red by Erin Borja for Paintbrush Studios - Waved in Red by Erin Borja for Paintbrush Studios: Medium weight fabric which tends to hold its shape even after being washed, making it perfect for quilting and crafting structured garments. The fabric's stability means seams stay flat and blocks remain square. It is less suitable for very drapey garments like bias-cut dresses, but it is ideal for quilts, home decor, and bags.
Pairing Waved in Red with Other Fabrics
The red base and white dashed lines give you two natural starting points for pairings. Solids in cream, light gray, or navy let the waved print stand out without competition. For a scrappy look, pull other colors from the same Waved collection — the 40-colorway range includes pastels, brights, jewel tones, and neutrals, so you can mix Waved in Red with Waved in Aqua or Waved in Mustard for a coordinated but varied palette.
If you prefer a more subdued combination, pair the red with a low-volume print (a small-scale pattern on a white or cream background). The contrast keeps the quilt interesting without overwhelming the eye.
Project Ideas That Let the Print Shine
Modern quilt blocks like the Half-Square Triangle or the Log Cabin work well because the linear print adds movement to geometric shapes. A strip quilt (sewing long strips of Waved in Red between strips of a solid) is a quick way to feature the dashes. For a smaller project, consider a zippered pouch or a tablet sleeve — the medium weight gives structure, and the bold print makes a statement even in a small piece.
If you are making a baby quilt, remember that the red and white contrast is high, which is visually stimulating for infants. Pair with a soft solid like cream or light pink to balance the intensity.
Care and Handling Tips
Prewash the fabric in cold water on a delicate cycle, then tumble dry low. This pre-shrinks the cotton and removes any excess dye. Do not use bleach. After prewashing, press the fabric with a hot iron before cutting. The medium weight presses crisply, so you can get sharp seams without shifting.
Because the print is white on red, test a scrap for colorfastness if you plan to mix it with white or light fabrics. If you see any dye transfer during the first wash, add a color-catching sheet to future washes.
