I have some 400 count white sheets that have started to fray on the hems, and the fitted sheet actually tore in the middle... only 2 years old!

Anyway, I'm looking for some creative ideas on recycling them. 400ct is too tightly woven for quilt backs.

If the sheet is already tearing in the middle, I would not think it would hold up in a quilt for long. I use my old sheets as covers for furniture or carpets when contractors are working in my house.

I've used sheets as batting for light wt summer quilts.

I use them for temporary bedding for my animals. I guess they like the smell of the family on them, I don't know.

The thread count is good to use as fabric printing. You need to prep it with Bubble Jet - but then you can run it through your inkjet printers.

Foundation blocks for scrap quilt top? Lining for shopping bags or purses?

Love these ideas, more along the line of what I'm looking for, creative uses. Thanks!

Me too..its easy to sew them up in a pillow shape and put an old pillowcase inside stuffed with scraps and batting bits. (Just in case they decide to dig and tear it..I'm not constantly picking up things.) The dogs love it. =)

I've made pillow cases out of sheets. I'm surprised that they didn't hold up better though, considering they were only 2 years old and had a 400 thread count.

My hubby tears them into strips and uses them to tie up tomatoes and pepper plants.

i dye them, with Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes, and soda ash for a fixative for cotton, then i tear them into strips and make crochet rugs, i just buy the primary colors and tub dye, so sometimes they are beautiful, sometimes ugly, but at least i have something to do with them. (providing they have not been stolen for rags, lol)

I use mine to cover our porch furniture during the winter months

drop clothes for when you paint.
Mom used some in the garden if she heard of an early frost possibility to cover plants to protect them.

If you sew clothes, or wand to try out a pattern for domensions, fitting,etc. use the old sheets for your trial. If you like it, you then have a fabric pattern to go by.
I did this with dresses I fitted bridesmaids for. I used old sheets for the fitting "dress". Used them up and didn't add any cost to the bridesmaid.
I have also used the sheets for pillow stuffings. I make a pillow out of the sheets and stuff it, then place that in the pretty pillows that I have created. This makes the outer case washable/cleanable easier.

Some terrific ideas, thank you all!