Cotton knit sheet for backing ?
 

Can a cotton knit sheet be used as a quilt backing ? I have one with sock monkeys that would be really cute for a child but I wonder if it will be a stretchy mess.

Never tried that so I am guessing, but seems like stretching would be a big problem, similar to t-shirt quilts. Perhaps if you used a stabilizer, it would make it more workable. I think I would cut into the sheet and do a small trial piece first. Then if it was manageable, go on to your quilt with it.

You might be able to use it as a backing if you quilt it on a frame, but i just don't know. I did use a piece of cotton jersey (meant for apparel) as a backing for a quilt, but quilted it on a frame. It came out very well.

But a jersey sheet stretches so much more than the apparel jersey did, that I won't even hazard a guess about how well it will work, even on a frame.

Save you knit fabric for something else. All the work that goes into making a beautiful quilt deserves a nice cotton backing. I have a fellow quilter that ruins her quilts by not putting a nice backing on.

I use Minkee on the back of baby quilts. It's very stretchy but I quilt the baby quilts on my DM without any problems. I spray baste and pin. But I agree with sewingitalltogether, don't ruin a beautiful quilt with a cheap backing.

Knit is stretchy so I wouldn't use it.

I've used polar fleece as backs on a couple of quilts and didn't really have any problems and I quilted on my DSM not a long arm.

I think it could work, but will take a bit more preparation than normal. I believe you will need to use a spray baste to keep every inch stuck to the batting while you quilt.....and be ready to do more quilting than normal as any areas bigger than your fist will sag/stretch without quilting. I have knit sheets on my bed and they do stretch, but add some extra warmth in the winter. It is your quilt, so don't let someone else tell you that your quilt will be ruined with a knit backing!

I think if I were going to use a knit sheet for backing I would spray baste AND pin baste and quilt from the back(have the back facing up) using an all over close quilting design. Sometimes I quilt from the back any way if I'm doing an all over design and I don't want the piecing to distract me.

Cari

I have thought about doing this. Did you use batting as well? Thanks.

I'm sorry. I should have explained in the beginning: the cotton knit fabric in question would be used in a church donation quilt and will be tied, not quilted. I didn't get a reply from anyone yet that has done it successfully so I probably will ditch the idea.

I was going to say that I would tie it. I have worked with stretchy knits and quilted small quilts on my DSM but larger ones I tied.

I am afraid you won't like the results if you tie it. Anywhere it isn't tied, the knit fabric will stretch and sag.....not even close to an ideal situation ;(