What exactly is Muslin fabric?
 

I'm wondering how premium muslin is different from regular cotton.

Supposedly, it's the weave. There is a permaprest muslin that has some poly in it. I use it for everything, even clothes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslin

Most of the premium muslins have a higher threadcount (200). It is very nice to work with, doesn't wrinkle as much and is a great option to stretch out your stash. :)

Be careful some have poly in it, read the bolt end and feel the muslin to determine if you like it. The one's that are good are quite nice, but not the others.

Tartan ... do you buy your muslin here in Canada? Where?

I couldn't understand it when I read here on the QB that people were using it in their quilts, as any that I have ever seen here is the old-fashioned-almost-impossible-to-iron-out-the-wrinkles" type. A friend in the USA sent me some and I soon understood why they do use it in their quilts. Only thing I did not like in working with it was that it is quite fine, so if working with darks in the same project, they can show thru.

I'm using a moda muslin I bought and love it. I'm using it as a background. It's a creamy color and goes nicely. It was like $6 a yard. Perfect

I don't go cross border, so like you often use WOWs or WOCs.
Have you done your Len's trip yet? ... they usually have lots, including widebacks!

I bought a bolt of "Roc-Lon" permanent press muslin that is preshrunk and 100% cotton.......can't remember where I got it but it might have been at JoAnns with a coupon or when I use to have a license from my wholesaler.

over 100+ years ago, muslin was the top of the line of fabric, or so I've heard...tightly woven and used in wedding dresses, etc.

:( .............

Absolutely true...watch the program with vintage clothing and all are muslin, The Sewing Room with ????, antique stores that have old clothing, most are made of muslin. Amish use it a lot...but having to find good quality now, like in all cotton fabric that is the challenge. I like Roc-lan too. I will not hesitate to use the good quality on my tops, lesser quality is good for backs of tablerunners, wall hangings and the like.

I just purchased some yesterday for lining Christmas stockings.

Kona Muslin from Hancock's of Padueah has white, natural and the 118 wide for backing quilts. I have used the white and love it.

I buy bolts of the Roc-Lon perm press muslin. If you are buying be careful Roc-Lon makes several grades of muslin, some are not so wonderful. The perm - press , preshrunk is the way to go...but even though it is "preshrunk" there is still some shrinkage.. but not nearly as bad as the stuff that is not preshrunk.

I use muslin a lot in my quilts. Sometimes it is just the right color, sometimes I use it to embroider on and make blocks. Right now I am using it as a background color for some curtains in the Coxey's Camp pattern that I am making for the bedroom and using the muslini as a liner so the sun doesn't bleach it out. Muslin is a "warm" and "homey" fabric, I think. Edie

PS - For anyone interested, the Coxey's Camp pattern (Quilter's Cache) will give the impression of a Prairie/Craftsman/Frank Lloyd Wright design in that when you look at the curtains, the seams give the impression of leaded glass. My Mom did valances in the Log Cabin pattern and it was awesome.

I purchased Roc-Lon online at Pieceworks.com and it was on sale for $3.00 a yard if purchasing 10 yards or more.

I haven't used it for quilt backs yet. Sounds appealing to me.

I bought some prepackaged muslin - 108" wide from Marshall's Dry Goods. It is thinner and not a tight weave but it sure does make a wonderfully soft backing. The better 100% cotton fine weave goes into my tops, curtains, and backs. Really love it.

I agree with Tartan. I bought muslin from P&B and it just wasn't the quality I expected.

I use a lot of muslin. I buy the top of the line Roc-Lon at JoAnn when I have a coupon or there is a sale. You can use it for quilt backs, for foundation for applique, and for sashing. I use less expensive muslin--lighter weight--as the foundation for string quilts. froggyintexas

Premium muslin has a higher thread count and has a nice feel and weight to it, which makes it a very versatile fabric. It's great for backing and background fabric, I plan to use bleached muslin for red work blocks.

I really like the "Legacy Brand" sold at Joanne's, I have used a lot of it and it is of good quality.

In a LQS in our area of the country, they sell egyptian cotton, it is in where the bolts for muslin are, it is really lovely fabric, has a higher thread count and is very soft to touch. They told me they are having difficulty in locating it, so when I find it in the shop, and if I can afford it at the time, I will purchase most of the bolt. I was talking to another quilt shop owner and she indicated they couldn't find it anymore, so she suggested just to use Kona White for those items I would use the egyptian cotton on.

Years and years ago I used to buy 100% cotton muslin and make nice big dish towels from it.. I prewashed it as it shrank some.. but it was soft, hardly wrinkled and is very absorbant. Perfect for dishtowels and a million other things.. When you looked closely at the fabric (after it was washed) it shows a bit of cross hatch, even though it is woven straight.. I have not been able to find that wonderful muslin for years.. I'm still using my old dish towels, but would love to make new ones for gifts.. It is also quite tightly woven as you can't see through it, nothing at all like the muslin available today. Anyone else out there know what I'm talking about? I miss the wonderful fabrics we had in the past.