Using sheets for backing???
03-22-2011, 12:13 PM
#12
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,991
I use both cotton and flannel sheets on the backs of my machine quilted quilts all the time with absolutely no problems. I think it's strictly a matter of preference and end use. My quilts are made to be used and sometimes dragged off to camp, sleep-overs or college. The sheet backings stand up to repeated washings and I don't have so many $ invested that I cringe when I see how wet and muddy my son's quilt is after his camp-out on the May 24 weekend. On the polyester thread note, we had the Superior thread educator for all of Canada at our guild meeting last night and there is absolutely NO REASON not to use it in our quilts. Use thread your machine likes and CHANGE your needle every 8 hours or with every project.
03-22-2011, 12:13 PM
#13
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,991
As quilters we need to use the fabrics and threads we have to create warm wonderful quilts and not worry so much about what's on the back of our quilts. As my daughter often reminds me "Mom the baby won't care".
03-22-2011, 12:20 PM
#14
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
At least you are consistent. i was wondering the other day about why so many seem to use cotton/poly sheets when it seems like so many also will only use 100% cotton in the quilt itself.
I am not a purist, so I don't mind using poly/cotton, esp. on my charity quilts to the poor. I figure if the quilt is used for 2-3 years, then that is good....so a poly/cotton sheet (used) is fine.
But I also had some of the same thoughts about why people will spend all this time on the front and then use whatever on the back.
Since I use "whatever I have" on the front as well, I do scrappy backs... :)
I am not a purist, so I don't mind using poly/cotton, esp. on my charity quilts to the poor. I figure if the quilt is used for 2-3 years, then that is good....so a poly/cotton sheet (used) is fine.
But I also had some of the same thoughts about why people will spend all this time on the front and then use whatever on the back.
Since I use "whatever I have" on the front as well, I do scrappy backs... :)
03-22-2011, 12:20 PM
#15
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North-Central Indiana
Posts: 4,909
Originally Posted by feline fanatic
Originally Posted by echobluff
reasons: 1 2) Using polyester thread when piecing/quilting cotton, the polyester filaments act like a knife and will cut cotton fibers...not something I want after everything that's gone into making a quilt to be loved/used.
From Superior threads:
Will polyester thread really tear the fabric in my quilt?
Thread will not tear through a fabric solely due to its fiber content. If a thread ever tears through a fabric, it is because it won the strength contest. In a battle of heavy use and high stress placed on a quilt, the strongest component will always win. It is not accurate to say that a polyester thread is stronger than cotton. I have a spool of thread on my desk labeled 100% cotton quilting thread. It is a very well known brand, widely available, and is one of the top selling machine quilting and piecing threads. It is twice as strong as a comparable polyester thread. Although it isn't labeled as such, it is coated with a glaze which strengthens the cotton fibers and makes the thread rather wiry. In a strength test, it beats a comparable size poly, rayon, and metallic every time. In a heavily used quilt, this stiff, wiry cotton thread could do more damage than a soft polyester thread. And it is 100% cotton.
The point is this: The traditions, myths, and rumors that polyester thread will tear the quilt are not true
Source: http://www.superiorthreads.com/educa...dition-or-myth
03-22-2011, 03:17 PM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
Sheets are fine for the back and many are of better quality than the fabric used for the top! Just as all 100 percent cotton quilting fabric is not the same ( lots of discussion here on that subject) neither are all cotton sheets. Yes a high count sheet will be difficult to hand quilt, and if you make a mistake quilting it there can be holes from the needle. So buying a 200 thread count to 150 thread count cotton sheet is comparable to cotton quilt fabric.
As for the poly thread , it is a myth. enough said on that subject.
As for bearding from a poly batting, it depends on the quality of the scrim. A high quality poly batting can perform well. It is the quilters choice for the desired outcome ,warmth, draping, hand vs machine quilting, many variables come to play in selecting the batting for a quilt.
There are many individual choices and circumstances that are enveloped in the final quilt, each should be a treasure and free of judgement.
As for the poly thread , it is a myth. enough said on that subject.
As for bearding from a poly batting, it depends on the quality of the scrim. A high quality poly batting can perform well. It is the quilters choice for the desired outcome ,warmth, draping, hand vs machine quilting, many variables come to play in selecting the batting for a quilt.
There are many individual choices and circumstances that are enveloped in the final quilt, each should be a treasure and free of judgement.
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