Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Sheets as a backing >
  • Sheets as a backing

  • Sheets as a backing

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 04-05-2014, 09:17 AM
      #1  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Jan 2013
    Posts: 333
    Default Sheets as a backing

    I have been reading long arm services and many of them do not accept a sheet for the backing. I cannot find a reason for this. I know a lot of people don't use sheets for backing, but it seems that just as many do. I am having a long arm delivered Tuesday and planned to use a sheet for the backing to practice, play and learn to use the machine. I don't want to do this if it could cause a problem. I am getting a 12 ft majestic Gracie frame with a Tin Lizzie 18 Ram.
    Vera39760 is offline  
    Old 04-05-2014, 09:19 AM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Aug 2010
    Location: Central Iowa
    Posts: 2,347
    Default

    I have a longarm and use sheets remember it's your machine and your quilts and you are the one in charge
    newbee3 is offline  
    Old 04-05-2014, 09:40 AM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    SewExtremeSeams's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2009
    Posts: 7,741
    Default

    I don't know why quilters don't like sheets. We use sheets to back our quilts that we give to people in need in our community. We have a Fred Meyers in town and frequently they put twin sheets on sale for 3.99. They are good count sheets. This week they have an extra coupon we can use for 20% off which brings the sales price of the twin sheets down to 3.19 per sheet. IMHO, that is a bargain since there are more than 2 yards of fabric in each twin.

    Hope you enjoy your new longarm set-up. Happy Quilting!
    SewExtremeSeams is offline  
    Old 04-05-2014, 09:55 AM
      #4  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Jun 2011
    Location: Southern California
    Posts: 19,127
    Default

    I always believed it was the thread count, density of the fabric and having polyester in them. I have never used sheets either because I was taught by Harriet Hargrave that you should use the best fabric you can afford. I don't use anything in a quilt with polyester. I want my quilts to be shown on Antique Roadshow in the year 2052.
    ManiacQuilter2 is offline  
    Old 04-05-2014, 09:57 AM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: May 2011
    Location: Pacific NW
    Posts: 9,560
    Default

    Most sheets have a tighter weave and higher thread count than quilting cotton, and some machines get finicky about that with resulting tension problems. I would say go ahead and try it, if you have a sheet on hand. But I've found that most sheets are more expensive than simply buying muslin yardage.
    Peckish is offline  
    Old 04-05-2014, 10:04 AM
      #6  
    Senior Member
     
    Terri D.'s Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2014
    Posts: 462
    Default

    I would avoid bed sheets because of their thread count and fiber content, particularly if they contain polyester. If you're wanting to use a bed sheet because it requires no sewing to put together a quilt backing, check out the wider (108"- to 118"-wide) cotton backing fabrics available at quilt stores and online. You can get everything from white or off-white muslin to prints or even flannels.
    Terri D. is offline  
    Old 04-05-2014, 10:28 AM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Apr 2007
    Location: Alturas, CA
    Posts: 9,393
    Default

    I don't have a long arm, hopefully one of these days, but I use sheets all the time and FMQ on my DSM and have never had a problem, so I don't know why a long arm would have a problem.
    pocoellie is offline  
    Old 04-05-2014, 10:30 AM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Apr 2010
    Location: Illinois
    Posts: 9,312
    Default

    We love to sleep on high thread count sheets, but the higher the thread count the least likely you should use it as a backing. The combination of a high thread count and the needle size used by longarm machines.. make it likely the stitch hole will break the fibers and it will be a true hole. I once ha a long arm pro take out a good amount of stitches on a batik backed quilt. When I noticed the " holes" where she had made a mistake and taken out a very large section of quilting.. she told me not to worry they will close up. Well they never did, batiks are also a higher thread count, I can still see every hole the needle made. I almost wish she had left the original stitches.
    Lori S is offline  
    Old 04-05-2014, 10:41 AM
      #9  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Dec 2010
    Location: Michigan
    Posts: 11,276
    Default

    I use thrift store top sheets that seem to have been washed a zillion times and are very soft. I have also used 200 count cotton sheets, but they are hard to find. Sheets with this low of a thread count are often a poly blend. I agree with the other posters. Try one and see if you and your machine are happy.
    PaperPrincess is offline  
    Old 04-05-2014, 10:52 AM
      #10  
    Junior Member
     
    margied's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2012
    Location: myrtle beach, sc
    Posts: 239
    Default

    I often use 100% cotton flannel sheets for backing. I have had them done by a couple people on their long arm - they came out perfect and the long arm operators didn't seem to mind.
    margied is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    rvsfan
    Main
    5
    12-05-2017 07:54 AM
    JudyMN
    Main
    82
    08-17-2010 07:06 PM
    EagarBeez
    Main
    15
    07-06-2010 04:03 PM
    Joan
    Main
    11
    04-04-2008 03:28 PM
    Knot Sew
    Main
    42
    03-31-2008 02:49 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter