Osnaburg fabric
 

Hello - - have any of you used Osnaburg? I have some that I was thinking of using for quilt backs. I think it will give an old time feel to a quilt . When they call out OS-350 do you know what that means?


https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric...n-45-inch.html[h=1][/h]

I haven't used it but I've considered it for a homespun quilt.

Where you looking on the Townsend's web site? I believe OS-350 is their stock number for that item. Townsends' osnaburg looks coarse and slubby compared to Dharma's. It maybe more authentic for the reproduction clothing they offer.

OT PS- If you enjoy history, Townsends has a YouTube channel with lots of great videos.

The only time I have ever used Osnaberg was when making a chenille vest and it worked great for that.

I used to use it when I had the rug business. It is loosely woven and will take dye, puff up when washed and shrink when washed in hot water dried in a hot dryer.

We're talking back in the 1990 here....so many items were made of Onsaburg for country crafts, my speciality was dolls, bunnies and bears. I enjoyed working with it. But it is a looser weave so tighten your stitches a bit when using for a quilt backing and wash and dry so that it fluffs up before cutting.

thank you for your reply.... I have never used it before and I just was hoping it would work for the backing alright. Yes it is from Townsend and it is a little rough, but it looks very vintage and homespunny (is that a word?? :) )

I would just hate to put it on the back of a quilt if its not going to last

Consider how it will be quilted. Very difficult by hand. Machine quilting might be ok with tension and stitch length longer. Consider the nature of the fabric you are working with when deciding. I know you have the fabric and want to use it.

I remember using some a long time ago but not for quilting. I can't remember what I made with it. Isn't it more loosely woven ?

I used to make "Homespun" Curtains with Onsaburg. It looks like oatmeal, tan with dark brown specks. I would think it would feel rough in a quilt.

Years ago I bought a quilt kit in clearance and the back ground squares that the house are appliqued on are from Osnaburg material. Here is a link so you can see it. http://allthingscheryl.blogspot.com/...-is-built.html It is not loose weave and does not look as dark as the picture of the material you posted. Maybe there are different grades/weights?

yes I will be machine quilting. I don't know that is a really loose weave. It may not be as tightly woven as some, but it seems to be similar to the homespun fabric that I have used in the past

Dharma website says it has a soft hand after washing. But...it also says "this shrinks 8% in Length and 3% in Width", so this is one I would prewash.

I bought some on Amazon a few months ago to use in an embroidery project. It's much too coarse for a quilt, imo, and it wrinkles like crazy. It was fine for an embroidery design that was framed. It closely resembles burlap, but is a finer weave than that. I assume there are different weights and stitch counts, and perhaps there are some that would be more suitable for a quilt. I had a lot left over, and decided to make dishtowels, since some vintage dishtowels are made of it. That was how I found out about wrinkling. I don't like the idea of having to iron dishtowels. The picture shows what they look like coming out of the dryer and after ironing. This is unbleached, and perhaps the bleached version is much softer.

yes - that looks like exactly what I have :) Thank you for your reply

I did prewash, but I didn't consider wrinkling :confused:..... hhmmmmm My main concern is that it doesn't fall apart ha ha ha

your embroidery looks great on those... but I know what you mean about ironing

Could unbleached muslin give the same look? The weave would be tighter and probably more durable. Buy enough of each to make a potholder or something small...wash, use, repeat...how do they both react to use? Then you can make a good decision without a huge investment.