How do you do that?
 

Someone mentioned removing the wires from an electric blanket and using in a quilt as a batting. How do you removed the wires without cutting the blanket into tiny strips?

On one I had many years ago, I cut the plug off the blanket & then started pulling the wires . You will have to gather the blanket to get the wires out, but it works. A friend had told me that is what she use's for her quilt's. Now something to look for at garage sale. LOL. :D Let us know how you do. :thumbup:

I can hardly believe anyone would go to such lengths to avoid using regular batting. I don't get it.:confused:

Jan in VA

I like using blankets instead of batting. 1. you don't have to quilt at any particular distance, the blanket will not care. it drapes wonderfully for me, I love the softness, it doesn't get stiff, or migrate. If I want a summer quilt, I use a sheet blanket,(a thin one) and it isn't too heavy. I cannot afford to go get battting for every quilt I make, so it works out for me to use blankets.

Where do you buy the sheet blankets? I can't seem to find them any more.

I understand using regular blankets you have on hand, but Jan is right in that this is an extraordinary amount of work removing the wires embedded in heated blankets. I would suggest garage sales and second hand stores for finding gently worn sheet blankets. As a matter of fact, I just saw a brand new still packaged blanket at a yard sale & haven't been on the hunt for any.

I use batting that I buy on sale or with big discounts but I only buy larger cuts. I cut it down for my project and use all the bits for my smaller projects.

Sometimes one has to make do with what one has.

Electric blankets usually have a bias tape type covering over the wires and I took all of that off to get the wires out---lots of time and effort to do it. Was sorry I had used the thing in a quilt because it weighed a ton (queen sized quilt). My daughter liked it tho--she likes a heavy cover on her bed. Won't ever do it again tho.

One of the things I like about this board. Everyone has an opinion, and can express it. You can use the infomation provided in feedback to make a decision as to whether or not you would do a certain technique. Can you imagine if no one shared ideas, and no one listened to others opinions? This is just a great place to hang out! Haven't really thought of the blanket issue, but I will now.

I can understand this. I, too, live on an extremely limited income; if it were not for my extensive stash from having owned the shop years ago, I likely wouldn't be quilting today. But getting batting the way it was described would certainly end my piecing habit! I'm grateful that I had batting, am occasionally given batting, can beg batting remnants, and also have used what was leftover from the Barracks Quilt Project here of a year ago.

I DO get using what one has.

Jan in VA

Have to correct myself as to the above post about electric blankets---it was an electric MATTRESS PAD that had the bias tape stuff on it and that I took off---that why it was so darn heavy. Sorry about that!!!! Old age kicked in again.

A person can also get used blankets at thrift stores very cheap to use in their quilts. I have some to use, just have not been able to yet.. as the quilts I have made have been either way to big or small for the sizes I have.

Thany you to TnBecky for your info. To the others who questioned my request/sanity(?)--I had been out of work for three years and finally found a minimum wage job but only 8 - 10 hours a week. I have student loans to pay and a credit card-neither is forgiving of nonpayment. I am 64 years old and need to work. I believe that if I paid good money for something that no longer is functional as purchased and can be used in another manner it is sensible to make do with what I have. Besides I like the challenge. I count my blessings where I find them every day. Hope I answered your questions. Make it a good day

I sure would like to know where to buy sheet blankets, also. I have looked in stores and surfed the internet. Hope someone knows where to get them. My mother used sheet blankets and she also took the wiring out of electric blankets and just bound them or used them in quilts.

+

You said it !! much better than I could of ! ^5 to you !! and you are so right !!

First let me say Hello to another quilter in TN. About the electric blanket trick, I talk with a lady in OK & she is the one who told me about this. She is 86 & has more knowledge than I could ever imagine. So why not recycle blanket's just like we recycle fabric, shirts, jeans or anything else that we have laying around. Let's just call it being "Green". There is no sense in throwing something in the garbage when you can use it in a wonderful quilt. I hope that you have fun doing this & NEVER let anyone discourage you from trying. :thumbup: I hope to see picture's of your quilts someday. :D

Sometimes I will buy fleece to use in a quilt if it's alot cheaper than batting.... And just what is a "sheet blanket"?

I am amazed at everyone's ingeniouty.

!!! I don't waste --- that's why I re-use the electric blankets! I don't use them as batting, but I DO have them ready for grandkids to use on the ground outside.....I don't worry, if the blankets get torn or stained -- big deal, it was a "throw-away blanket". :) :) :) And I didn't think it was all that hard to take the wiring out ---have had to do more than one snip of the blanket....but got them out.

Now that's another good idea. :thumbup: I would not have thought about that. Thanks.

[QUOTE=nycbgirl;5192964]Sometimes I will buy fleece to use in a quilt if it's alot cheaper than batting.... And just what is a "sheet blanket"?[/QUOTE

MANY years ago when my grandparents passed away we got two very thin flannel blankets. My Mother always called them a sheet blankets. My sister & I used them as a cover when we took a nap. They finally wore out, but they were so soft & full of great memories. :D

I bought some blankets at a thrift store, and am in the middle of a five quilt project for my staff.. I gave thm the option of using poly batting, cotton batting, or blankets.. Staff chose blankets.. I think for mine I'm going with the cotton..

Some of us are at a point where we have to make do as much as possible in order to keep on creating. I for one can not buy batting even on sale at this time . thankfully i stocked up on batting a few years ago when things were better and will be able to continue making quilts for now. I do use blankets and layers of flannel as batting in charity quilts.

My grandma made one like that it was so heavy no one could sleep under it. I still have it but it needs a lot of repair done to it. She made it in 1967.

I read about using electric blankets for batting on here a couple of years ago. So when my electric blanket died I just made a few cuts and tuggs, the wiring came right out. Guess I'd better check my UFO pile, haven't seen it in a while. :eek:

In regards to "sheet blankets"--try looking at the thrift stores for flannel sheets to use??--would this be the same???