kellen46

I have been making quilts for a long time now. I was taught by my dear Mother in law Emma. We were very poor and lived on a cattle ranch. Not only was there not much money but not much shopping and not too many trips into town. We "shopped" for fabric at white elephant sales and thrift shops. Back then most clothing was made with 100% cotton fabric. The first quilt I entered in the County Fair was string pieced onto old newspaper with a flannel sheet as a bat. No you don't have to tear off the paper, just leave it in and with the first wash it will just melt into the batting. It is wood fiber mostly so it blends with both poly or cotton. If the newspaper is at least a week old the ink is dry and will not rub off. If you are still reluctant you can go to the local newspaper and buy the partial rolls of newsprint, they are two short for a paper run but still have hundreds of feet left. I pay one or two dollars. It also makes great paper for kids to draw and paint on also. Oh yes and that quilt I made with the newspaper, it won a blue ribbon. Emma said that is how her mom did it, she said leaving the paper in just gave you some extra warmth. I also re-use old exhausted dryer sheets, I am allergic to most every thing including scents. I buy unscented to start with and then go from there. I have never had a problem with them in quilts. If Emma taught me anything it was " Use it up, wear it out, or do without" I swear that woman was recyclingng genius long before recycling was heard of...I saw her once take a bag of old double knit pants some one had given her, and they were faded and worn to the max, and turn them into the some great looking re-upholstered kitchen chairs. I think she could have made bindweed jelly if she turned her hand to it.