Poly/Cotton blends
 

I like Poly/Cotton blends better then 100% cotton..... I deal with all kinds of material, and so far have not had any problems with my quilts from other materials..... I always wash n dry before using... Don't get me wrong.... I like the 100% cotton too, but it's not the only thing I use..... Anyone else out there like me? :-)

I use it for backing sometimes, but prefer cotton on the tops.

I have used cotton blends a time or two, but they seemed 'slippery' to me and I had a hard time keeping even seam allowances. But if they work for you, go for it!!

I like to use all the same fabric in a quilt...unless a crazy quilt maybe. Since cotton is so plentiful...I don't look at anything else.

Way back before I "knew better" I bound a quilt with a scrappy binding that consisted of some cotton and some cotton/poly blend. I still have the quilt, it's the first one I ever made. The cotton binding has worn through, the cotton/poly binding hasn't. I'm thinking a cotton/poly blend might be a good idea on a quilt you think might get a lot of wear.

I don't care for cotton/poly blends in any kind of blanket, bedding, quilt etc. I find that even a small amount of polyester, since it doesn't breathe at all, is way too hot for my taste.

It's fine to use poly/cottons in quilts as long as you understand how they differ from all-cotton. As someone else mentioned, poly/cottons are more slippery to deal with. The biggest issues are that (1) they wear differently, as quiltsRfun mentioned with the binding, and (2) they fade differently. If you mix the two types of fabric in a quilt top, the cottons will fade over time while the poly/cottons will retain their original bright colors. This can create quite an unappealing quilt top over time. This is the major reason why I would use either all cotton fabrics in a quilt top, or all poly/cotton fabrics in a quilt top.

I'm a big fan of the "if you like it, do it" group of quilters.

If it works for you, than it is OK. I agree that the poly /cotton binding will last a little longer, but that is the quilter's choice.

Poly cotton pills over time with washing, and it is hot.

I do applique & have run into problems using WonderUnder with anything other than 100% cotton (I called Pellon & they said it is designed to be used exclusively with 100% cotton). So no more poly or poly-cotton fabrics for me.

And Mdegenhart is right, the cotton will separate from the polyester over time with repeated washing, resulting in pilling. 100% cotton will fade, fray & thin, but you don't get the horrible pilling like a blend. That said, quilt with what you like. :) Cotton makes me happy, so I quilt with all cotton fabric, thread & batting.

Sorry, I am not some type of purest but I just prefer sewing with cotton. I haven't used Polyester batting since cotton batting by Hobbs was invented.

I have made quilts from blends... back many many years (before LQS)ago finding 100 percent cotton was not easy. These quilts are still in use , and the colors still vibrant. I have have even made quilts from poly double knits. They heavy and very warm and wear like iron. I find that what ever works for your purposes is what you should go with.

i have used poly cotton in donation quilts, but like to stick to cotton most of the time.

Nope, I don't like blends at all. They don't press well and smell when ironed. IMO, they're yucky. But, to each their own...

I use cotton rich sheets for my backing sometimes. Can't be a satin sheen sheet as that's too slippery for me. I love seeing what others have done using different fabric in their quilts. My husband's grandmother made a quilt using men's wool suits. We have several of her quilts and I dearly love them. She used what she had and rarely purchased fabric. I love the thought of that (being what pioneer women did all the time). That being said my personal choice is new 100% cotton. I would however like to make each of my kids a quilt from different clothes they had when growing up. A story quilt if you will and they are not all 100% cotton.

One of my grandmothers made quilts with poly blend, and they are durable and bright and seem like they'll last longer than cockroaches. BUT they don't get that super soft touch to them like aged cotton does, and the lack of fading is kind of a drawback to me. It's just not quite as "cozy" compared to her cotton quilts that are of the same age and that show their age much more. So for me, I prefer cotton because I LIKE that it gets old and soft and faded and worn. But it's just a preference, I don't think either is "wrong".

I haven't ever noticed that her poly/cotton quilts were warmer than the all cotton ones. But I think she used poly batting in all of her quilts and I imagine that'd hide any difference coming from the pieced fabric's materials. (Or maybe I'm just not very observant, lol)

I once made several quilts out of sheet fabric and they are wonderful for being on your bed. I wash them a lot and they hold up wonderfully. We seem to be hard on bedding and my cotton quilts, even with good fabrics don't last all that long so I am slowly starting to look for sheets to use plus I like a sheet on the back.

Use what you like! Just make sure you use all cotton or all cotton/poly. I would not mix fabrics because of the way they wear.

I made two quilts for grandkids with a sheet on both sides. (Mom's choice.) That was more than 10 years ago, and those quilts spent two years on a boat in the Caribbean. They are still around and the fabric is still whole.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.... I have actually learned some things that I never thought of....so for now on when making quilts other then my scrappies, I will diffidently stick to one or the other.... won't mix the cotton and the blends...... :-)

I agree with you. I like the sheen of poly/cotton and the dyes seem more permanent. Blacks especially. Just like the poly/cotton threads, I think the fabrics are stronger.

I love this! And I agree!

