After buying Bonnie Hunter's book about using recycled men's shirts for quilts, I decided to make a lap quilt for DH using Diamond Star blocks.

http://www.quilterscache.com/D/Diamo...ock_Page2.html

I have collected plaid and striped shirts for my lights and bought civil war repro prints for the darks.

The blocks will be so busy, solids for the sashing and borders would probably work best. Can I use corduroy to give it texture? If so, which direction should the wales run?

I would think it would be super heavy with corduroy

I used pink corduroy for a backing and it came out beautiful, it was my daughters favorite quilt when she was little. The nap/wales goes down.

The problem I see is the corduroy being so heavy it could pull on the lighter weight fabrics during use. I would back the other fabrics with a heavier interfacing to strengthen it and then because it will be heavier you would not need any batting, just a nice flannel backing.

I would think corduroy would be fine for sashing and borders on a man's quilt. It's not all that heavy (comes in many different weights actually) and I've mixed it with cottons in quilts with no problems at all. I love corduroy quilts!

Whichever direction you choose for the wales, it would probably look best if they all go in the same direction (mine were vertical). You also need to make sure the nap goes in the same direction on each piece, otherwise they will look like different colors because of the way light hits them.

If you decide against the corduroy, take a look at cotton broadcloth, like Kona cotton solids. It has a heavier hand and more pronounced weave than cotton prints, thus adding texture, and would calm the look of your other fabrics.

You can use any type of fabric for a quilt. I saw one quilt made with vinyl/plastic baby bibs sewn in a block.

I have an image of someone waking up with the lines embedded in their skin.
Wonder how long it takes that look to wear off?

So funny Moonpi. :D :D :D :D If it's no to heave corduroy I think you could use it.

LOL!!! I think it depends on how old and wrinkled you are to being with... :?

This is for my husband to use while he watches TV in his recliner-- he doesn't care about getting lines or wrinkles!!

If I do end up trying it, I will probably use the fine wale, also called baby wale corduroy. Usually Hancock and JoAnn's will have several masculine colors this time of the year, hopefully on sale so I can get those lengthwise border pieces cut out without seams in the middle.