JoanneS

Wow - this thread has been an eye-opener! I guess I've just believed what I've read in the quilting books. I did have a lot of trouble hand quilting a quilt with a sheet for backing once, so I never tried it again. However, I had not washed it several times. Maybe that was why. Now I only machine quilt, so maybe I'll try a sheet again. I LOVE this board!

farscapegal

I don't use sheets for my backing. I like for the back of my quilt to have some of the fabric I use on front or something that goes with it.

Just my preference.

Sybil

Shelley

SOME sheets work just fine. Others cause major problems. I have one on the machine right now, and I'm at a loss what to do.

It's an old (previously) hand quilted quilt. Some of the threads have worn away, and she just wanted me to put machine quilting in the missing areas. This quilt has been wash numerous times. It's been well used - some of the embroidery has been worn away, too. It has a very thin cheap batting.

It was one of her first quilts, and she's been doing this a long time now.

I've used every white thread in the place, top and bottom. I've adjusted tension, speed. I've even said bad words (then promptly apologized - my studio is in a former church). I use a practice piece on the side and get beautiful stitches, with every combination of threads. Move to the quilt and get cr@p!! Huge skips.

If it weren't for previous bad results with sheets, I wouldn't know the problem. For the charity quilts, all of us who use the longarm to quilt them have said no more sheets, unless they are flannel. It's not worth the hassle.

butterflywing

i've used sheets . no problem with whites, but the dark ones lose their new look after washing. that crisp color is gone. as for thread count, bring it on. i don't mind changing a needle in exchange for a backing that lasts forever.
i've even wrapped the edges and they do not wear out at all. i've been very satisfied. i only use cotton and i pre-wash, especially darks. i buy or make matching pillowcases. one twin sheet will give you four pillowcases, if you don't mind ones with seams all the way around.

MaryStoaks

I usually use sheets for backing. I find them at discount stores, thrift stores, garage sales etc. I always have my eyes open for a bargain sheet or fabric. I like to find all cotton but If it's poly/cotton it works too. I like the higher thread count but you can't always have everything. I quilt with my Tin Lizzie, no problems, I do change needles often. I have used 108" wide cotton quilt backing fabric, it's very nice for "special" quilts, but give me a sheet for the price ( used sheet >$3 vs. $30 for the wide quilt fabric).
Mary

Prism99

Have you tried changing the needle size? I'm thinking a size larger needle, and possibly a sharp (to pierce the sheet threads) rather than a universal type (which is supposed to separate the threads), might work better.

Mousie

i must have gotten the same piece of mail from them! I want to machine quilt in sections, so using a sheet is not my thing, and also don't want different weights of fabrics in my quilts. just me. :D

Mousie

That's sounds about right to me...touch wood, Blue...LOL! :lol:

Barb M

Shelley, i like hearing what our long-arm quilters think, because you know more than anyone from experience, so it's good to know your experience. I use bedsheets for my backs and my fronts, but i think if i was doing a quilt with all nice quilters cotton, i think too maybe i'd want the back to be same quality as the front. So much to see in everyone's point i think :)

JeanDal

I used a sheet one time and it seems to be doing just fine.