Sheets for quilts?
 

Since the subject of fabric quality has come up again, I thought I'd throw something else out there -

Do you use sheets in your quilts? Why or why not?

I've always heard not to use them, but I will use it for backing. I just don't know why you're not supposed to so I thought the thousands of people on QB could give their opinions!!

I've never used sheets in a quilt, but I know there are people who do. The reason "they"say not to are the thread counts in the sheets as apposed to fabric. The high thread count sheets would be extremely hard to hand quilt through. My opinion is, if that's what you want to do fine. Unless younger putting your quilt in a show, a Quilter can do what they want. I mainly don't because I like my back to coordinate with the front and I don't care to use solids. There's been lots of discussion on the board over this very topic.

We can't use sheets for backs or the quilt police will get us! Oh, that's right.... there are no quilt police! Seriously though, I have heard on this board that it is because of thread count not matching the quilt top and therefore, difficult to quilt. But I am just a newby myself, so maybe a more experienced quilter will give a better answer.

The theory is that the thread count is to high. My thought is that thread count varies with the sheet you choose. I have used them at times without any problem for backing even for hand quilting. I look for the lowest thread count I can find. Sheets are not usually all cotton so for a purest that would be a problem. As far a using in the top it would depend on your skill level. Cotton has more "give" to it and is easier for beginners to work with. Blends last longer for quilts that are to be used and not just for show. The quilt purists (quilt police) will probably disagree with me, but I think you can use anything you are comfortable with.

I use sheets all the time. For the back and for the batting. You'd be surprised how warm a layer or 2 of sheets can be. Lots of quilts I make for kids have sheets a backing. Shoot you can pick them up for a dine at the Goodwill or even Free on Freecycle.

I have on occasion used sheets and it's worked out well-however the sheets I've been finding lately are so tightly woven that I'm scared to use them-skipping stitches etc. It is definitely your choice-though in a judged quilt show they aren't appreciated so much. I have found lots of nice patterns as well as solids in the past.

I believe that started when people were doing more handquilting (just my opinion). 32 yrs ago I made a quilt for my daughter. I slapped 2 Kmart sheets together and tied them. It was HARD to get the needle to go in, but I did it. She STILL has that quilt --- and it was dragged everywhere she went.........camping, sleepovers, etc. So, GO AHEAD and use sheets for quilts that are NOT going to be in shows. The QP at quilt shows may not accept them....but who knows!!! Oh -- I use sheets from thrift stores to practice on my longarm............LOL and the longarm quilting machine DOES quilt them just fine. But if I were to be putting them on a quilt, I would trim all selveges off and all hems.......those make the quilt backing tweak funny

Be sure to trim the selveges off and quilt with the machine. I personally don't use sheets as I don't like to use solid colors and I like to match the backing with the quilt. I tried to piece a back once, but had a devil of a time getting it to lay flat!
Sue

I often use sheets for backing. I beleive most of the problem is they are difficult to get the needle thru when hand quiling. They work great for machine quilting

I used to use them when I first started out. They are hard to hand quilt through. I imagine they would be OK for machine quilting.

I sometimes use sheets for backing if I am going to machine quilt it. I won't use them for a quilt that I'm going to handquilt because of the tighter thread count. But for a machine quilted quilt...go for it! :) I like to look for sheets at thrift stores...if they are still in good condition and a pretty, but fairly neutral design, I buy them! I want to make sure they don't look have a "dated" design, etc. I prefer something like a striped or a pretty floral design.

Where else can you get a quilt backing for $2-4??? :)

I use sheets as backing a lot. They hold up well and have that familiar "sheet" feel. Unless it is a quilt you expect to be a family heirloom and last 100 years I say go for it.

Gosh, I've been using them all along and didn't know it was hard! :) I only hand-quilt and didn't know I wasn't supposed to use them because they're difficult. I can't even imagine one of my quilts in a show, so I don't think that's going to be an issue! LOL

I use sheets all the time but do not hand quilt (way too hard to push needle through). I search out good sheets from the goodwill, salvation army, yard sales, etc., wash them up and trim all salvages, top & bottom hems and keep for using on my LA. If I find good flat sheets on sale in my local stores, make sure the are around 200 thread count as those don't pill as often as some in lower thread count. Your quilt...your way...

Every quilt I've sent out to be machine quilted I've had her use a really good sheet for the backing (I picked up the sheet). They hold up super well and I really like them on the back of a machine quilted quilt.

I use sheets all the time, both flannel and cotton. I can buy a queen sized sheet for $10 or
often less and you can't even buy a yard of quilting fabric for that in Canada. I like not having
to piece fabric for a back and often find some very unique patterned sheets. I buy them when I find a good sale and then just check my sheet stash to find a suitable back. They quilt just fine, wash and wear well.

I have used quilts for sheets and they were fine. My first large bed sized quilt (in the late 1870's) was a king size with a lovely blue green scene of water and palm trees -- I hand embroidered the quilt through the batting and backing echoing the entire pattern and adding some detail that was not in it. It was a bit harder to get through the sheets, but some ivory soap worked to help get the needle through the layers. It came out beautiful -- and I wish I still had it. When we moved to a new house, it had a different color scheme and DH took it to Goodwill one day since it was "just sitting around" -- I cried.

At church, we use sheets all the time for our charity quilts -- they hold up much better than pieced quilts since we tie them. We get some beautiful patterns at Goodwill, etc and love them.

