Patti Mahoney

Why do the quilters not allow sheets? Just curious.

leatheflea

I used one on my frame the other day for practicing, with no problems, I wonder why also.

Shelbie

The LA's in my area use sheets all the time and never worry about it. I quilt on my DM a Janome 8500 using sheets as backing all the time too. I've never had a sheet yet that gave me any problems when I was quilting it. I did have one quilt with a sheet backing that pilled after a lot of wear and washing but it probably had a higher poly content than I usually use. Wal-mart often has single sheets on sale for less than $15 but you do have to watch that they are not the coarse loosely woven type. I buy sheets often seconds at Len's Mills, Giant Tiger, Winners and Sears sometimes which are usually less than $10. If I hit a really good clearance, I stock up. The last time I found great sheets at $5 and my poor son who was with me commented "Hey mom, how many mis-matched sheets can one family use anyway?" I had just bought 30 for the backs of our Community Quilts.

Shelbie

I also use flannel sheets as backings although I think that these are getting harder to find as more people are using the fleece sheets in the colder weather. You really have to watch the weaves on the flannel as they can really be coarse and don't wear well.

quilticing

Pilling is why I don't use them. I use up my cheaper fabrics for backings.

ckcowl

most quilting cottons are about 200 thread count (or less)
was the sheet cotton? or a blend?- be sure and check that
usually we don't encourage people to use sheets because they tend to have a higher thread count- quilting can (cut) the threads- cause holes in the backing- but many many people have used them just fine.
traditionalists tend to say...NEVER- NEVER-NEVER- to lots of things- just because that's what they were taught- and they believe only one way is the right way-
it's just not so- thousands (maybe millions) of people break all the rules every day- and make fabulous quilts (in spite of how the lady across the street says it should have been done

PaperPrincess

I have used sheets for backing, but only 100% cotton, and only used sheets from thrift stores. You can tell they've been washed lots, and are soft. I theck carefully for any thin areas, but top sheets don't usually wear. I can get a queen flat for $2.

Zhillslady

I use sheets on all my charity quilts. In fact I get the ones that are at Wal-Mart $4 for twin and $9 for a full. I still square then just to be safe but I just them on my Grace frame and they work just fine. I donate most of my quilts so $30-40 for backing was getting pricey at 6 and 7 donated quilts each year.

MrsGuava

I shop yard and fabric stores for sales. I try to make the backing something easy..like a rail fence so the quilt is reversible and nice on both sides.

Glassquilt

Beware the ultra high thread count - might be a marketing ploy. Here's an article about high count on fabrics. Basically it says that some manufactures elevate their count by counting the fibers in the thread. 1 thread with 4 strands is sometimes counted as 4.

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/thread-count.htm