flat sheets
 

To those who use flat sheets for backing, what so you do with the edges of the sheets? Do you just leave them on and cover over them with a border on the back side , or do you cut them off. What about the border on top of the sheet?

I cut everything off so all I have is a huge piece of regular cloth.

I use sheets all the time, especially flannel. I cut off the edges, and the top. They work really great.

I usually cut off all the hemmed edges of the sheet now. When I first bought sheets to use as backing I picked out all the hem stitching and iron it flat--it did give me more fabric--but I decided it wasn't worth the time to do that!

Same here. For family and friend quilts I almost always use sheet for backing. Less expensive and no one has ever complained.

I also cut off hemmed edges unless I need the extra fabric....then I take out stitching. Since a lot of them are chain stitched it goes very quickly. And if it isn't, if you carefully slide a seam ripper it will come out easily. I have found out that many sheets are not square, so I make sure to do that before I put it on my frame.

I unpick the hem if I need the additional fabric and as cheryl222 mentioned, many sheets are not on grain, so I tear the edges off to make sure I wind up with a large piece of straight fabric.

When using sheets for backing be sure to check the thread count of the sheet. I use the 200 thread count sheets. Any thing above that will be difficult to stitch.

I have only used old sheets as foundation for foundation-pieced crazy quilts, and I just rip them up to get my squares.

But by doing this I have DEFINITELY noticed that most sheets aren't on-grain, some have been really far off!

I to pick out all around the sheet with my best friend the seam ripper it gives you a little extra fabric that way and make sure it's square up evenly