Muslin...???
 

I bought some unbleached 100% cotton muslin on sale for half price...$1.50! Now.. is this kind of 100% cotton the same as the 100% cotton we use for quilts? The fabric is a tad thinner than the Legacy 100% cotton I use, however, it is about the same as the 100% cotton Country Classics (which is a dollar a yard cheaper than the Legacy).

Any thoughts about it? Can I use it same way as other 100% cottons?

What about the thread count ?? -- that to me is the biggest factor that determines like for like....cotton/muslin. Some muslins have very low thread counts and would be less stable and would not hold up as well over time.

there are many different weights of muslin- some are very thin- some are very heavy- and then there are the inbetween ones- it depends on what you are planning to use it for whether or not it is (substancial) enough-
if it is about the same weight as other cottons you have used in quilting projects it will probably be fine-
if it is a thin(loosely woven) mulsin sometimes washing/drying it in hot water will tighten up the weave some & make it better.
the greatest thing about muslin is it gets softer & softer with time- a great (basic) fabric. if it's not so thin as to see through it and you like it- it will be fine to use.

I have used bleached muslin in several quilts, nice weight, I can't remember where I got it. Would love to find more. Years gone by muslin was used for backings and piecing. As with wash cloths, towels, flannel, etc.most muslin gets thicker. If it feels good, buy it. Don't know that I would buy it if I couldn't feel it.

Personally I think the Country Classics fabrics are thinner than I generally like to use.

Jan in VA

You really need to wash it before making any decisions in what you want to do with it. I bought the "Legacy" brand at Joann's. 108 inch width, I am using it for Cathedral Windows and cut off a little over a yard - because it is going to shrink, and washed it in very hot water. It came out so nice!! It ironed well and I used the June Taylor cutting form so make a bunch of squares. Haven't had time yet to make any, but the muslin which was bleached white came out just what I wanted. In the beginning I was not so sure.

As mentioned do wash and dry it. I have seen some muslin that wrinkled more than any fabric I had ever seen, and took alot of steam and seemed like forever to iron out the wrinkles. That was a lesson I learned the hard way.