Last night I ran across several tablecloths I haven't used for years, and probably never will again. Two of them are Irish linen, and I KNOW I will never iron those beasts again .... there are too many easy-care tablecloths on the market.

My question ..... would it be practical to use these fabrics for quilt backings? The linen ones are about 72"x80". I'd be willing to press them one last time for this purpose if it's practical.

But then what happens when you have to wash the quilt. I'd think in a quilt they'd be hard to press.

I've been wondering this too. My mom gave me several cotton white on white tablecloths that she didn't use anymore. I thought they might be too slippery to use as a quilt back, but maybe for a wall hanging?

In my humble opinion, no. You put way too many hours into making the top, don't skimp on the backing and be disappointed.

But, can you use flat bed sheets for backing???
Kirsten

I think it depends. I've used cotton tablecloths before, just because I liked the patterns.

I agree with the advice not to skimp, but there's nothing inherently wrong with using a tablecloth if it suits your purposes.

I use flat bed sheets all the time. You can get them in single pkgs. at Walmart but the ones I like best are single sheets from IKEA. Wash & dry them befor using to remove the finish they put on them. You can't order them from IKEA online. Have to get them at a store. For me it's a 45 min trip you many times I have used the ones from Walmart. I use the leftover scraps in scrap quilts.

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Yes, and I get a lot of mine at thrift stores, yard sales and church sales. I love the deep, yummy colors they come in. I just found some in a deep closet and washed them, one of them is the most lovely deep shade of mint green and the other one I'd put away with it is a lighter shade of mint green. I can instantly see the way I'll put them in between blocks and band it...after I finish the ones that are screaming at me to go to work on them. Right now I'm working on blue colored ones, from pale stripes to a solid, deep blue. I just love the sharp contrasts, and with sheets they don't ever bleed colors.

I actually cut up some old linen to use in block construction. Not sure I would like it as background. But that's me.