Double knit - What would you do with it?
 

I have a lot of double knits from the 60's and 70's which my husband picked up at an auction a few years back. I've been wondering, do you think it would make good lap quilts for nursing homes (w/o a batting)? Would they be happy to get it, or do you have some better idea of how I could use it? I am open for all kinds of suggestions. Thanks for your considerations. Margie

Some people love the quilts made of double knits (my DDIL for one) It is warm and never wears out. I Hate it am so glad I don't have to wear it. It is very easy to sew on. Contact the organization you wish to donate to and see if they can use it. Possible other uses are pet beds.

you could cut squares and make quilts with them. maybe 1/2 inch seams and sew those down. should make nice quilts. i used to make all my dresses out of that long ago. i hated ironing and this was wonderful.

My church likes double knit to make items of clothing to be sent to third world countries. These countries wash their cloths on rocks and double knit wears longer. Maybe there is an organization close by you that does humanitarian type services such as this that would appreciate a donation either for quilts or clothing depending on size of pieces.

I have some double knit quilts my grandmother pieced over 30 years ago that are just like they were when she pieced and have been used practically daily for tents, putting on the floor for picnics with the grandchildren and keeping warm, which they do an excellent job. I tie tacked all of them, some with sheets for backing, some with quilted fabric backing and some with double knit backing. They are great, would not trade them for anything.

I reciently used a piece of double knit for the back of a nursing home quilt. They told me that the quilt withstands their washing machines. Also it stays on laps in wheel chairs better because it isn't slick. The top is cotton.

Thanks, everyone for your ideas. I especially liked Kat Sews idea about using it on the back of lap quilts to make them stay on laps - as I have that problem myself. My lap slants down toward my knees and everything falls off. I used to wear a lot of double knit back in the 60's and loved it then because you didn't have to iron it. But I don't want to wear it now.

This is my understanding as well. I make quilts for local pet shelter and the dogs love the various textures of the double knit squares and they are easy to launder. I do 10 to 12-inch squares and then either tie or SID with a quick stitch in the middle of the block with flannel backing, or sometimes without backing.

I'm sleeping under a quilt made of double knits years ago by my grandmother. Very warm.

I just found a piece a couple of days ago. I tossed it. It's so scratchy even the dogs wouldn't want it for a bed. I think that's why we were all glad when it went out of style.

A friend of mind cleaned out her deceased mother's home and brought me a few boxes of double knits. Knowing I would never be able to use them all, I called a lady from the local quilt guild. She was thrilled to get them to make lap quilts for a local nursing home.

Years ago my mil made us a double knit quilt. It was a tulip pattern. She hand pieced and hand quilted it. It was a beautiful quilt, but it was sooooo heavy. Could only use it in the cold of winter. She put a lite-weight batting in it. This was all before I started quilting. You may have guessed------I washed it in the washing machine and it fell apart. I was sick; however, I was sicker after I learned to quilt and found out how much time and work she put into it. A lesson well learned.

A friend of mine makes rugs with double knits. She uses a canvas for the base and cuts the double knits into squares and folds them on the diagonal to make triangles. She makes the rugs oval so she starts sewing in the center and sews the triangles on so they overlap and sews in a spiral.

I use double knits to make large stuff sack draw string bags. They are great for holding a sleeping bag, pillow and extra blanket for camp or to haul laundry home from college. My daughter was always dragging hers on the ground heavily loaded with laundry and they took all the abuse. I use my preserving kettle lid (18" diameter) to draw a circle for the base and a width of fabric (it's 60" wide) to make the sides, stitch the drawstring casing at the top and insert the cord. I've made them for all my kids, their cousins and friends and the local Girl Guides and Scouts. Everyone loves these sacks!

I am sleeping under a double knit quilt every night and love it. I have several that my sister made.My husband and I cover with them for lap quilts every day. I wouldn't get rid of them for anything. Try one.

