Bleached muslin versus white fabric - help.
 

I have been shopping for white fabric, there are so many choices and price differences. Finances are a bit tight right now, so I went to jo ann's for the coupon comotion sale. the solids were already on sale, and then I looked at the muslin area, the most expensive 90" wide bleached muslin actually looked like a better quality than the most expensive white fabric they carry (less lint sized in with the threads that the reg solids). It was made in USA also - important to me. With the 50% off it was 5.50 a yard, I bought 5 yards. Is bleached muslin okay to mix with regular cotton.

I use muslim all the time...never hadg.. a problem, and I like the feel of it too..I use it a lot in my quilts and as backin

Muslin has a different "hand" than, for instance, Kona solids so I use both depending on what the colored fabric will be and what kind of feel I want to bring to the final design.

I bought a bolt of that muslin--same width--and it lasted for a long long time. I used it for everything and anything. It is very versatile and easy to sew. It is a very good buy. Have fun trying to use it up!!! 5 yards of 90 inch wide fabric is equal to 10 yards of regular fabric, so your purchase equals $2.75 a yard. Not too bad IMHO.
Sue

You're just fine with that -- I use it often myself as I love scrappy quilts. If I'm doing a quilt with fine fabrics then I make sure all of the fabrics have the same 'hand'. That's the only time I worry about it.

Ive used it many times,very economical

I use muslin all the time also. Last week I was in Walmart looking for white fabric and I found some great white in with the muslin, it was very nice, great weight and thread count. It was about 8.00 a yard but it was 108 inches wide, so it was like 2 or more yards in one. I bought a bunch as I use a lot of white.

I love good muslin! Just make sure you pre-wash it! :)

Just make sure to prewash it - this is one I'd dry completely. Once you do that, then use it anywhere. I don't worry about fabrics having the same hand. Once they're cut and sewn, they go together just fine, IMO.

I agree. I use bleached and unbleached muslin all the time. Sometimes for backing as well.

I consider muslin ( the good quality) to be a corner stone of my stash... its my go to fabric for soo many things. When I get a good deal .. I buy a bolt of bleached and unbleached. I mix it with everything from batiks to flannels. As others have said, do preshrink, it does tend to have more shrinkage. Even the "premium" preshrunk still has about a 3 percent shrink to it.

I have not heard that term "hand" before. Does it mean the same as thread count?

Yes I agree with you about the weight compared to most of JoAnns solids. I've used the bleached and like it just as much as Kona.

I use muslin in any pattern that calls for white or natural, and all my quilts (many, many) are backed in muslin. Of course, a good quality muslin is a must. I have even made drapes for a bedroom out of natural muslin. If you drive thru any Amish country look at the windows---white muslin curtains hang there.

I do not like what I call "painted" white fabric.....that paint will wash out and then one has just "plain" white fabric anyway. And I don't like the "dust" it creates while one is working on it......looks like white snow........So muslin is my choice of white/natural everytime....

hand means the feel and drape of a fabric. does the muslin feel and drape like other fabrics you will be using on the same quilt.

When if doubt, I prewash fabrics, and yes I have used the muslin from JoAnn's. Just remember the origins of quilting started with scraps of anything people could get their hands on...mostly old clothes. No one had quilt shops they went to and spent big money on fabrics. I know there is a ton of opinions on the subject, but for myself, I am not a "show" quilter. So for my projects a variety of fabrics are just fine with me. My very first quilt still hasn't disintegrated, been eaten by bugs when I used starch, or any of the other horrors we've heard. And that for me is rather unsettling, since it was pretty awful, and I would have prefered to see it die in a slow death!!! hahahahahaha

I use muslim all the time - and do mix them when I have that need.

Muslin is fine. I buy it by the bolt. Used to use it for quilt backs but now the trend is for printed backs so I don't use the muslin as much any more,but it works fine.

Go for it! Muslin is cotton, after all. Just wash and dry it and you'll have to iron it too, but it works well.

I also like muslin and use it for piecing and backing. Presently I'm using Moda's Bella muslin as the background fabric in a quilt for my granddaughter, love the color and the 'hand' of the fabric. It was on sale too, 120" wide at less than $8 per yard. A 1 yard cut of it equals 3 yards regular width fabric so you know I'm buying more when I can. I've used some lesser quality muslin for foundation piecing of string quilts. I try to pre wash and dry all my fabrics just so there are no surprises when the quilt is washed. May in Jersery

What is muslin used for besides backing? Is it a substitute for batting?

I use JoAnn's muslin both the white and the unbleached. I find the best quality available and have bought it by the bolt. It's a good deal and I love the 90 wide for my mid sized quilts. I always use the 50% or 60% coupon for muslin in large quantities.

Another great use for muslin is that if you don't have the exact color or pattern in a piece that you want, you can die it to be exactly what you need. Many quilters do that first and then build their quilt around their exquisitely dyed muslin. You don't need to buy special muslin to dye, but do buy the special dyes as their color fastness and ease of use are so important. You can also use the pigment pens for small pieces.

Here in Australia what you call muslin is called calico. I love to use it but I process it by washing & bleaching it several times. We can buy it already processed and called quilters muslin but it's at least $25.00 a meter. Unbleached it's under $8.00. Actually the more you wash it the softer & whiter it gets and it wears well for years.

A friend gave me a large quantity of white muslin and I've used in a t-shirt quilt for granddaughter. Didn't pre wash (never do) and I really was wanting some wrinkling - but nothing. If it shrank - I couldn't tell it.

TanyaL is right on the money RE: muslin for dying.... i've been experimenting lately with dying small batches - and believe it or not - i've been using the T-shirt dyes and T-shirt dye kits from Walmart. We used those a couple of years ago to make T-shirts for all the kids in the family - and they are still just as bright as when they were made - and believe me - they've had LOTS of washings - and have been passed down as they older ones grew out of them. Needless to say - i buy it by the bolt too when i have my trusty JoAnn coupon !!!

muslin has been used in quilted projects for generations! of course it's ok to use...i know people who ALWAYS use muslin for quilt backs & backgrounds for appliqued blocks---muslin is a pretty basic staple in many sewing rooms.

I love the feel of muslin. It seems to soften each time you wash it and it looks good forever!!!! I'd say you got a good deal!

I use muslin quite often if I want an off white, just make sure it is all cotton!

Speaking of dying it - you can also use tea or coffee to dye it - to get an aged look and I have heard if you need a skin tone for applique or dolls, the color density depends on how much tea/coffee used and how long it is soaked. I have heard just be sure you dye enough the first time so you have enough for your whole project. I am thinking of trying it.

Marysewfun

Muslin is 100% cotton. I use it all the time and have never had a problem.

I love the feel of muslin so much that I used it to make my wedding dress for a garden wedding. Floor length skirt with a light blue ribbon and lace border around the hem and a peasant blouse with the same trim. I had blue silk flowers and baby's breath in my hair. It was so pretty. Twenty-nine years ago. Still can wear it except it is a little too long now. I must be shrinking.

Thanks so much for the information . I really appreciate it.

This is just how I feel about Fabric also, I use what I have and can get my hands on.

It's the quality of the muslin that matters, not whether it is muslin or not. Remember, fine batiks are generally printed on fine bleached muslin.

After reading this thread, I am going to have to go and buy myself some more muslin! Thanks everyone!