I heard that also---then thought about how many hundreds and hundreds of times a sheet is washed. The ones I have look great and are a couple of years old. And they were cheap.

Some designers, etc in the quilt world have a mission to support quilt shops and that is fine with me. However, if I can come up with something different and works for ME..I will use that.

I will check out Target next shopping trip there. thanks.

I'm a LAQ and I don't have any issues with sheets if they are quality sheets (Higher thread counts) I have used lower thread counts on my own quilts for kids. I don't anymore as they tend to get lil balls of cotton on them when washed, you know like when your sweater needs shaving because of the lil balls.

I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING. i DON'T BUY SHEETS VERY OFTEN AND THEY ARE WASHED ALL THE TIME AND LOOK GREAT. IN FACT ONE OF MY FIRST QUILTS I DID WITH A SHEET AND THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO AND IT IS TIED AND STILL GOING.

I often use sheets for backing. The smaller the count the better. Wash, Wash, Wash first. The one thing I discovered is that the sheets are not always "bias" ready.
I rip by tearing all of the edges first to get the right bias. Press out the sides. Sometimes also need to finite edges with a rotary cutter. Have fun. I made a lot of large lap quilts, so usually buy the twin size, $5.00 at Wally World. :D

I used a sheet from Target for backing on my daughters wedding quilt in Oct. '07.....it worked out very well.
The LAQ told me to open all the seams and the top hem to give her more length ......I've been using sheets off and on for many years for backing and guess they work out ok.
I've only had the one quilt done by the LAQ.....I do my own on my home machine. Nothing fancy but it holds the quilts together
and I make lots of quilts for charity and gifts and orders from friends ......
If the color of the sheet is right I sometimes use them for quilt squares for a simple basic quilt.

IKEA also has a nice selection of cotton sheets.

Have never used sheets, been thinking of doing it, so now, I believe I will give it a try. Thanks.

I've heard that too

I've never used flat sheets for quilting, though I have heard of it.

We have a place here called Ollies, which is a close out place, they sells flat sheets for under $8 still new in the package. I can not tell you how many flat sheets they had. I went looking for fitted and the sheer number of flats was amazing.

I made three pair of bedroom curtains from some gorgeous purple twin sheets bought at WM a dozen years ago for $5 a piece and they've held up extremely well. All I had to do was made a casing and hang 'em up. :thumbup:

I havn't used a sheet yet but will check it out. Thanks.

My Walmart used to carry these sheets, but they stopped. I loved buying them there for my backs. They also stopped carrying fabric. And I stopped going.

I've always been told that it is a "no-no" to use sheets for backing quilts. I'm guessing it is because of the tight weave. I ALWAYS use good quality fabrics for my quilt backs....just like the quilt tops. But I do hope anyone using sheets for quilt backs finds it satisfactory!

Newbies: It's a great deal but sheets are not for hand quilting!!! Beware!

Watch out.....shrinkage was a problem for me with IKEA sheets. Not enough to matter with what I was doing, thankfully, but I bought a couple for quilt backings and they definitely shrunk......

I use sheets on my longarm all the time. I just prefer nothing over 250 to 300 thread count. They are a lot of work to handquilt.

I saw today 600 count 6 piece sheet sets- any size - for $20 and thought about buying a set. King size that is a lot of fabric and includes 4 pillowcases. Has anyone used that fabric as backing? Or on your bed?

I use sheets someitimes too, but get them for just a few dollars at yard sales. . and a friend gave me about 6 sets with pillow cases she found at yard sales.

I use sheets for backing when they are on sale. I hand quilt and don't have any problems.

Wonder if the 200 count would be ok (or do they make those anymore)? Were these from Target 100% cotton? I have always been told to use 100% cotton on quilts? Is ths true, you quilters who have been at this a long time? When I making wall hangings I just use a solid color for the back, usually offwhite. No one sees it anyway....

I would think the sheets would be great at least for wall hangings???

Yes, that's what it was - 100% cotton.

Walmart had really cheap cotton/poly mixed sheets but I use only cotton in mine.

I always take a look in the thrift stores....you have to really LOOK at it, but sometimes you find very nice sheets and most of the time they are 2.00 regardless of the size...the fitted ones will work but are more trouble, I prefer the flat ones, esp the king and queen size ones. Another thing to check is at the Dollar Store, look for napkins..they are usually 2 to a pack and good size, and often a lot of different colors (worth a look). If you are a hand quilter, you dont want to use sheets(hard on your hands), but for machine quilts they are fine.

If you have a Good Will store nearby, you can find some really nice (300) count flat sheets for about $2.00
Take them home and wash the heck out of them, they work great.

If you have a Good Will store nearby, you can find some really nice (300) count flat sheets for about $2.00
Take them home and wash the heck out of them, they work great.

Glad to know others are interested in using sheets for quilt backing. I also started reading that there were problems with quilting on sheets, and this caused me to hesitate using sheets; but I've always thought that it would be so nice looking to have the quilt backing match the sheets on the bed.

I am a hand quilter and I use sheets as backing on most of my quilts. I have quilts that I made 15 yrs ago and the back is wearing better than the front.
Although recently I found 108" muslin for backing at Walmart for $6.97 a yard.

Thanks for the info about Taget sheets. I use sheets all the time and some of mine also come from thrift stores.I can't beat the prices when someone decides they don't a new set of sheets and donates them to a thrift store. Quilter Frug is thy name.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: . :D :D :D

I saw that backing! That's what made me pass on their sheets - plus I didn't like the hand-feel of the muslin (really important for anything that is part of my quilt).

I've been reading on the cotton.org website and it's interesting to me that muslin is a lower grade cotton than santeen or percale. So the sheets really should provide a superior wear.

For that purpose Goodwill has them for 2-3 $$

All of my quilts are done with thrift store bed sheets, front and back, except for a few lovely pieces of quilters cotton, that have been gifted to me. The biggest reason is this. They are already washed, and have been washed many times. There are no worries how the fabric might come out after being washed. I don't know anything about thread count. What i do is i can see if it wrinkles easy, i can see if there is any pilling, and i can tell by the feel if it is a nice fabric that's already stood the test of time. And you can tell by the feel if there is polyester in it, or if it's cotton. People are stunned when they see my quilts, and i say it's all, front and back, thrift store sheets. I don't think of this as for just so-so quilts, i take great pride in being as thrifty as i can, even though i know this isn't for everyone.

Sheets! What a great idea. I have several that would be good candidates for backing. I used to donate them to the local thrift store and now I bet some of you probably got them. lol.

have you tried quilting through one yet ?
:?

Yes, if you pick nice sheets, that have a nice feel to them, they hand quilt and machine quilt beautifully

Do you have some of your quilts posted here, I would love to see them, I just know they are beautiful.

And so as I usually do, I didn't read the fine print. I just did and went to your site, your quilts are lovely. No one would know they came from sheets.

Gorgeous Quilts Barb M!

Thanks :) :) :)

I usually don't use sheets but I have quilted one with a 50/50 sheet and it turned out ok. I don't use them for I never find the bargin ones, if I did I would use it, especially for the give a way quilts I do.

My VERY FIRST quilt was made from 2 sheets sewn together with batting in the middle, I tied the quilt and was so proud. Mom used it for years, and now it's mine. 40 years later..... :roll: