With a little less than a year of experience, I was wondering why one would purchase an entire bolt of muslin. :oops: It is so much more affordable than cotton fabric, (now that is confusing, it says 100% cotton and it is obviously fabric) I would love to know where I could use it in place of the more expensive cotton fabric, but with my lack of experience I was hoping you would enlighten me, please?

As a beginner, I use it to practice on, since it is less expensive. It also has a nice, natural look that works well in some quilts. People used to wear it...

I have used it to practice free hand embroidery, backing for some quilts when the back doesn't really matters, like one I made to cover the couch and was tucked in the sides, etc. I even used it for a very nice quilt when I wanted to used a cream fabric but very muted not to take the attention away from the focua fabric. I used some for the back of placemats that were washed every other day. It is great for machine embroidery when the whole area is covered with the design. At this rate I think I am on my second bolt.

Maria

I use it to practice machine quilting, for foundations for crazy quilts and I'm doing a catherdal window.

I use a lot, I use it on the back of all my quilts, and also for a lot of the backgrounds. It hand quilts beautifully and gives your quilts an old fashioned look that I love.

I use it for backing on quilts. Also making doll bodies.

I use it for the backings of most of my quilts. Also for background on the tops. Currently using muslin for the jewel box quilt I'm making for my mom and for my Dear Jane quilt.

Thank for sharing, I had thought about using it for an affordable backing, but had been informed by the quilt police at the lqs that this was just not done! I never thought about it for the Dear Jane or Cathedral Windows, that would be great. After posting this last night I was hopping about the 'net and found this awesome Lecien quilt with muslin alternating four patches and it is so classic looking: http://www.homespunhearth.com/Confet...-Quilt-Kit.asp

Appreciate the advice. :-)

I use it for quilting practice. I'm currently in the initial design phase of a whole cloth quilt, which I will definitely use muslin for the back and may use it for the front. But I think it's important to prewash muslin, if used in a quilt, since it tends to shrink quite a bit.

You could use it for cutting out fat quarters & testing out "tie-dying" fabrics to turn out different batik effects.

There are various grades of muslin, Sometimes one washing is just not enough to get the shrinking out of its system.

It's great for crayon quilts and as a neutral base for applique.

I used to use muslin a lot but now prefer tone on tone. But is you are usig muslin besure and get a good quality. There are definitely different grades of muslin. Marge

I once used several bolts to make floor to ceiling curtains for my screened in porch. I had VERY nosy crabby neighbors who had nothing better than to do than constantly spy on me (with binoculars, even!). I used the muslin because it was cheap. Anytime I was out on the back porch I could pull the curtains for privacy.
The crabby neighbors finally moved (we lived next to each other for 15 years) and the "curtain" became a couch cover to protect my upholstery from my 2 year old.
Rose Hall

I like to use it for quilting backing; stitch out a new embroidery design; use to embroidery labels; and use it in the quilt top if I want a really old fashioned look....and I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting :lol: :lol:

well, now that you have asked....I just bought three bolts!
I will use it for everything.
I will back my kids and grandbaby quilts with coordinating fabrics, but will back my own with this, as I am planning on doing some of mine, as summer quilts.
I will use it for table runner backings, wall hanging backings, topper backings, line tote bags with it. I think I will even do a country looking quilt and put some on the front. Maybe some hand embroidery.
I will wash and dry several times first though! :D

I don't think your LQS know what they are talking about.

I use Muslin for background material for scrap quilts and backings on some of my wall hangings and table runners. It's easy to work with and inexpensive.

I use it for strip piecing leaders and enders. A good quality muslin is as nice as any quilt shop fabric. I hate rough, thin, crisp, cheap muslin! Why even make something so hideous?

Long ago in a far away land....it was not uncommon to use muslin to accent the blocks as the attached pics show. This is a Sampler Quilt I made over 20 yrs ago (yep, I'm slow, that's another story for another time) that I am hand quilting. Using the muslin was "recommended" by the ladies at the lqs - funny how time changes - LOL. The quilt guild I was in (early 80's) made blocks each month and had a drawing to see which member would recieve that monthly block, I made an extra block for myself and made a Sampler Quilt (that's part of the story)

I use it for the backing of probably at least half of my quilts. It is easier to hand quilt through and it was almost always used as backing years ago. I use it as a neutral for some quilts and I print my labels for my quilts on it.Quilt police were trying to get you to buy more expensive fabric.

