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.