I learned to sew on double knit in the 60's. But I can't imaging a quilt made from it,
anyone have pictures they're willing to share?

I think it's a wonderful idea to make lap quilts for a nursing home.

I have an aunt that uses double knits for all of her quilts because they last so long. I have one that she made me 15 yrs ago and still looks the same as when she gave it to me. She wants them to used not just seen. She however uses a very thin batting or flannel and they really do well in the nursing homes and hospitals.

DON'T CUT THE POLYESTER!!!! STEP AWAY FROM THE SCISSORS!.... I love double knit and have used up all I had..... it is THE perfect batting for baby quilts.... pretty soft, cotton top, soft, cotton back and one layer of double knit inside... it is lightweight, dries in minutes in the dryer, is wide enough for all baby quilts (or laprobes) and never separates or gets lumpy even if washed a thousand times... my boys both stood and waited for their quilts to come out of the dryer... with this for batting, you can steal it during nap time and have it clean and dry before they wake up!

My in-laws always use double knit in their quilts, but they also do it all by hand. It is alot warmer and they use no batting. Right now, as a new quilter I am sticking to the cottons.

Double knits are an excellent choice for making quilts for the homeless. The extra warmth is great, and they will dry out faster. If you don't want to work with it, there are charity sewing groups who will be glad to accept it as a donation.

Yes, double knits are great for the third world countries as well as anyone that wants a very washable, rugged blanket. It is great you are looking into using this for charities and or nursing homes.:thumbup:

Ooops. It also is great for making rugs for all the same reasons.

do the same thing Scissor Queen's friend does. Cut in 2 inch squares and make rugs. They wash and dry very well. Catch all the mud that somehow wants to come in. Also they work really well for mats in the car.

Another great idea! I totally dislike it when people is dismiss double knits. So many great uses and your suggestion is just awesome! I make clothes pin bags out of mine. I have some to make lap quilts too. Always something we can make with it!

Some people make braided rugs from the knit.

I just bought some jersey today at Joannes (it was 30% off) to make my daughter a maternity belly band (see link). Maybe you know some pregos who can use one!

http://diymaternity.com/pants-skirts...-a-belly-band/

I like to use double knit as the back on mug rugs. Tends not to slide too much.

I think double knit alone is cold, so I'd never use it as a lap robe without batting.

NOW, I do like to use it for the back of kids' floor quilts. Tough fabric and can withstand being on the floor.

My son's absolute favorite quilt was the one my mother made him almost entirely of double knit fabrics from the 60's and 70's. She threw in some flannels for good measure.

We used to shy away from using it for quilts but I noticed my guild's 2012 community service project is laps quilts for hopsice, veterans, and babies, and one of the fabrics they list that you could use is knits. So, sew away!

I think nursing home quilts is a great idea! I'm sure they would love it, and it would withstand the frequent washing in the industrial washers they use.

I would love to come across some old double knit,it lasts forever! Makes great utility quilts!

Yes. I have seen many like this and doing this uses up the fabric and keeps someone warm at the same time,

Nursing homes love the double knit quilts. They can boil them and they never wear out. I used up all the double knits I had and did applique on them, no batting and used a flannel backing.

I had a lot and used them for backing on lapquilts for the local shelter and nursing homes

We at church mixed them and made quilts for the homeless. Gave them to the shelter to give out. They love those. They last forever and are warm.
:):)

I bought a double knit trip around the world it was so pretty got it for $5.00 it is queen size. My hubby loves it.
My moma made him another queensize quilt with lots of double knist and several other fabrics and he uses them both in the winter. They are to heavy for me to sleep under but he loves them.

Yep, I never turn down double knit!

A group in our little town collects fabrics to make items for the nursing homes and the homebound. They use double knit for lap robes. They collect towels to make bibs, etc.

My grandmother had tons of double knit fabric that I inherited when she passed away. I found it worked wonderfully for the backing of a beach blanket. Sand just shakes off! I made a wonderful quilt using double knit for picnics and beach trips.