Substitute for muslin in sewing a quilt?

Question

I'm making a quilt for my daughter for people to sign, but am wondering if something I have lying around the house might substitute just fine for the white muslin need. I have a boatload of white sheets, and maybe something else that might work. Even some white dress shirts of my husband's that are stained and unwearable. I'm very much a "use what you have" kind of gal and trying to save money, too, but this is a first quilt for me and I'd like it to turn out well.

Answer 1

Since this Is your first quilt,I would use a good quality muslin. If you really want good results.

I wouldn't cut any corners on the quilt backing.

Because you want your daughter to get alot of use out of this quilt.

I wash my son's John Deere quilt monthly.,first of all because he's a 10 yr.old little boy. I used a good flannel for the quilt backing and got It for a dollar a yard.

Answer 2

Your white sheets should be fine.  My mom uses a sheet for the fabric on the backing of her quilts all of the time even the colored ones.  Just remember to use non-washable markers for the signatures as washable ones will wash out.  Then you will lose all of her friends from her quilt or shirt.

Answer 3

I would go with the sheets, too.  Many years ago, I started a tradition in this house on Christmas Day.  I bought a white twin size flat sheet and put a red lace around the edges.  It's on a table every Christmas day for anyone who comes through the door to sign.  We use a laundry marking pen, so as not to wash the names away before I can embroider them through the following year.  It's got almost 30 years of names on it, in all different colors.  The same people sign and date it every year.  Some times someone "new" will come visit and that's always fun.  Some of the folks aren't with us anymore.  Some have divorced and some have died, others have moved out of state, but we still have the memories of them, every Christmas, when we look at the table cloth.

Answer 4

Hi, there is no reason on earth that u cannot use a sheet as long as it is not discolored or worn.  I cut up a sheet to make sections for a Christmas tablecloth where all of the family signed the "sheet" parts of the tablecloth and it has worked out wonderfully even after many washings.

Answer 5

If the quilt is just going to be hung on a wall and never washed, you'll probably be ok with that approach. If the quilt is going to be used, and therefore washed or dry-cleaned, I think you would be better off buying special fabric for the signature part, and save the sheets and shirts for the backing. Nowadays, many fabrics used in clothing and bedding, even ones labeled '100% cotton', are treated with products to make them stain and wrinkle-resistant. These coatings can interfere with the ink bonding to the fabric, resulting in the signatures washing out over time.

Joann Fabrics occasionally puts its 36" wide bleached and unbleached cotton muslin on sale for around $1/yd or even less. Wash and dry the fabric without fabric softener or dryer sheets and iron it before you use it. My quilt guild always uses Pigma pens (available at Michael's, Joann's, etc.) for signature quilts because they're archivally safe on fabric. The .05 size point is easier to write with than the .01 size. If you can apply a temporary stabilizer to the back of the fabric (like ironing freezer-paper on) it'll make it much easier for people to write clearly, and you'll want to watch that they don't sign where the seam allowance is going to go. I don't think Pigma calls for heat-setting, but I always do it anyway.

What a terrific project - I wish you the best of luck on it, and to your daughter, too!

Answer 6

The sheets will be fine as long as you are machine sewing all of the quilt. High thread count sheets can be very difficult to hand quilt.

The dress shirts are also a great idea.

I recently made a quilt for my niece, and used alot of the fabrics in her clothing that had been made for her. It was interesting to hunt down some of the scraps from her garments , from all the years. Some were from her old holloween costumes, prom dress, etc. Some were from some purchased clothing that had been too much memory to discard. It gave a great way to combine the years into one useful , art piece. The quilt was then named the fabric of your life.

  Have fun!