Muslin for backing
 

It dawned on me today just how good muslin is to back a quilt. I was in the mood to complete a quilt today and I searched around for a fabric for backing. I came across some muslin that I bought on a whim ( seemed like a good idea at the time purchase) so I laundered it and got cracking. Now this is the second time I have used muslin and lo and behold it felt very nice, comforting as a backing. I don't know why I don't use it more often as it really has a beautiful, soft feel to it. Anyone else prefer muslin to cotton as a backing?

I buy it by the bolt to have on hand for backings, etc.

I like it for backings too! There's nothing like a good quality soft muslin!

I've been using muslin for backings for a few years now, with a few exceptions. Why pay the high price of cotton fabric for the back side no one sees?

Cari

It has been used for years. I usually buy a surprise for my back on sale. Maybe with prices going up may have to rethink this.

Are you referring to muslin which comes in white or light beige? Or does muslin come in various colors?

Cheryl

I'm not really sure how to shop for good quality muslin. Washing can bring about surprises -- limp, thin fabric. A while back, someone mentioned something about a good quality muslin that she purchased at JoAnn's Fabric.

Where do you buy good muslin online? The feel of some is so thin.

Muslin is cotton, it is a loose weave. It is nice for backing and especially hand quilting as the needle passes through easily.

I like to use a good quality muslin for backing. First of all since it's a solid color you can see the beautiful quilt stitching, and after time it gets softer and, to me, almost feels like flannel.

Good muslin feels and looks as good as any printed fabric.........using printed fabs on backs has certainly helped pay the rent for many LQS....

years ago muslin was what everyone used for backing. Then pretty backings came along. I use muslin on my wall hangings to. Th wall does'nt see or care.

Muslin is either natural or bleached.....I am now doing a cathedral window using bleached muslin, which I purchased at JAF and it feels and looks as good as KONA white - had a piece in my hand from home for comparison....

Yes, there a many grades, from tissue thin to "good feel"......

I normally use a coordinating print for backing, and have received many positive comments on it, I guess by people who found a plain backing boring. To me it's more about having to clean a light colored backing more often.

I use muslin or sheets as backings all the time.

I've used muslin for backing lots of times. Love it!

Unless the quilt is a throw where both sides will be seen often, I usually use muslin. Why pay lots of $$ for a back that no one will see?

On all most all the quilts I have made, I use Legacy muslin from JoAnn. I buy it buy the bolt when there is a sale and/or I have a coupon.

I love premium legacy muslin from joanns, washes up soft and has a nice weave to it, I use it to embroider

NO, I stopped using muslin because it shows up any little imperfection with my machine quilting especially since the top may be a darker shade. I don't like seeing those dots of ecru thread on a dark top when FMQ.

This is what I do too, buy the wide backing muslin by the bolt. Inexpensive and works great!

I enjoy a muslin backing, depending on the quilt top design. But I wouldn't choose muslin unless I were using off white thread. I just love the look of off-white stitching on the muslin, but would not care for a contrasting thread. But some quilts really seem to want a printed fabric backing, and others seem to want a pieced backing for added interest. I always consider muslin first, though.

Always my favorite for backing and I often use it for background fabric also. Kona Premium is my favorite and can often be bought on sale at Beverly's!

Where I grew up in the midsouth USA, it was called bleached or unbleached domestic. You try going into a store in any other part of the country and asking for that.

I buy good quality extra wide muslin by the bolt, and at least 99% of my quilts are backed with it. Very seldom do I use any other kind of fabric.

love working with muslin. (when we were first married, and too poor to buy "good", high count sheets for our bed, i bought muslin. after that first washing, they became favorites, for their softness and comfort. now i can't find them. *sigh* progress...

I have used muslin for backing quite a bit. I also buy it by the bolt in white and unbleached. I have also found a cotton sateen in wide widths at my local fabric store that is so very nice to use as backing as well as piecing. It has such a nice drape to it and it comes in a number of colors. I keep white and black handy for piecing too.

Back in my DGM's day that was about all they used. It makes a beautiful backing.

I prefer not to use muslin because of the light color. I think light colors get dirty too fast. I have seen one muslin in a darker brown that might work.

I LOVE muslin for backing quilts! I have been backing my quilts for years this way. Muslin just gets softer and better with time and holds up beautifully if you buy quality. :)

I like muslin too. I bought a bolt from JoAnns and it was the better quality muslin. I use it for backing and as background on my tops. I did buy a packaged backing in wide width which was not the 'good' quality' but after washing it is soooo soft. My mother used muslin for everything including curtains.

Ditto...used it for many years now...

I love muslin for quilt backs , all those beautiful quilting stitches really show. Yes I use the quilt "upside down" as often as I put the piece work side up. Its like looking at a whole cloth quilt when the back is 'up".

I have used muslin for backing quilts also, especially when the pattern or front fabric is an older style quilt, I agree muslin feels great when it is washed

me too. premium $12.99 a yrd. 116 inches wide tho. cotton/poly blend. i just bought 2 bolts with a 60% off coupon. i put all my energy into a beatutiful top, and then love the ease of using this premium muslin on my quilt backs. I bleach the scraps and you use it for white fabic in quilts sometimes.

i go in and feel the muslin, then order it unless i have the end material info off a bolt.

I put in some time ago that I use Muslin from Jo Anns. I order it by the bolt, have only been able to find at the store once. It is 90 inches wide and it is Legacy Studio muslin. You pay somewhere around 7 or 8 dollars a yard but I wail for the sale or coupons.It is not flimsy at all great to quilt.

I've used Kona solids from Joanns- in ecru color. I think it looks good with a older looking quilt top. I'm going to be looking for the Legacy studio muslin that others are mentioning!!

I use muslin quite a bit although not as much as I used to if you get the higher thread count it really is softer I alternate between muslin and Kona backing fabrics it mostly depends on the front of the quilt (color wise).

My LQS has the bleached and unbleached and also carries the distressed muslins in different shades of browns and beiges, grey, even a deep lilac purple. Looks terrific with civil war quilts.

at one time, nice muslin was considered a premium fsbric.