Dear Stella vs Paintbrush Studio Fabrics — Art-Forward Quilting Cotton Compared

Dear Stella and Paintbrush Studio both occupy the art-forward, bold-print end of the quilting fabric spectrum. Both attract modern and art quilters — but with different aesthetics. Here’s the comparison.

Linda’s Electric Quilters Fabric Expert Comparison

Brand Comparison

Factor Dear Stella Paintbrush Studio
Design aesthetic Bold, graphic, modern — often large-scale Dear Stella Painterly, artistic, illustrated Paintbrush
Print scale Large-scale statement prints Dear Stella Variable — often painterly textures
Collections Strong seasonal collections Both Strong seasonal collections
Modern quilter appeal Very strong Dear Stella Strong
Fabric quality Excellent Tie Excellent
▶ Our Verdict Dear Stella is the modern quilter’s bold statement fabric — large graphic prints with strong design identity. Paintbrush Studio leans more painterly and illustrated. Both are excellent quality and work beautifully in art quilts and modern designs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are large-scale prints hard to use in quilts?

Large-scale prints require careful placement — each cut piece shows a different section of the print. This creates beautiful scrappy variety but means you may need more yardage than expected to get the visual result you want. Allow 20–30% more yardage for fussy-cutting large prints.

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