Tammie Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Is it true that I shouldn't use sheets for the Backing? I have read and heard but just curious. I know that sheets are no fun to hand sew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnQuilts Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Some machines don't sew well with sheets used as backing. Other machines have no problem with them. If your machine does well with them, and you want to use them, there's no reason not to. I would preshrink the sheet first if it is new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoAnnHoffman Posted August 24, 2005 Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Sheets usually have a higher thread count per square inch than quilting fabric. Customer give them to me all the time and I have no problem with them. I have a Mille. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammie Posted August 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2005 Thanks ladies, I prefer not to use sheets for my own quilts but I have had other ask me if I would. Guess I will at this give it a try maybe with a cheater when I practice to see how it works out. Thanks for the reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sspingler Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 I've used a lot of sheets, for the grandkids and customers. I haven't had any problems. If my customers ask, I tell them that they need to be washed at least 5 times to get all the sizing out of them and relax the fibers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9patch Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 I once used a sheet supplied by the quilt maker for the back of her quilt. She had washed the sheet once or twice, but I found it to be still quite stiff. I washed it once more. It would have benefitted from more washings, but it worked out just fine for machine quilting. If I knew I was getting another sheet to use as backing, I agree with the posts above and would ask that the sheet be washed multiple times before it comes to me. Then I would use it without worry. Linda/9patch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 I have actually discouraged customers from using sheets, trying to steer them toward the wide-width cottons instead. But perhaps I'll ease up on that and simply request the multiple-washing instead. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audria L. Humphrey Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Somewhere along the way I was told not to use sheets for backing. The close thread count can cause your needel to break the thread instead of going between. When the finished quilt is washed you get "fuzzys" around the stitch. Don't know if this is true if you used a new needle but it makes a good story. I just tell customers I don't use sheets and give them this story and it works. That way I don't have to work with sheets. Haven't lost a customer yet because of not useing sheets for backing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammi Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 One of my favorite "quilts" was made of two Ralph Lauren sheets just because the customer loved the sheets. I had no problems with it. sammi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
April W Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 I have had several customers use sheets for backing and only had problems with one of them. It was a very high thread count and it kept skipping stitches. Which meant ripping out and re-quilting. But then a lot of the quilts I get are hand me down tops that never got finished and the person with it now doesn't sew or have any fabric knowledge, and they go the quick and easy route...sheets. Most of the time they work just fine even without repeated washings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyL Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 With the sheets or any other thing you've heard, you should try it for yourself and then you can tell your customers facts. Some of the better sheets make great backings! I prefer not to work with sheets because they're harder to square up. Takes lots of folding and careful cutting whereas with the wide backing fabrics, I tear them and know they are straight. If a customer bring a sheet that isn't square, I will square it up but there's a fee for doing so. While talking about backings, there are some really cheap and flimsy wide backing fabrics out there too. I've had few lately that I think I would have preferred working with a sheet. Another thing to remember . . if you're trying to get business and you will not use a sheet for a backing and the longarmer down the street will, you're going to lose a customer if they have their mind set on using a sheet. And, if they've used sheets before and have not had problems, no amount of coaxing is going to convince them that the quilt fabric backings are better. Do I use sheets on backings for my own quilts? No! Will I quilt using a sheet for a backing if a customer brings it? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbWetzel Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Personally, I don't like sheets as Judy said they are hard to square up and my machine, Millie, skips stiches, along with breaking thread. I think the thread count is too much for my Millie. Personally I have asked my customers not to use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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