Hi,

I have alot of flat sheets that are polyester fabric that I dont use. Since I am a newbie to quilting I am not sure if I can use polyester fabric for quilting. So can someone let me know if I can use it for quilting?

Thanks in advance,

My DGM used to make polyester quilts that would last for years but eventually the polyeaster start to wear away. Great thing is you don't have to use batting because it will be heavy and warm.

You can use it. The drawbacks are that it is slippery (making it harder to cut and sew accurately) and edges may fray faster.

Typically you do not want to mix it with cotton fabric because cotton fades over time while polyester does not; this can make the quilt look odd years down the line.

I would heavily starch the sheets before cutting to make them easier to cut and sew.

I'v always been told not to use sheets because the weave of the fabric is too tight and hard to quilt. But I definately would not use them combined with cottons.

I would not have a problem at all using these sheets for the backing, and machine quilt them.
Just make sure to prewash and dry your cotton fabrics before cutting them, so that they don't shrink. If you don't prewash and the cottons shrink, and your backing doesn't, it probably will give you problems :wink:

I have used poly cotton for years. It doesn't shrink. I like that.

I have used sheets before with no trouble at all

I use to use the poly-cotton fabric to make clothing, I have a bunch of it and if I live long enough I will make quilts with it and I will use polyester batting, will make a nice warm winter quilt. Won't fade like cotton and will wear like iron.
I would use sheets, probably only new ones.

Use those sheets on the back. I find that it isn't a problem to mix poly/cotton and cotton in a quilt. We do it all the time for our guild's Community Quilts. I often use poly/cotton sheets on the back of kid's quilts which will be washed frequently. The quilt police will not come for you if you use these sheets. Why waste a good source of fabric, just go ahead and stitch!

Thanks everyone for the replies. I will keep the sheets and do something with them in quilting. Thanks again! ;)