Using two or more muslins adds to the charm of the quilts. If possible, mix up the different muslins when puttin the top together. Don't put the same lighter muslins side-by-side since it appears there will be fewer of them.

Welcome and good luck. Suzanne

Hey thanks everyone!! I think I'll just use the 2 different kinds & spread it out, unless it ends up being way to hard to quilt through. And, the more I look at it, the thicker muslin is slightly darker too.. must be the difference between sunlight & fluorescent.

I didn't even think about it not actually being muslin! I had trouble finding the grain line (well, without the selvage, I wouldn't have been able to), it seems like both directions of the material stretch the same amount. Is that how muslin normally is?

This is very much in the spirit of quilting years ago, when women had to make do with what was available. I do think it adds to the charm of a quilt.

moonie and mrswhite - do you think that prewashing and machine drying the muslin would help with the shrinkage AND the softening? that might bring the two different weights more in line. sometimes what feels heavier is just full of sizing that washes out. surely the washing and drying would make it easier to sew. yes?

Welcome from NE CA. Glad you joined us.

I thought of that, too. Some muslins will shrink after they are re-washed, and not just the first time. I love the look of muslin, and I know some people are happy using it, but I would not trust it as a large part of a quilt. I've never had problems using it in applique. I bet a year from now, you won't be able to tell one from another.

I prewashed & dryed it, so hopefully that will help with the shrinking. And, I tried quilting through it, and I think it will be fine as long as I use the lighter weight muslin for backing, so I'm not sewing through 2 layers of real heavy muslin. I'm hoping to finish it soon (HA! right), so I'll have to post pictures when I'm done.

My MIL made a quilt with her aunt that is muslin with cross stitching all over in taupe and metalic gold. It must have been done in the 1950 or a little earlier. I don't know why they were unable to use all the same muslin but there are 2 types. I don't know if it always showed but does now after aging. However, it is still a very striking quilt and I hope it makes it to my home someday :lol:

Just my two cents: If you take your muslin and serg around all edges BEFORE you wash it, it will maintain it's shape better and not unravel and shrink as bad. If you don't have a serger, just zigzag around the edges. This is good for all fabric as it will have an easier time in the washing machine unless you have one of the tumblers like in the laundry mat. In addition, the delicate cycle is much nicer to the fabric. That's my two cents for what it is worth; it has always worked for me. GiGi :-o :-o :-o :-o :-o

sooooo...do you think there's any hope that they will shrink evenly at all?

or do you consider that this would be an ongoing problem with two different muslins?