Muslin As Quilt Backing?
02-16-2013, 12:02 PM
#71
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yorkville, IL
Posts: 7,639
Hey Krystyna, I was in Ethan Allen a while back and they had a quilt made of muslin...front and back. It was $900.00 and it was made with yo-yos. The maker had made it by putting the front and back together with batting inside..covered it with yo-yo's all done in beiges..some stripped, some floral, some solids. The yo-yos were stitched down on the top side through the back and that made the quilting. It was really stunning. I am thinking of doing one and if I do I am going to try the batting that is "iron-on"...I have wanted to give it a try but was a bit afraid to do it.
02-16-2013, 12:08 PM
#72
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yorkville, IL
Posts: 7,639
Originally Posted by QuiltnNan
I used muslin on my teen DGKs quilts last summer. they love them. they like to look at the quilting from the back. now, the quilting wasn't that great, but they love it and that's what counts. i'm also using muslin as the background on one of my Dear Jane quilts. if you think you'll never use up all of that muslin, you can try trading or selling it here on the QB
02-16-2013, 12:33 PM
#73
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Upstate NY, north of Syracuse Area
Posts: 6,003
You can also give your muslin backing a great look by simply dying it to match your projects. Dye comes in easy to use liquids now and you can go for solid, tye dye, streaky, twisted and lots of other looks.
Another great look is the tea/coffee dyed one that I love. Muslin is easy to dye in the washing machine or outside in a tub or bucket when cut to size. Do allow extra for shrinkage tho. Tea and coffee dying can be done right in the kitchen sink. There are lots of natural dye plants if you want to play with them; onion skins are another fun one. Check out books at the library on it. Muslin is a great fabric for all of these methods.
Another great look is the tea/coffee dyed one that I love. Muslin is easy to dye in the washing machine or outside in a tub or bucket when cut to size. Do allow extra for shrinkage tho. Tea and coffee dying can be done right in the kitchen sink. There are lots of natural dye plants if you want to play with them; onion skins are another fun one. Check out books at the library on it. Muslin is a great fabric for all of these methods.
02-16-2013, 12:53 PM
#75
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Campton,Kentucky
Posts: 1,397
Originally Posted by Krystyna
Does anyone still use muslin for quilt backing? A couple of years ago my husband and I went to a quilter's estate sale and among the many treasures we purchased two 50 yard bolts of muslin - one heavy weight and the other mid-weight - for $10 each! Since they were in my attic, they were among the few things that didn't get destroyed in Hurricane Sandy. I've been using it to piece small wall quilts and might use it as a back for placemats, but wonder if using it as a quilt backing is ridiculous. Any thoughts? The fellow we purchased it from said, "No one uses that any more ..."
02-16-2013, 01:40 PM
#76
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 1,324
Originally Posted by Lori S
Not all muslin is created equal. Some has a really large amount of shrinkage... and some never even gets close to lying flat without alot of steam and a good hot iron. Take a piece, measure it , and launder it prior to use.
I use muslin alot for backings and have come to know which ones are better, in your case you don't know much about the manfuacture or even what year it was produced ... TEST!
I use muslin alot for backings and have come to know which ones are better, in your case you don't know much about the manfuacture or even what year it was produced ... TEST!
02-16-2013, 03:20 PM
#77
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Grew up in WV but retired in Between, GA
Posts: 1,046
I am almost finished hand quilting one that I used muslin for backing. It is nice to quilt through and will use it again. I am also going to use some to make a cathredral window quilt.
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