Background fabric - Muslin?

I've used the Roc-Lon brand 45" wide muslin from JoAnn's in both white and unbleached for piecing. It shrinks more than most other quilting fabric, so you should preshrink. JoAnn's also has one that is a bit heavier that I have also used, but I can't remember what they call it. I use muslin a lot for backings too.

Julia in MN

Dharma all the way on this one. Their muslin is very nice and I use it a lot for both quilting and generic sewing purposes.

I usually dye my own solids so I couldn't say what pre-dyed might be best. A while ago somebody told me that the Michael Miller Jet Black was an awfully good black cotton. I have not tried it myself so I can't say for sure.

NightMist

The MICHAEL MILLER JET BLOCK SOLID is amazing. I ended up buying 10 yards from Hancock's (twice). And I haven't yet come across it at a lower price - $7 - anywhere else. It also has a great feel.

Here's the link:

It just makes the other colors POP!! And when you put it next to other blacks (Kaufman, Kona), you can see how those blacks turn more red-black or green-black or blue-black. The Miller black is just BLACK!

I think there is an article in this month's edition of Quilter's Home (MIke Lipinksi) magazine about how some "experts" tested a bunch of different blacks for feel, fading, cutting, etc. The MM Jet Black won.

-Michele

I saw that article too. It was good Re muslin. I like the Moda brand of muslin, I usually get the natural but it's in white too. Hancock's sell it too. I usually by a mini bolt of it. I like to use it on the backs of wall hangings (why waste pretty fabric where it isn't going to be seen). As for black, the only one I've used is the Hoffman Hand dye batik.. it's a black with a touch of blue but is nice to work with if you're not bothered it isn't a black black. It isn't quite as flat as a solid.

Elly

Michele > The MICHAEL MILLER JET BLOCK SOLID is amazing. I ended up buying 10

A lot of people on the Dear Jane lists use unbleached muslin for background, and recommend Roclon brand or Ecology cloth. I know that Roclon comes in a bleached, and you can get it at Jo-Ann's, often on sale at a very reasonable price. It is a better quality than the Jo-Ann brand of the same stuff, which is priced the same. (BTW, the 45" or 90" is what is used, not the 36" which is really stiff and not good quality.) For a finer quality yet, try Kona Bay, not Kona by Kaufman. Kona Bay is very good, very silky and quite a bit more expensive. sigh. They are known for their Oriental prints, but do have a line of solids too.

Have fun, Pati, in Phx who used Roclon unbleached for my first Dear Jane quilt, and often use it for other quilts.....

Dannielle wrote:

just picked up some muslin and painted for photo backdrops...www.primomart.com they have 10.5 and 12 foot wide. called them and they said it was about 128 threads, really happy with the product and pricing nik