This might be silly, But does any one use
02-01-2014, 05:55 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 74
This might be silly, But does any one use
100% cotton sheets for your backing of your quilts. I see a lot of you use old comfy shirts for some of your blocks. So would using a sheet work to. I was talking to a friend and her mom used to buy sheets from yard sales and use them. She also said her dad was worried that mom would start taking the sheets off the bed while he was in it and use them. hehehehehe. Sounds like something I would do. I'm just wondering if it would work and if any one has used them before?
02-01-2014, 06:06 AM
#2
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Belgium
Posts: 27
At the moment I'm handquilting a sampler with a backing from a cotton bedsheet.
This is the first time I use a sheet for backing, and it will be the last time. Since I choose this fabric, I learned that sheets are woven more densely then normal patchwork fabric, and therefore it's harder to quilt (by hand). However, I guess that's less important when you're a machine quilter. Also, the thread count on weft and wharp is often different in sheet's fabric, which makes (hand)quilting harder too.
This is the first time I use a sheet for backing, and it will be the last time. Since I choose this fabric, I learned that sheets are woven more densely then normal patchwork fabric, and therefore it's harder to quilt (by hand). However, I guess that's less important when you're a machine quilter. Also, the thread count on weft and wharp is often different in sheet's fabric, which makes (hand)quilting harder too.
02-01-2014, 06:33 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: martinsville Indiana
Posts: 4,461
If I can get a needle though it I use it. Some say you shouldn't but I think that they say that because they've heard said. Of quilt shops and fabric dealers will tell you its a bad idea, I'm thinking it might be so they can sell more product. Quilters have been using whatever is on hand since the beginning.
02-01-2014, 06:37 AM
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: East Oklahoma - pining for Massachusetts
Posts: 10,477
Some ladies in my church quilting group do. I have not. I read one time that they can be difficult to hand quilt through. I do not know for sure, but prefer to get fabric that is actually made for backing.
02-01-2014, 06:46 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 3,430
As a professional longarm quilter, I have no problem with sheets being used for backings; however, I do recommend that low thread count sheets be used and that they be washed before quilting. Older sheets work perfectly.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jcrow
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
95
06-02-2012 01:59 PM
