My sister in law was helpful in finding me a "bargain" in new material at a yard sale. She was told to load two boxes of what she wanted all for ten dollars! She was so excited. She told them I wanted only new material, which is true. She got a lot of polyester (new) material along with the good cotton. Any ideas? I really am not much interested in it, but am open to suggestions. There are several large pieces, besides many smaller ones. Prints and solids. Thanks.

You can make blankets like the tied fleece ones with two layers and give to homeless shelters. That fabric will be around forever, but it is warm.

Are the solids a poly knit? I recently saw a rug made of knit. It was so cute. I googled and found a pattern. On my to do list.
I wouldn't hesitate to make tablerunners/placemats with a poly as long as it wasn't thin see through type.

Are they woven poly/ cotton blends?

I don't know anything about polyester but most of them are thick. I can take photos if you want of some of them

Could you please share the site for the pattern that you found for the rug.

Thanks,
Colleen

You can use the polyester fabrics in a quilt. You just don't want to mix with 100% cotton. I think that it would be fine for some donation quilts, but I don't think Quilts for Kids will accept it. They have lots of rules.

I would take it to the thrift shop

My sister makes the cutest rugs from polyester that we used to call Fortrell. She cuts the poly into squares--lots and lots of squares. Then she folds each one into a triangle and sews down the center, adding a second triangle about half way along and then a third and so on. Then she takes a piece of heavy canvas and cuts an oval or heart or whatever. She draws concentric lines on it, starting at the center and working outward. I think the lines are about 1-2 inches apart. She also finishes the edges of the canvas so that they won't fray. Now she takes that long strip of poly triangles and, following her origional seam, sews it to the canvas. The points stick up and make a lovely soft rug.

Quilts for homeless shelters, woman's shelters and animal shelters

I was thinking you could make a rug, but was thinking make strips and braid them. This one sounds cute.
At one point in time I was thinking of taking some of my polyester and make little pocket of squares(sewing 2 squares together and leave a space to stuff, then stitch closed) and use leftover batting or polyfil from projects like stuff animal, or pillows, and then sewing squares together to make a warm lap quilt for residents in nursing homes. My thought was it would be very warm but still light weight. It is a project that hadn't moved from conception yet.

Hm... :? Sounds interesting....

I think I have seen these before a long time ago. Will keep this on the "back burner" for thought. Thanks
:)

A friend of mine made about 5 of the rugs that GingerK mentioned, very nice and very cushy, I'm actually thinking of making me one out of tee shirt fabric, which I saw some rugs at Hobby Lobby, just like hers, except with tee shirt fabrics.

Also like BarbaraSue mentioned make quilts for your local homeless shelter, they'll wear like iron and be nice and warm also.

I have some that I intend to make lap quilts for the nursing home with what I got. They make fabulous quilts, I might even make one for myself. I have 3 already that I bought from a lady years ago. They never wear out!

My mom used to make quilts from polyester, we all had them growing up, now my kids all have one that was passed down. 40 years later, they are still going strong. the kids keep them in the car, use them for picnics, the beach, the grass does not stick to them, they are great.

I had a lot of polyster fabric from my mother and I made a runner for in front of my sink in the Kitchen and an oval one. I braided mine... They wash really nice.

I bought the cotton clothesline for making a basket from Eddie's tutorial. I am going to use a fabric of questionable content to try one. If it doesn't work out, I won't feel bad. If it does work, I'll have a nice basket and will do another one.

Google You Tube for rug twining. DW and I have made serveral rugs using this method. You can use most any faberic. Poly will last for ever.

check in your area see if they can use hospice quilts you can tie them

DW made one like that over 10 years ago and after it is washed it still looks new. We still have a box of 3 or 4 inch sq cut for another one. I might get one made this winter. We buy a lot of poly at thrift stores for rug making.

My Mom made a quilt out of poly knits for each of her grandkids. Two of them came to our house some 30+ years ago. I can't tell you how many times they have been washed and colors still look great. She tied them and used a blanket as batting.

Do you have trouble keeping them on the bed? Do they slide off? Just wondering. I am open to anything. I want to do lap quilts for some nursing home folks anyway. So that would be a way to use the material.

Made just as Ginger K described. Pattern is for denim,but I saw one made of poly knit.
Article is recycled denim scatter rug.
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/sewing/denim-rug.shtml

Ginger K said, "My sister makes the cutest rugs from polyester that we used to call Fortrell. She cuts the poly into squares--lots and lots of squares. Then she folds each one into a triangle and sews down the center, adding a second triangle about half way along and then a third and so on. Then she takes a piece of heavy canvas and cuts an oval or heart or whatever. She draws concentric lines on it, starting at the center and working outward. I think the lines are about 1-2 inches apart. She also finishes the edges of the canvas so that they won't fray. Now she takes that long strip of poly triangles and, following her origional seam, sews it to the canvas. The points stick up and make a lovely soft rug."


I recently saw a rug made of knit. It was so cute. I googled and found a pattern.


Could you please share the site for the pattern that you found for the rug.

Thanks,
Colleen

trying to delete.

No. She used bed sheets for the back so no problem staying on the beds. Kids used them for bedspreads for years.

What do you think of using the polyester as a quilt backing? I have a huge piece of white with a raised pattern on it; I am thinking of using it with either no batting or a very thin batting and just tying it.

Hmmm. How about lining your garbage cans with it instead of using bags;>

two ideas.....

cut long strips and crochet into a rug
or
make grocery sacks. Washable and lightweight

polyester wears like steel---
would be good for placemats, table toppers, tote bags, purses, home dec projects- christmas ornaments, and utility quilts (the drag around ones the kids can have picnics on or build forts with...there is nothing wrong with using up polyester fabrics.

My guild makes mats for the Animal Shelter. Also, you could make dog scarves and catnip toys.

Slice it up on the bias and weave baskets from it?
Here's a thread from this board http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-38922-1.htm

Our church guild uses polyester fabric to back charity quilts. The fronts are a very simple pieced pattern...they use every bit of fabric, no matter what it is.

If you're not much interested, I'd pass it on to someone who's thrilled with it. I find if i don't start out loving my fabric, the project drags on f-o-r-e-v-e-r!

If you don't want to mess with it - take it to a senior citizens center - they will definitely put it to use.

How about making these into quillos? If they are for the homeless, it would make an attached pocket so the blanket can fold into itself and easier to carry if the person isn't staying inside a shelter.

last time i had fabric like that i wrote some simple instructions, and i mean simple, then called the battered women's shelter (these were 45 inch by whatever, they were all at least 2 yards long), and they were happy to take them, i sent along some red heart varigated yarn that i had carried around for years, the shelter got batting donated from an upholstery shop, the end result was whole cloth quilts, and the children were able to participate. i was told that they just fringed and tied the sides and ends, they used darning needles to tie them together. i saw a photo of some, and the works in process, it seemed to be a hit, made me feel good, and i got thank you notes. if i run into somemore i will do the same again.

just an idea

jan in palatka

I have 2 quilts that my grandmother made out of polyester. They are the 1st quilts that my kids and their friends grab when they are having movie night. They always say that those quilts are the most comfortable and the warmest. I don't think they will ever wear out!

This sounds like a neat idea!!! Curious about what size the squares are that she uses. And, I'd like to see a picture.

Poly is being requested for philanthropy quilts destined for some areas of the world as cotton won't stand up to being washed a lot in local rivers. Check with church groups or guilds to see who is making and donating quilts for that