What is the downside to Muslin???
08-07-2010, 09:51 PM
#11
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Northern Indiana
Posts: 20,306
Thank You for starting this thread :thumbup:
I have never used muslin, and I guess it was because years ago it wasn't the thing to do and maybe the quality wasn't great :roll: I have no good reason not to have tried it , but now I do have good reasons to try it..... THANKS :thumbup:
I have never used muslin, and I guess it was because years ago it wasn't the thing to do and maybe the quality wasn't great :roll: I have no good reason not to have tried it , but now I do have good reasons to try it..... THANKS :thumbup:
08-07-2010, 10:13 PM
#12
Google Goddess
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Central Indiana (USA)
Posts: 30,181
thanks for starting this thread
I bought a whole bolt and washed it in hot water, pressed iit and folded it. I use it for backgrounds, backs, lattice, or whatever strikes my fancy. I've not ever had a problem with it. That's why I started this thread, because it seems there are so many people that frown on it. I just wanted to know why. Thanks for all your feedback.
Originally Posted by quilterguy27
Originally Posted by CoyoteQuilts
The only down side I have with muslin is that is shrinks more than regular cotton, especially Kona muslin from Jo-anns. I just wash in hot water, dry and iron (press). I use it in quilt blocks.
08-07-2010, 10:50 PM
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 11,375
Originally Posted by quilterguy27
Originally Posted by CoyoteQuilts
The only down side I have with muslin is that is shrinks more than regular cotton, especially Kona muslin from Jo-anns. I just wash in hot water, dry and iron (press). I use it in quilt blocks.
08-08-2010, 01:02 AM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Ireland
Posts: 12,281
The muslin we can get here is more like cardboard - very stiff and not quilt friendly at all. I use Kona natural cotton for my muslin look. I get it from Hancocks of Paducah by the bolt, and it handles just like any of their other Kona cotton, but has the slightly slubby look of muslin.
08-08-2010, 01:37 AM
#16
Administrator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Southeast Georgia, USA
Posts: 9,133
Originally Posted by quilterguy27
... I started this thread, because it seems there are so many people that frown on it. I just wanted to know why. ...
08-08-2010, 02:17 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posts: 2,438
Muslin is a "plain-woven cotton fabric made in various weights. The better qualities of muslin are fine and smooth in texture and are woven from evenly spun warps and wefts, or fillings. They are given a soft finish, bleached or piece-dyed, and are sometimes patterned in the loom or printed. The coarser varieties are often of irregular yarns and textures, bleached, unbleached, or piece-dyed and are generally finished by the application of sizing. Grades of muslin are known by such names as book, mull, swiss, and sheeting." Encyclopedia Britannica
When people say muslin I think of 'cheap' fabric where the quality is poor to match the price and it usually is unbleached cotton. It's a fabric I use when I am making a dress out of really expensive fabric so I first make it in muslin to test the pattern to make sure of any alterations I need to make before cutting into expensive fabric.
BUT is seems according to the Encyclopedia Britannica it could be any plain woven cotton fabric I guess that means most if not all of the 'cotton' fabric we use for quilting is considered muslin. Just that some are in better grades than others.
When people say muslin I think of 'cheap' fabric where the quality is poor to match the price and it usually is unbleached cotton. It's a fabric I use when I am making a dress out of really expensive fabric so I first make it in muslin to test the pattern to make sure of any alterations I need to make before cutting into expensive fabric.
BUT is seems according to the Encyclopedia Britannica it could be any plain woven cotton fabric I guess that means most if not all of the 'cotton' fabric we use for quilting is considered muslin. Just that some are in better grades than others.
08-08-2010, 02:35 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 331
I think it's the same as what we call 'calico' here?? I use it heaps as backgrounds and backings for small quilts and wallhangings. It comes in varying shades of cream and I usually buy it by the bolt as I also do calico dolls.
08-08-2010, 02:47 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Back home in Louisiana for now....where next?? who knows....
Posts: 3,180
Originally Posted by PatriceJ
Originally Posted by quilterguy27
... I started this thread, because it seems there are so many people that frown on it. I just wanted to know why. ...
08-08-2010, 03:24 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 5,142
I read a post on here a few months back and they said that muslin in their country was more like what we'd call cheesecloth here. It may be just a matter of where people live as to whether or not they like muslin. I use it all the time --- especially if I want my quilt to look old or if I'm restoring a quilt.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Chasing Hawk
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
24
09-17-2010 02:02 PM
Ditter43
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
12
08-15-2010 06:26 PM