I use sheets quite often for backing. I pick them up new/sale and second hand. I machine quilt or tie and they hold up well in my opinion. I've found some great sheets that match up nicely with my fronts. I don't have any goal to enter a quilt show so don't worry about the "rules". As has been said...there are no quilt police...do what YOU want!

I have used new sheets in my quilts for backing and for solid color pieces for many years-- they wash well and hold up -- some of them have a little polyester in them (although I thought that they were all cotton when I made them) -- the problem now is finding low count, all cotton, reasonably priced sheets --

I was more concerned that they wouldn't hold up as well. But I figured that they are getting as much wear and tear as a top sheet normally would anyway. Less, if there is a top sheet "protecting it". I don't follow the "quilt police laws", but I often wonder why those laws are in place. I assumed it was to sell fabric LOL

Its a good thing there are no Quilt Police they'd probably give me a Life Sentence because I've used a lot of sheets thru the years - for the family members who live in OK and Tx a couple flannel sheets for batting works better than even the thinnest batting.The most I've ever spent on cotton sheets was 2.99 because it was a brand new set w/pillow cases still in the package - cotton sheets are getting harder to find so when I find them I grab them they won't go to waste around here

Some LAQ will refuse to quilt with them, as certain long arm machines have problem with the tight weave.

Wow! You must be our senior member.:D

I have been using bed sheets since I started quilting and have had no problems using bed sheets for backing no matter what the thread count is. I do have a few problems when the needle gets dull just have to change the needle.

I have a customer or two who use sheets for their backings. Quilting by machine, I have not had a problem with them. In my opinion, the thinner sheets washed a couple of times work wonderful for backings. However, I don't believe I would use them for a quilt that might be entered in the show.

I would think a sheet would hold up better than fabric BECAUSE it is more tightly woven. It's certainly a way to shave some of the cost of making a quilt. I bought 4 yds this weekend for my first backing - thank goodness I was able to get it in the clearance room for half price.

okay, here's why i DO use sheets on the back of my quilts. (customers don't want them and i don't argue, but i use them on my projects.) i always knew that the back of quilts was the best looking...the first thing quilters do is to flip to the back to see how the stitches look... hand or machine, they all showed up best on the back. Of course, when i was young the majority of quilts were finished with muslin, bleached or unbleached, on the back. then, one day, i finally realized, 'path of least resistance'..... the muslin looks better and shows all the quilt designs beautifully, better than the front. because it is SOFTER....... so, nowadays, i put sheets on the back because they are NOT softer...so the front is and that's what shows off the quilting..... i know that some people love the blocks, pieced or applique, and i do, too....but the icing on the cake for me is to have just the right quilting to set off what the quilter has already done.... that firm fabric on the back makes the quilt stitches show off best on the front. Now, believe me, i'm buying the sheets on sale, and not the hard surfaced 'thousand count' things....i don't even like to sleep on those things... but the fabric is still firmer than the cotton tops..... try one firm (not hard) sheet on the back and check out the way the quilting looks on the front....

I do the exact same thing and will continue to use sheets to make quilt backings.

I have used sheets for backing; 100% cotton 200 count. They worked fine. But I hear that some long-arm quilters do not accept sheet backing. They complain of thread breakage.

I use them, am always looking for the Muslim sheets like Pennys used to sell, from time to time I find them on Ebay still in the original packages.

I use Walmart 200 count sheets a lot of the time for backing. They are inexpensive, hand quilt beautifully and are very durable. I also use the trimmed off ends for pieces in scrap quilts and they work just fine. Being on a fixed income, some of the criteria for my quilts are to be as inexpensive as possible as well as durable and pretty when finished. Never had any of the recipients complain about the fabric that I chose for their gift.

I do not use sheets because I like for the back of my quilt to coordinate with the fabric used in piecing the front.

A flannel sheet could be substituted for batting. This was a technique used by my Grandmother in her day. Be sure that you match cotton to cotton and polyester to polyester to avoid shrinking. Grandma also made sure she cut off the selvages but kept the grain in line with the quilt from top to bottom (head to toe).

I see that there are lots of people trading the old soft pretty flowered sheets that they find in thrift stores. I thought that wasn't such a good idea because I wondered how they would wear. However, the quilts they make are really pretty, soft colors, etc. and I'll bet they will be around as long as most of us if they are properly cared for. I never had any problems with sheets for backing as long as they were cotton sheets and a lower thread count. I have hand quilted and tied them both and I don't know that they were any more difficult to sew through than regular cotton fabric. I do think a mixed fabric blend might be more difficult.

I've got a quilt I'm working on and I am using a sheet in it. It's a Ralph Lauren 100% cotton sheet that I bought some time ago. I actually bought 2 of them - both king flats. I am using it as backing fabric and I have made some of the quilt blocks out of it too. It sews really nice as far as the quilt blocks go. I have not tried any quilting yet but I don't expect any problems. It was just too good of a match to my other fabrics to pass up. It's not a solid color. It's a navy blue and white check.

ive never used for "quilting" most of the things i make r more considered blankets as i knot vs quilt & they work GREAT...... they r inexpensive & for beds there is no piecing together large pieces of fabric, its great i love it.

I use sheets all the time for the backing of my quilts. They seem thicker and seem to last a long time without wearing out. I don't like piecing my quilt backs and I can get sheets to fit my quilts very nice. I will continue to use sheets for backings of my quilts. I also hand quilt my quilts and i have found no problem with using shseets.

Use them sometimes for backing.

i use sheets for the backing all the time and i hand quilt