I use sheets a lot also. No problems and it sure is cheaper than backing fabric.

That would be fine for you, but unless you stitch a label on it with a cold water warning, think about who in the family it might pass down to and what would happen in a normal wash. And if they're like my bunch you get, "But you never told me that!!!"

I'm another one for the Quilt Police!! They are going to have such a busy week!!!

I use sheets ALL THE TIME!! Sorry but its the only way I can afford to do it!

I do buy 110 inch wide sheeting from a very nice man on the market in Leeds when I am in the UK and that needs prewashing as its sometimes a bit grubby here and there - but at £1 a metre I don't care!!! AND he has it in loads and loads of different colours!

I pre wash new sheets out of packets too - to remove dressing and creases. :)

I haven't either!
The hot water must be the difference. I never wash anything in hot water.

I prewashed it in hot water specifically to achieve maximum shrinkage before using it because if someone washed it in hot water after I'm dead & gone and it shrank the 16" then, totally ruining the quilt I spent a million hours working on, I'd still turn over in my grave! Hopefully they'd not use hot water, but you never know, as Betty K [above posting] pointed out!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, FRIENDS!

In doing research for a prewashing quilt fabric for my website, I took a visit to the quilt store and checked the ends of bolts.

I was shocked to find that the manufacturers are recommending (on the bolt itself) for most quilt fabric to be washed in COOL water...sometimes lukewarm...lots marked with "Use a Delicate Cycle". There were even a couple of bolts that stated in black and white...DO NOT IRON...don't iron quilt fabric. Obviously some man in an office came up with that one.

So I pretty much always wash in warm. I figure if washing in warm changes the fabric too much, then better to know before I put it in a quilt and someone else washes it.

Julie

At the Jo Anns where I go, the quilting fabric is poor quality. I think JoAnns fabric has gone downhill since it became a multi craft store.

16" shrinkage is frightening. Lucky you washed fabric before using.

Wow I think you migjt have saved me from making a mistake too! I'm not ready for backing yet, but I would have been headed there! I really don't have a choice since its the only option here.....guess I might order on line or go to a sheet (which I've never tried).

I really appreciate the warning, I've bought some reasonably priced cotton today for a cot quilt, and i am going to wash it tomorrow just in case. I think I might zig-zag round the pieced top and put that in too, then if it shrinks it is shrunk before giving it away. Very interesting thread thanks.

You will NOT get kicked off for suggesting sheets as quilt backings 8-) LOL ...
I totally agree .... too much shrinkage, and waaayyyy too much money! Sheets are not recommended for hand quilting, but I have read a thread here where the gal said it didn't seem to be a big deal trying to hand quilt through sheets as backing.
So, there is a heads up about sheets - - pretty hard to do if you are hand quilting ...
other than that, they are well-priced for what you are wanting to do, and by golly! Seems to be a more efficient use of our $$ resources, if for no other reason <wave>

I, too, always pre-wash fabric in cool water. So far I have never had a problem. I'm glad you pre-washed that fabric . Even though it was terrible for you to go through all that shrinkage, you would of been heart broke if your quilt was finished & then washed it.

Wow! That's way too much. 8 inches is too much. I don't buy fabric from JoAnn's. Im lucky enough that our LQS will honor JoAnn's coupons so I buy there. The sheet idea sounds great. Try Tuesday Morning's mark down areas.

I took batik fabric back to Joanns when it lost color in spots in the wash and they took it back with no problem.

I bought 108 wide fabric at the LQS and found fabric at Joann's that I believe was exactly the same.

I have used sheets many times. Love the feel. Quilt police have not got me yet and my family doesn't know it is a no-no.

I began working in a quilt shop three years ago. Have I learned a lot. One thing is to always purchase quality fabric. Some quality fabric manufacturers are Hoffman, Kaufman, South Seas, Benartex, and others found in quilt stores. I gave away all my fabric that I had purchased from fabric chain stores. The quality is very different with higher thread count, better thread and better processing, thus a higher price, but well worth it.

Also, we always piece our quilt backs, often using the same fabric as in the quilt. Many of our quilters make a simple design from their scraps, and then the quilt is reversible.

This is awful, I hate shopping at Joann's. It's the only big fabric store I have the next other than Joann's is 150 miles.

I have been disappointed a number of times. But sometimes I just bite the bullet and buy from them.

For this reason I always use sheets.

I would think that much shrinkage is just not right and I would talk to them in person.

If you don't care for Joanns and do not have a quilt shop near by, try some of the quilt shops listed for fabshophop. You can get quality fabric and find some good sales, too. The only drawback is knowing how true the colors will be. If you buy kits, you are pretty well assured the colors will coordinate.

They will take it back if it is unaltered in any way from when you bought it, that is to say uncut/unwashed, but even then you must have your reciept.

But I did return some red toille once that had bled dreadfully, and they took it because it was obviously unuseable, no problem with them.

LQS - This is a new name for me. Are they an online store too.

My thought exactly!

Hi juneayersa. LQS is local quilt shop. :-)

BTW, I ordered a rotary mat from JoAnns thinking it was a rotating mat only to find out that if you want the mat to rotate, you have to order a "spinning mat." I sent it back, but they said it will take 2-3 weeks to reimburse me (debit card purchase), and they won't exchange it for the one I wanted in the first place. I will have to reorder if I buy it from them. I used a 40% coupon for the first one. I'm not paying $60 for what I call a "cutting mat," when I already have three of those. Is it just me, or is it ridiculous that the play on words causes confusion. I could be the only one to make that mistake, but I think the description should describe the item, not the tools to use with the item. I was so disappointed. I was finally going to be able to "SPIN" my mat and now I can't and don't live that close to a store where I can go in a buy one. Wah! Ok, I'm over it now. Thanks for listening. :-)

Thanks Brenda for the info

June

Quite welcome :-) Never be afraid to ask a question here. Everyone is so nice. I was pretty shy for a very long time and waited until someone else asked what I wanted to know. lol I would not hesitate now, though. :-)

"LQS" means local quilt store...so much easier than typing the whole thing out...

Julie

I was in Joann's just a couple of days ago and they had co-mingled their "quilt fabric" in with their calicos at $9/yd. But their description of "quilt fabrics" was not what we would call quilt fabrics at the LQS. Also the store is such a mess.

I use fannel for the backs cause they are cuddly. As I tell those who get a quilt, if they complain, they will never get another and if they put it "away to save it" they will never get another. Mine are made to be used and abused with smiles.

I guess I will be right behind you with the quilt police..... I have made several quilts with sheet backing. never had one single problem. it is usually the fabric manufacturers that tell you NOT to use sheets, and of course they would..... They need to make their almighty dollar. The reason I used the sheets for my backing is because I could not afford to by the fabric, and now with cotten going sky high in price , who knows what we will come up with.... YES I use sheets, and proud of it.

The flat sheet is a very good idea. Where do you ladies buy them?

I just got a couple at IKEA. Good quality and inexpensive. I think others have said Target has good quality ones too.

I use plain (or tone on tone) white or off white cotton fabric for backing. You can get it pretty inexpensively, and if washed the same as the rest, it shrinks about the same. I have never had any piece of fabric shrink 8"...that is just astounding! Please take it back...they need to have the manufacturer informed about it so someone else doesn't get the same thing. It's not just you that is affected by this bad fabric, so if you speak up, you may save someone else from it. Also, our local Joann's was remodeled about 2 years ago, and their fabric quality has gone up since. Much better fabric, although the price has also gone up some...though not much...maybe $1 per yard.

I simply do not buy fabric for quilting at Joanns any more. I have had too much trouble with fading and shrinking.

one question...why the need to wash material in hot water?...would I be washing the quilt in hot waater later on down the line....sorry....still new at this...
thanks

I get flat sheets from Walmart. I find the cheapest storebrand and they are packaged individually so I don't have to buy a set. The cheapest have a fewer thread count and are more like quilt fabric. I even found a decorator line with bright colors that perfectly matched a bright aqua that I used for my DD's quilt. I hand quilted a queen size before I "knew better". It seems they were around $6 or $7. If I were trying for a competition quilt, of course, I would spend a lot more for backing. The other advantage of the sheet is that I don't have to be so worried about seams being straight. I always find that difficult with batting sticking out around the edges before I trim it.

For quilt backs do you get the 100% cotton sheets or the poly/cotton?

I always get 100% cotton. I feel it is more absorbent and comfortable - unless color is an issue and then I weigh the advantages of each.

Don't forget to pre-wash sheets too, if you're using them for backing! They also can shrink badly.

LQS= local quilt shop

for those who've jumped into the middle of this, or who have gone straight to the last page, pistol packin' mama did tell us that the store manager offered to take back the fabric.

i'm not clear about whether she chose to return it or keep it, but she was offered the option.

please remember to think before you post. not every individual joann's store (or any other chain store) is exactly like every other. neither is every LQS exactly like all the others. different people run and work in each store. please don't judge, trash or bash all of Joann's (or chains or LQS) based on your individual experience.

"quality" is a subjective term and a personal assessment. it's one thing to acknoweldge your blessings and to say you are able to indulge your personal preference to buy expensive fabrics. i'm sure everyone is very happy for you and would love a chance to roll around and shop in your stash. however, when you trash [for example] joann's fabrics you are, in effect, telling people who do buy and use them that they are either stupid or have bad taste or both. that is unkind, not necessary, and not true.

Sorry for you. Sounds like another good reasons to always pre-wash all fabrics.

i use flat sheets all the time...and i like to get them @ the thrift store if i can...not that i'm cheap or anything lol