But I do need to add to this..... I have always mixed my fabrics, and so far have not had any problems.....other then, I have noticed the cotton has faded some.... which is no problem for me.....But I still like the poly/cotton blends better....As long as I can sew something together to make a beautiful quilt...............???? I'm good.... ;-)

I make a lot of memory quilts out of loved ones clothing. They are not all cotton or the same thickness of fabric. I put backing on the thinner fabrics & they turn out fantastic. I don't limit myself to just one fabric. I use just about everything in these types of quilts. Some quilts I will use all cotton or all poly/cotton blend, but not always. It is what you prefer to use. Just don't let the quilt police know. :~) All is fare in love (sew) & war (quilt).

I have some cotton-poly sheets that have been in use for years - and are getting very thin in the middle - and they are as soft and smooth as can be.

Years ago I used leftover poly blend fabrics from sewing clothes. Poly blend fabrics look very good for a long time past the looks of 100% cotton fabrics. I have some I plan to use. I make quilts now from 100% cotton because I have many, many yards of it.
You can make your quilt however you want and use whatever fabrics you want to use.

I have no problem at all working with poly-cotton blends. If I like the fabric, I'll use it. Not combined with 100% cotton, but with other poly-cotton

I agree 100%!! Ignore the snobs!

I will occasionally use a blend, but I try to make sure that there is at least 60% cotton when I do. I just like the hand of fabric with a higher cotton content.

The first quilts I made were poly/cotton. That was 30 or more years ago and those quilts are still like new despite having been washed many times. I use 100 prcent cotton now because it's all I can find, but if poly/cotton were more readily available, I would use it. froggyintexas

I like sheets for the backs. otherwise I use what I have that is available.
A short note: I was at the HostFest in Minot N.D. watching someone make lefse. He noted that I was quite interested and asked if I made lefse. yes I do His advice was to use poly/cotton when making them (and steaming them). A dish towel is cotton and is made to absorb moisture. You do not want this when making lefse. LQS did not sell poly/cotton when I got home I checked and sure enough I had sheets made from poly/cotton

"And Mdegenhart is right, the cotton will separate from the polyester over time with repeated washing, resulting in pilling. 100% cotton will fade, fray & thin, but you don't get the horrible pilling like a blend. That said, quilt with what you like. :) Cotton makes me happy, so I quilt with all cotton fabric, thread & batting."[/QUOTE]
Hi, Back in the late 50's and 60's, I think much of the fabrics were polyester/cotton as was thread. I noticed that quilts given me for my wedding came apart at the seams after a few years of use. The thread seemed to 'cut' the seams at the seam line rather than the thread breaking. Has anyone else noticed this? Also my husband's poly/cotton handkerchiefs seem to lose the cotton after many washings and all that's left is the thin polyester (which isn't much good as a handkerchief anymore.) I assume that is what will happen with the polyester/cotton fabric in quilts. And your polyester/cotton sheets get really thin after a lot of use. The cotton gets abraded against the stronger polyester threads and falls out. That's my theory. Am I wrong? Eunice

When I was a new quilter I used cotton poly blends. I discovered that some of the fabrics pilled , just didn't work as well as the cotton fabrics that I used with them.
Sharon in Texas

That's been my experience & also what I've read on the topic. Of course, fabrics & threads, in general, have improved quite a lot since the 50's & 60's. Unfortunately, some of that is due to chemical processes. So I'm finding myself having to spend time researching even on the 100% cotton fabrics to see what has gone into/onto them. That is also why some threadmakers recommend using the "weaker" 100% cotton threads over stronger blends. I know some of the designers for Aurifil have said they use Aurifil even though it can break easier than other threads because it is designed to be roughly the same strength as most cotton quilting fabrics -- resulting in something that almost weaves together with the fabric, rather than pulling and fighting it. That said, there is a time & a season for everything. I have used mono thread when I was in a rush & didn't want to have to keep changing threads for a small table runner. Poly & poly-blend threads & fabrics can hold color better than cotton & you can get special effects with synthetics that you would never find in a pure cotton. I'm sticking to all cotton for my baby quilts, but can imagine someday maybe creating an art quilt using all sorts of synthetic fibers.

Finally, the detergents we have in this decade are far better than those in the past. In earlier decades, detergents were much harsher & many people believed it was best to wash in warm/hot water & dry in warm/hot temps as well. That treatment will certainly cause fabrics to degrade much faster than washing with a mild detergent (no dyes or perfumes), no bleach, in cool/cold water on the gentle/handwash cycle followed by drying on low heat or laying flat to dry. In the 70's, 80's & 90's, people also seemed to store items in plastic bags a lot. While plastic bags can keep some things out, they also can keep other things in. So I'm not sure everything can be blamed on the material. There are advantages & disadvantages to each type of fabric. The most important thing is that it results in a happy quilt recipient in the end. If someone is super happy with a quilt that lasts 20 years versus moderately happy with a quilt that lasts twice that time, it's hard to make a case against the fabric even if it does develop some issues over the years.

Quilt with what you like. Synthetic fiber artists aren't lazy & 100% cotton fiber artists aren't snobs. We all have our favorite choices & there's room enough in the quilting world for every one of us. :)