Buying Muslin

Is this after washing or before? If before, it'll be a lot more wrinkled after! Just iron it with a HOT setting (I use the linen setting), and iron it when it's still not quite dry ('ironing dry' is what we used to call it: dry enough to iron the rest of the way, not dry enough to put away without airing/ironing!).

I just pick up muslin from TSWLTH for the things I use it for -- not had too much of a problem although it does wrinkle and have more tangled threads after the initial washing than other fabrics I tend to wash -- however, unlike many of those other fabrics, if I iron it while still damp, the wrinkles come out.

I use muslin mostly for siggie squares for projects, backing pillows that I've made out of my early piecing projects, and have intended to use it to fit garment patterns but so far I haven't gotten around to that.

All of that said, I do fondle the material (any material) on the bolt, unroll so of it and fondle it single and double layer A LOT and buy that which feels like it will serve my purpose (whichever that is).

I went to get you the info off the last bolt I used but discovered they wrapped it around a spare empty lace bolt, not a muslin bolt. Sorry.

HTH, Tricia

Believe it or not, one of the best muslins around is the Roclon brand you can find at Jo-Anns for $1.99,44/45" wide. Muslin is used a lot by "Janiacs" (fans of the "Dear Jane" quilt) and that is one that many people recommend. Do check the different bolts, some may be a bit "looser" in weave than others, but in general it is good quality. I used it in my DJ quilt and am quite pleased with it.

Pati, > I bought some muslin from my LQS. I have really been diappointed. Its

I also use the Roclon from Joann's. I buy it by the bolt when it's on sale, because I often use it for backing. I've seen the same brand at the LQS, for considerably more money. I have noticed that the 45" wide stuff at Joann's is much nicer than the 36" (or is it 39"); the narrower stuff seems to be more loosely woven and just not as nice.

Julia > Believe it or not, one of the best muslins around is the Roclon brand

Wow Pati! You're a Janiac?! I'm impressed. Have you actually finished your DJ? I don't know anyone who has finished theirs. I have no asperations to even begin one. I understand it's quite a learning experience, but I have so many other things to learn that I think DJ

Tutu, who posts every now and then has finished TWO. We love her, even though she's clearly insane. *grin*

I saw them, and they are gorgeous. One is done in browns, the other in indigo. Lovely, lovely indigo. :)

Speaking of indigos....have you found a project for your collection? KJ

Speaking of insane. Isn't there another challenging quilt called "Nearly Insane"? I saw the book & the cover made my eyes cross! Kathy, I just saw some indigo prints the other day & couldn't remember who had mentioned they were on an "indigo hunt". I'm pretty sure they were at The Quilter's Inn in Danville.

Actually, the project came first. At a retreat I went to in January, we did a block swap in shirtings and indigos, and got directions for recreating a historic quilt made from the blocks. For some reason, that quilt really spoke to me. The bad news is the blocks only finish to 3.5", and I want a large quilt, so I'm thinking about 600+ blocks. I'm about a third of the way through. *sigh*

Whoa! 600 blocks!!!??? Not in my lifetime. Have you used up all your indigos yet? Do you have any preview pics? KJ

No, not any where near to using all the indigos yet! LOL At 3.5", each block doesn't take much fabric. :) And Tutu just sent me another batch of lovely South African indigos to drool over, er, use.

No preview pix yet because I don't want to spread these things out until I'm ready to take up a good portion of my design wall for a while -- probably not until I get all the blocks done. It's a simple pattern -- each block is a framed square, and you alternate colors. One set has white shirtings framing an indigo square, the other set has indigos framing a shirting square. The blocks are alternated in the final quilt. Between the block swap, the fabrics I found online, and all the kind RCTQers who helped out, I'll have a good variety so the quilt will have a very scrappy look to it. I should get my treadle put back together by Thursday, which means I'll have access to my sewing room again, which means I can start sewing blocks like a madwoman again. (No surprise on that madwoman part, eh? *snort*)

Ah ha! I think some showed a quilt similar to this at our quilt show. A simple design in indigos and I don't remember if it was shirtings or muslin as the alternate fabric. It was outstanding! KJ

Yep. The 45" is treated for a "non-wrinkle" finish, and the 36" isn't. I agree totally. That is one reason the 45" will iron nice and smooth, even if dried it is twisted and looks wrinkled. They also have the same stuff in a PFD (prepared for dying) form for the same price. And is great to get when it is on sale. Also have a couple of "tea dyed" as well as the bleached and unbleached.

Pati, > I also use the Roclon from Joann's. I buy it by the bolt when it's on

I am in the process of (finally) hand piecing my Jane. It has been basted for a while while I debated about the quilting. Tutu has finished 2 of them!!! Mine is basically hand pieced. Set by machine. It is not a difficult quilt, but an interesting one. Remember, just one seam at a time. I am actually working on a second one. Which I need to get back to.

Pati, > Wow Pati! You're a Janiac?! I'm impressed. Have you actually finished

Yep, have the book. Have figured out all the rotary cutting instructions for it. And am planning on doing it when I figure out the fabrics I want to use. 6" blocks, a couple of which have over 200 pieces in them. The original quilt is called the "Salinda Rupp" quilt, and it was made in Pennsylvania in the 1870's. Wonderfully colorful and scrappy. and complex. But remember, just one seam at a time............

Pati, in Phx

Paul> Speaking of insane. Isn't there another challenging quilt called "Nearly

I misread that as "It has been bUsted for a while..." and was trying to figure out just how one breaks a quilt or WIP *LOL*

Tricia

I have all the blocks done! and 14 triangles. I have most of the blocks on my design wall....now to set them together.

Betty in WI

I bought a bolt....30 some yards! at the flea market where I volunteer for $15. I'll be using it forever!

Betty in WI