I'm guessing if it is the better quality of muslin compared to the thin inexpensive kind that is also available, then it would be fine.

I keep reading on blogs, yahoo groups etc that lots of people love to use muslin, even on the fronts of quilts.

I haven't used sheets of old blankets for batting but do use inexpensive flannel as batt and of course the reg. warm and natural. I don't know why you couldn't use old blankets, especially for kids quilts, picnic quilts or to have in the car to keep kids toasty on cold nights in the car traveling etc.

I've been using muslin (high quality stuff) since I began quilting many years ago. It is holding up nicely and the quilt on my bed gets washed pretty often. I'd say if you're going to use muslin, just get the good stuff. Happy quilting.

Hi all,
I generally always use muslin for backing, but would not use flannel sheets or blankets for batting. First it is harder to quilt through if you are hand quilting, the quilt it heavier and most that I've seen, have a tendency to ball up and wrinkle heavily when washed and it shows. Muslin is easier to quilt when hand quilting. I have several that I made 20 years ago and though the cotton prints have faded and some of the stitching has wore out, the muslin is still like new.
Personal taste.

Muslin works great for quilting either back or front. Of course there are different qualities of muslin so look before you leap. I use the really lightweight stuff for lining my granddaughters' dresses I make.

I've used ugly or old blankets for batting. It works great, but they are really warm and heavy. :)

i have used muslin for backimg it wears good and feels nice

a good quality muslin will last a long time.

Muslin holds up just fine if it's good quality - like any other type of fabric, good quality always lasts longer.

As for using blankets ... I have a (European) friend who prefers duvets to quilts, so she pieces quilt tops and stitches in the ditch to muslin to complete the duver TOP, and them chooses backing fabric for borders and backing to complete the dovet cover. She inserts blankets into the duvet covers.

She says she saves a lot of storage space that way - duvet covers lay and store much flatter than quilts, and the blankets don't have to match anything since they're hidden by the cover.

I've used most anything for batting, flannel and felt even blankets all from the goodwill.

As long as it is good quality muslin. I am now leaning towards Kona snow for white, kona bone for a more muslin shade and kona ivory for a more aged look like to use with civil war reproduction fabrics. I used Moda muslin before but it seems to me it has changed over the years. I has more seed shells bits from the cotton and it appears thinner. the above mentioned kona do not have the little brown specks but if you buy Kona natural it is more like the muslin with little seed pieces in it.

I tore the wires out of two electric blankets and used them for middle layer of two quilts. They are warm and lovely. Try it!