My mother made a polyester top, with some of her old clothing. When she died, my 2 brothers and I each got a quilt top, one mom made and 2 from our grandmother. My one brother wanted the polyester one because of the memories. I backed it with fleece and tied it. My brother loves it and says it is very warm. I must say it did turn out nice.

You have all given me such wonderful suggestions, so I'm going to try and incorporate them and finish this quilt in the near future. I had never thought of flannel for a backing, but that's what I'm probably going to use and make it a purple or pink one since those were Mom's favorite colors. Thanks again to all of you for being so helpful. I really enjoy reading this quilter's message board.

Is this knit polyester fabric? The kind that is relatively heavy (compared to quilting cottons)? This would be the kind of fabric knit pantsuits were made of in the 70s.

Or is it the kind of polyester fabric that is about the same weight as quilting cotton?

spray batting has never worked as well for me on polyester as it does on cotton. it holds things in place only long enough to baste [again] with big running stitches or pins. :hunf:

then again, i don't have a longarm system so must alway prepare my sandwiches for a regular machine.

sooooooo ...

You've received a lot of good answers here. Remember to wash the flannel first because it shrinks a lot. Enjoy.

HI Quil,
Well since you live in AZ, you most likely do not need the warmth so much. Yes it is a must to sew with a ballpoint needle. In some thrift stores you can still find the old polyesters. I have apile I just washed... I have been gathering to make some more camping quilts. You can not distroy them.
I would NOT even attempt to put it on the long arm to quilt.
All the stretch, and since it is stretchie already, that is the kind of a binding I would also put on it. Tee shirt knits are wonderful for backing them. And I have always tied the ones I have made throuh the years. Good luck in finishing. and also I wouldn't even bother putting a batting in it, just the backing, for they are so heavy already. Just my thought's , hope we have all helped you. Yes I agree this is a wonderful place to ask and get the best ideas.... Many more miles of Happy Quilting,Connie

my grandmother made a quilt much like the one your mom made. heavy old polyester. Grannie's was the rail fence pattern though. I'm still repairing it. She just used an old blanket on the back of it. It is the warmest thing ever! She never finished it so I am going through and repairing seams and tyeing it. Grannie used whatever she had to make it and that meant thread from the cotton mill she worked in. Some of it was not the best quality.

When my Granny died I got one polyester quilt top and two cotton ones. Granny didn't make them but she bought them from a lady that lived near her so the woman could have money for food. That being said, I finished the polyester top for my Neil for his birthday with my hand in a cast to my elbow. I used a twill cotton for the backing. Then I used a heavy cotton quilting thread and did the hand quilting X in each corner of the quilt. (Not across the whole block because it's a stretch fabric.) But each junction corner. It's held up to laundering, it's warm, and he's still using it on his bed. I didn't use a binding, I did the envelope method of closing it in after I got all the quilting done. He loves the quilt because it came from me and his great granny. He won't even let his nephews and neices use it when they come to visit. :?

Hugs

ps: I would show you a picture but he's wrapped up tightly in it with our temperatures in the 20s. :lol: :lol:

are they made of that old, heavy double knit stuff from the 70's? or the lighter weight poly blends? if they're made out of the old stuff, i worked with that and good luck.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-22163-1.htm

btw, i finished them in the years indicated, but they hung around all the years in between after my kids cut the 1/2 squares. at ten for 1 cent.

It is the relatively heavy polyester that pantsuits and skirts were made from in the 70s.