Hi Suz...I haven't but I would try if I had some! My new LQS hand dyes fabrics and they are $3.99 a fat quarter! I am now thinking I should try that with some of my muslin. I am not sure how to get that Batik look but think I will ask at the shop how she does that. I love all of the quilts and I have to say sewing with muslin is really nice. I have used it on the front as well as on the backs just never used the bleached...now I intend to do that! Years ago the choice our moms had for sheets were Percale or Muslin. Thanks Krystyna for this lesson in muslin...I have learned a lot on this board...it is such fun to keep learning!

I have used perma-pressed muslin for the background for applique and also for piecing and it works up really nicely.

All these quilts are beautiful.

Yet another valuable piece of information. Thank you everyone for sharing.

I love to use muslin as a backing; just in Baby blankets I use flannel, fleece or Minky ...

Wow - who knew!! I ll be working on one of these.

All of my quilts in my album are made with white muslin. Check them out. :)

Thanks for asking the question and I have a couple also. What is the difference between bleached and unbleached? whiteness or texture? Was the older muslin more like feed sack fabric? or was it softer then?

Daphne, that quilt is stunning. It's hard to imagine you were able to create such an intricate quilt when you were first quilting. And doing it the old fashion way. WOW!

Thanks to all of you who have shown your beautiful quilts. It is inspiring to see such nice work. I really like the muslin.

Thank you, jeanharville, and others for the nice words about my quilt. It took me several years to make because I worked a 9 to 5 at the time. Wanting to hang it in our guild quilt show was the final push to finish it.

Yes, the difference between bleached and unbleached muslin is the whiteness. My daughter who asked for the quilt said she wanted white and bright colors. At that time there wasn't anywhere nearby to buy quilt fabrics, so I ordered the muslin from Keepsake Quilting, 14 yards I believe.

All the quilts on this thread are beautiful. Bobbielinks' quilt on the first page especially is calling to me.

Beautiful!!

I made this lap quilt years ago with muslin and scraps, and cotton batting.[ATTACH=CONFIG]396090[/ATTACH]

This may be a silly question, but don't you all worry that the muslin will wear out and tear up before the other fabrics do?

Very pretty quilts, all...

I haven't but when I worked at JoAnns the gal I worked with did all the time!!!!

I don't use muslin except bleached for signature blocks. I may have to rethink my distaste for it after seeing these beautiful quilts!

This may be a silly question, but don't you all worry that the muslin will wear out and tear up before the other fabrics do?

Very pretty quilts, all...

I have quilts with muslin in them that have held up for decades. And early on, some of that was not really good muslin that I purchase now. Historically, muslin was a basic in many many quilts!

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This quilt was partially made by my late sister and finished by me. It's a one of a kind. The only quilt the two of us made together. Has very special meaning to me. The back is pure muslin. It is 8 rows across but this was the clearest picture I could find. It has a home with my daughter now.

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I used muslin for the blocks on this quilt - it was our grandson's B'day (11th) gift last year. He uses the quilt all the time - each time we visit I check to see how it's holding up and so far it has great wearability :thumbup: I wouldn't hesitate to use it again in another quilt . . .

I am sooooo happy to find that a lot of you use muslin!! I use it a lot because of the cost factor and besides I think it's a nice background for any color or print. I was a little hesitant to disclose my frugal side, but now feel better about my "muslin" laced quilts. Also glad to know about the backing as at the price of fabric now it's really hard to cough up $30 or so for just the backing!

Shazeeda, I love the fresh clean look of your quilt -- and the muslin is so perfect in it.

Jeanne, what a beautiful quilt and so touching that it was made by you and your sister. A family treasure!

Dhanke, what a gorgeous quilt -- and the quilting is fabulous!

Katie, love those leaves! That is a design that would probably look wonderful with unbleached muslin.

ShabbyTabby - the cost of fabric is what often sent me to estate sales. I was so blessed to find those two bolts at a quilter's estate sale for far less than $1 a yard. While I don't know the maker, it is top quality muslin as was everything else she had. Sad she didn't get to use it, but lucky for me! My husband also picked up a hardwood cutting table and that was one of the few things that survived the flood. I thought he was nuts, but I use it all the time.

repro and muslin quilt
 

Here is one I made before Xmas and Charisma quilted for me

So many beautiful examples of quilts using muslin. Thanks to all of you for letting the rest of us take a look.

Beautiul quilt!

Believe it or not, this thread gave me courage that I do not absolutely have to have colored quilt backing for the new quilt I am making for our grandson (http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t214214.html). As long as I can get enough to finish the top, I will feel blessed.

I wish I had the muslin I bought for a friend of mine who recently had to break up housekeeping and go to a nursing home. I know her kids and grandkids do not quilt and so it is lying in somebody's attic somewhere. Maybe I should get up the courage to ask for it back, but have been shy to do that. What would you do?

Now that I remember my own mother's and grandmother's quilts, they all had muslin backs.

GramMer, why not call and mention it to them? You might tell them you'd like to use it to make her a lap quilt!

WOW what a wonderful thread and beautiful quilts! thanks to all for sharing pics! in my opinion you just can't go wrong with muslin - gives all quilts a homey look/feel for me.

Isn't it strange that we hesitate to tell about our 'frugal' sewing only to find out everyone is doing it? I'm drawn to the unbleached muslin just because it looks old and I can use any other colors with it in scrappy quilts. My mother always used sheets for backing in her later years. When she was younger feed sacks were used. As far as I can tell mother never bought any fabric for quilts - everything came from dressmaking scraps. I've been considering dying some muslin using Kool-Aid in a spray bottle like we did at Vacation Bible School a few years back. Think it would work? I know it wouldn't be solid but I'm curious to see what it would look like. Everyone knows Kool-Aid is almost impossible to remove from clothing.

MissEva, I don't know about Kool-Aid, but why not? As far as feedsacks go, they were used out of frugality back in the day ... now they are a high-priced trendy piece of cloth!

GramMER ... oh I think that muslin will look wonderful the Moda Snow Days pinwheels! Can't wait to see your finish pix.

I just love that quilt... it's great! I've been saving old cotton plaids from shirts and your quilt gives me some great idea for them. Are your stars appliqued?

Gorgeous quilt!
Sandy