I use it for backing on quilts a lot. I like that I can get bigger widths and I don't have to piece. Plus if the front is very busy, it gives it a clean look on the back. The quilt I am making now, I actually used muslin for the back and it makes it look sharp. Backing for Table Runners too!

I like to use a good quality of muslin for my redwork. I prefer the soft color of the muslin compared to a bright white. Also a cheaper grade of muslin, washed and dried is great for backing string quilts.

Your quilt is just AWESOME!!!

I'm wondering where you're buying the bolts, and what name brand you prefer. Joann's had one recently for $20 (I think). I have purchased some for practice that was 100% cotton. I washed it and it seemed OK.
JCL and quiltncrazy where are you in FL? I'm on the SE coast, 1 hour north of the Palm Beach Airport.
Mary Ellen

I agree. I would not use a low quality. Even with a good quality, I would wash it. I use it quite a bit for backings on quilts and all wallhangings. My sister prefers the white muslin for her quilt backs.
Edit: Sometimes muslin is used for signature quilts. It is the part of the block that is signed.

I'm in Daytona Beach but plan to try to go to the show in West Palm in November, you going?

I bought several yards of a thick muslin at Sirs in Fayetteville last time I was there... I'm planning on using it as batting in place mats! It is much cheaper than the thinnest batting I can find - no, I didn't think it up on my own - I read it online. Some things I would never think of - others I'm a whiz at!

than you sewjoyce, I am quite proud of it even if it has taken a long time to complete.

Oh! Ahhhhhhh, how pretty. Pinkypig. Your blocks and your muslin look fantastic. forgot to mention your hand quilting. Wow!!! That looks outrageous, too. Good job.

Like others, I have used lots of muslin to back quilts. The muslin makes for a soft, soft quilt that is perfect for baby and little kids quilts. I also use the muslin for the charity quilts we make for foster kids and for our local Veteran's Hospital.

i use it for hand embroidery.

I have used muslin for lots of different things. I have used it to make a pattern for clothing which can be altered and adjusted before cutting into the expensive stuff. I've used it for doll bodies as well. Also have used it for piecing and backing, and for practice for machine embroidery and FMQ. I made a double wedding ring quilt, pieced and quilted entirely by hand--I used muslin for the centers of the rings and also for the backing. It turned out beautiful.
I've found that you can buy some muslin really cheap and it doesn't look too bad until you wash it. Some of the really cheap stuff shrinks and wrinkles so badly after washing that it won't smooth out no matter what you do to it. I would suggest that before buying an entire bolt of muslin, that you purchase a small piece of the exact same kind and put it through the washer and dryer and then see how it turns out.

Pinkypig, your quilt is beautiful and the muslin really sets off you hand quilting. That is one of the reasons I love muslin, especially for hand quilting.

thank you, that was one of the reasons for using the muslin, the backing is a white muslin and I am using different color quilting thread so that the outline of each block shows.

Judy, If I read under your name, I would have seen that!!! What show in West Palm? I did not see anything posted at our LQS. Forgot how to post a private message. I think I need coffee.
Mary Ellen

As most of the others have said, I've used muslin for the back of my hand stitching projects, Hawaiian quilt pillows. It makes for a nice material to sandwich the batting in, because in the end, I always use a nicer fabric to make the back of the pillowcase--> the muslin won't be visible anyway.

I am inexperienced too. I use muslin for backing and sometimes as a background fabric. I also use muslin to make patterns that fit correctly. (I sew lots of wedding dresses and formals, as well as clothing for my family and extended family). That is why I am scrap-happy :wink:

Never would have thought to use muslin as batting! You learn something every day. Do you hand-quilt using the muslin as batting and do you pre-wash? Also what brand of muslin do your prefer?

I did prewash my muslin and I have to be honest when I say I have absolutely no idea what brand it is... Sirs had muslin on sale for a fantastic price and I picked out the thickest that they had :)

I use Ecology Cloth which is a higher grade of muslin that I get from New England Quilt Supply. I recently ordered 3 - 40 yd bolts..sold 1 bolt to a friend, and sold 3/4 of another bolt to another quilting buddy and kept one bolt for my cousin and me to use on a vintage looking quilt we're both making ..will use it on the top for the "plain" blocks and also will use for backing..There definitely are different grades so buyer beware..the cheap stuff at Joanns is not what I'd put in a quilt for sure but I have used it in the past to make pillowcase quilt storage pillowcases that I gave to each customer I quilted for. I may use some of the extra I have of the Ecology cloth and whip some of them up..clients loved them..easy and quick with a serger. I always use my Logo stamp to remind them of me..LOL
Anne