Has anyone made a quilt with upholstery fabric? I saw some beautiful ones in a fabric store in Ohio. They were all done in squares.

Idk, but I'm going to watch this topic. I have some of the ugliest yet cute upholstery fabric that was given to me. I don't have the heart to trash it and lord knows I have no idea what to do with it!

Yes I have .. but do pretest the fabrics for washability( some are dry clean only) . Larger pieces definately work better than small units. Many upholstery fabric needs a wider seam allowance ( 1/2 inch) and becasue its bulker .. press seams open or intersections can be very very thick.
A thinner batting is best , since there is so much more weight to the upholstery fabric.

yes i have- and i have used some for backings- in my old home town there is a little (novelty shop) ran by an interior designer and her husband (or maybe he's the designer- i don't know ) anyway- they offer bolt ends of left over's really inexpensively- i was lucky enough to pick up a couple beautiful bolts of fabric that retails for $65 a yard- it was 72" wide and there were just under 4 yards on the bolt- all for $20! one was a beautiful satiny cream fabric the other an embroidered burgandy/gold. i wish i was closer to that shop :)

I use upholstery fabric for the backs of walker bags fir the Veterans and other crafty items
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-104467-1.htm

I'd be worried about the quilt's durability. It seems that upholstery fabrics are often more loosely woven than the cottons we quilters usually use. I'd definitely consider doing a wider than 1/4 inch seam. If you make one, be sure to post the photos! :P

I made a "throw" for a chair as my first attempt at rag-quilts. I didn't have enough old jeans, but I had three books of upholstery samples that were given to me. For the back side of the blocks I used lighter weight fabrics from sample drapery books which were also given to me.

This thing weighed a ton, which is why it did not go on to become a full sized quilt. One word to the unsuspecting newbie at rag quilts; do not attempt to wash this at home. TAKE THIS TO A FRONT LOAD WASHER AT A LAUNDROMAT. (Yes, I ignored Dry Cleaning recommendations.)

Sew your 1/2 inch seams TWICE. I don't think I could have been happier if I would have seen this in a designer catalog and received numerous compliments. Keep in mind, it is not for the physically weak. It is a full upper-body work out, and unless your muscles are ready, they will talk to you loudly for days to come.

I don,t know how to add additional info after I started. I did try to make a quilt from the upholstery fabric and ripped it apart as I had trouble keeping the squares even. I probably needed wider seams as you suggest. I never thought to put in a batting as it was quite thick and I had a piece of velvet type to use on the backing. I think I will take it out again and see what I can do with it.

I was also in a fabric store that sold upholstery fabric on rolls and had stacks packed together for only 2.00. It is now closed. I wish I had been able to pick up more. This was in Marietta Ohio, where my sister lives.

I went to a yard sale today and the lady used to make drapes and stuff and had some beautiful upholstery fabric. I thought "quilt back or whold cloth wall quilt" but wasn't sure. Then someone else came and was looking at it for chairs so I didn't have to decide. I did get some cotton $6.00 for a 4 yd 22 in piece and a 1 1/2 piece!

Glad to see this topic. In Hobby Lobby the other day in the remnant bin I saw a piece of fabric I liked - 54" wide, one yard piece - looked like cotton - I found the bolt of it in the decorator section and it is 100% cotton, but it is treated to help reduce staining. I thought I would use it as purse lining - or wonder if whatever they put on it would wash out. It feels just like regular cotton.

Most upholstry and drape fabric is treated with something like scotch guard. I have used cotton decorator fabric to make small quilts successfuly. I presoaked the fabric in the sink and hung to drip dry. After the quilts were finished I washed them and there were still beautiful.

Upholstery fabric is awesome for all sorts of bags. I buy ends of rolls and use it for all my bags.

I have used lots and washed most all of it with no problems-
I have a large window quilt that is all small decorator samples--weighs a TON--and yes, my back and arms hurt after wrestling it to sew it together.

Velvet can be squirrely. and doesn't play nice with the other fabrics. It doesn't even play nice with other velvets. So if you do decide to take it out, use pins to hold the velvet in place. I should ask if it was a whole piece of velvet for the backing.

yes it was a whole piece and I also had some 5" squares of it too. I will have to play with it again, thanks for the advice.

yes it was a whole piece and I also had some 5" squares of it too. I will have to play with it again, thanks for the advice.

Do you have pictures? I have stacks and stacks of pretty upholstery squares that I need to either use or release. Thanks!

Craft items yes, but with the thickness of upholstery fabric, I wouldn't want to deal with the thickness from the 1/4" seams.

Yes I have, I break all kinds of "quilting rules". As has already been mentioned prewash, wider seams, bigger pieces, and obviously machine piecing and quilting. The only pics I have are of my two most recent, they are meant for curtains. The quilts I've done are no longer w/ me but w/ friends and relatives.