How many have used top sheets for fabric in your projects? What kind of success have you had in using it?

The thread count is different from regular cotton. I only use them for backing.

I never use sheets. When I first started quilting 3 different quilt instructors said that sheets wear differently, wash differently, and sometimmes pill after sever washings and not to use them on my quilts. Especially if I wanted them to be special to my future generation.

No sheets for me either.

My quilts are not heirlooms. They are to be used daily and
washed often. I have used sheets is some piecing and backing. If you are hand quilting it is hard on your hands. The thread count is tight and not great for handquilting. Found that out the hard way!

I have used sheets mostly as backing. I have used some for quilt tops - mainly for kids novelty quilts when I was not able to find fabrics I wanted. They have worn just fine. I have also made quilts entirely from vintage sheets.

Be careful if the sheet looks to be loosely woven, then you will have a problem. If that is the case, iron a lightweight fusible interfacing to the back all the way to the edges like you would a t-shirt.

I have used flannel sheets, 100% cotton sheets, poly-cotton blends, and percale sheets with success.

I guess it depends on what end result you are looking to achieve. I wouldn't use sheets on an heirloom quilt. But for everyday use they wear very well in my opinion. The sheets will wear the same way they would if you used them as top sheets and washed them.

Pilling is usually a result of your body rubbing against the sheets, that's why you don't see much pilling in top sheets. I have had quilt store fabrics pill up over time, too.

Every quilt I have ever made has had a sheet as backing. I make my quilts for charities and I know they will get heavy use. I save a lot of $$$'s by buying the sheets at Thrift Stores. Those that have been used and laundered often are also soft.

I have used some sheets as fabric in scrap quilts. One is Paths to Piece that needs a solid and I chose a taupe sheet to cut and create the background for the scrappy paths. It made a very masculine quilt since most of my quilts go to males.

Being creative with fabrics also includes using your own judgment on what fabrics go well together. Thrift is also an "option" many of us choose to exercise in making quilts for charities. The less I spend on backing the more I have to spend on the fabrics for the tops and batting. This is my personal choice.

June

thanks for noting the challenge if handquilting. i've seen posts mentioning sheets and was going to look for some.

I use sheets from thrift stores, cotton if I can find them. I usually only pay $1 to $3 each. My quilts are made to be used and washed, not saved for generations. I always wash my compleated quilts and have never seen any problems from the sheets. I give my quilts to family and they would tell me if there were problems so I could fix them.

I am not much on using sheets as backing for any of my quilt shop fabrics; however, if I am making charity quilts with donated fabrics, I have used sheets if I do not have a coordinating fabric. I do use new sheets with a high thread count from sale rack because if I spend all that time free motion quilting little stars and circles, then I want it to last a long time. The main reason I do not care for sheets is because my fingers get so sore and cracked with the cheaper fabrics. I wear gloves when quilting but not when piecing.

Thanks for the advice and all the great information!

I use sheets as backing too, sometimes. I buy the Queens and kings when I find nice ones at garage sales or new on clearence.

i've used cheaper ones. they have a lower thread count and the weave is easier to sew through. only for the backs. they hold up well.

i just bought a king size sheet set,blacck was the color i needed,so i wasnthrilled.i had just paid $22 for 3 1/2 yrdsof ex-wide backing,@thouhgt i'd gotten abargain!the sheet set [sstill new in pkg]cost $15! fogure i casn get at least 2 queen backings out of the top@bottom,if i cut the elastic off the fitted sheet,@ will still have matching pillow casas left.i'm hoping i didn't make a mistake by buying these,don't even know who has a king bed tobgive them to!but i'mgoing to give them a try,see what happens!wish me luck!!!

Almost every quilt I have made for utility use has sheets in the top. I buy them at the thrift store and they work really good for me. I have also used the thinner mattress pads for batting. I always try and live by reduce-reuse-recycle.

I've used crib sheets in baby quilts so they would match the baby room decor. They turned out fine.

The reuse, recycle makes me feel good too, especially in these economic times. :-D

I have used them for backs....I currently have a king sized one I am thinking of using in the top because the pattern gave me an idea to try.....My Mother always used sheets for backs and they have all held up well!

mattress pads for batting? hhhmmmm, now there's an idea! :thumbup:

If you are going to wash the quilt alot, it holds up really well. Have you ever had one of those quilts that the batting just didn't hold up? You don't have to worry about it with mattress pads. I can usually find them really cheap, and for a plain old utility quilt for me, that is what I use. =)