Windham snuck up on us. One day it was a handful of bolts, and now the Windham wall at Linda's is sitting at 445 active pieces - big enough that customers keep asking me where to even start. So here's the decoder: every major Windham family we carry, what it's for, and where to jump in.
The Solids: Artisan and Ruby & Bee
Windham runs two solids programs and they solve different problems. Artisan Solids are shot-cotton style - the warp and weft are different colors, so the fabric shifts as it moves. Look at Yellow/Turquoise or Red/Royal and you'll see two colors living in one bolt. We stock the range from Aqua and Mint through Black and Grey.
Ruby & Bee solids are the flat, saturated program - Windham's answer to Kona and Bella. The names alone are worth the browse: Unicorn, Sea Glass, Delphinium, Pasture, Ink, Limeade, Cream Puff, and Salvia. If you're comparing solids programs across brands, my solids comparison guide covers how these stack up.
Goodness Gracious: The Feel-Good Everyday Line
This is the collection I keep pulling for gift quilts. Soft palette, hand-drawn feel, mix-and-match by design. The Foraging prints (Almond, Navy, Teal) do the heavy lifting, the Collaged Phrases (Pale Blue, Cotton Candy) add the words, and the Little Ditsy Flowers (Peach, Cotton Candy) are the blender glue. Round it out with Back in the Day, Embrace, and Be Free.
Blake, Bliss, Circa and the Moody Corner
The Blake collection is romantic and dusty - Packed Floral in Charcoal, Elegant Bouquet in Mauve, Ditsy Stems. Bliss New Day and Oxford Dottie play the quiet supporting roles.
Then there's Circa - the gothic reproduction line quilters either walk past or buy the entire run of. Poison Green is exactly what it sounds like: Flourishing Soot, Vine Hunter, Labyrinth, Double Dot, plus Circa Purple Ditsy Stem. Night Rainbow keeps the dark-background drama going with Paprika Spot, Blueberry Spot, and the Blackberry Boundless binding print.
Novelty and Kids
Up Up Awoof is the dogs-in-airplanes collection your grandkids will fight over: Flying Buddies, Jetsetter in Hunter, Take Flight in Dusk, Make Your Mark. Miniatures brings the tiny pets (Happy Pet, Spotted Kitten), Catsville covers the cat people, and One of a Kind Puppies covers the rest of us. For the guys: Man Cave Billiard Balls and American Road Trip. The Treasure Hunt panel is a fast baby-quilt center, and Count on Me pairs counting friends with stars for I-spy quilts.
Sparkle: The Christmas Metallics
Windham's Sparkle program is metallic-accented Christmas yardage that reads elegant rather than glittery - Sugar, Forest, Cherry, and Leaf. These sell through every fall, so if you're planning holiday projects, buy the yardage when you see it.
Flannels
Two cozy programs: Camp Blanket (Black, White) and Falling Leaves (White, Coal). Windham flannel has a nice mid-weight hand - substantial enough for backing, soft enough for rag quilts.
108-Inch Widebacks
One-piece quilt backs, no seaming: Multi Measure, Carnival, Our House in Charcoal, Winter Medallion in Black, and Navy Wanda. Three yards backs most queens.
Organics, Blenders and the Singles Wall
Orchard & Grove is Windham's organic cotton line - Coral MICK, Mint Birdies, Navy Orchard Floral. For blenders and low-volume work: Lush Basics in Parchment and Charcoal, Teeny Paisley, Navy Damask, Decorative Tiles, and Our House Shirting.
And the singles worth knowing by name: Talisman Blue Ring, Pen and Ink (plus the Offset Square), Celebrate Day, the Peekaboo Daisy trio (Magenta, Turquoise, White on White), Be Colorful Purple and the rainbow stripe, Eden Cloud Puff, Garden Tale Daisy Trail, Ebb & Flow Genesis, and Landscapes Twinkle Twinkle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Windham Fabrics known for?
Windham is known for high-quality quilting cottons that span reproduction prints, modern designer collections, two full solids programs (Artisan shot cottons and Ruby & Bee), organic cottons, flannels, and 108-inch widebacks. At Linda's we stock 445 active Windham pieces.
Are Ruby & Bee solids comparable to Kona Cotton?
Yes - Ruby & Bee is Windham's premium solids program with a similar weight and hand to Kona and Bella Solids. Artisan Solids are different: they're shot cottons with two-color weaves that shimmer as they move.
Does Linda's carry Windham 108-inch wide backing?
Yes - we stock several Windham 108-inch widebacks including Multi Measure, Carnival, Our House, Winter Medallion, and Wanda. Three yards of 108-inch backing covers most queen-size quilts without seaming.
Is Windham flannel good for quilt backs?
Windham's Camp Blanket and Falling Leaves flannels are mid-weight cotton flannels that work well for quilt backs, rag quilts, and cozy throws. Pre-wash flannel before piecing since it shrinks more than standard quilting cotton.
