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I need help please! Kind of long...

I want to make a pastel scrap quilt which consist of nine patches with framed pinwheels as the alternate blocks. I intend to use up scraps from various projects.

My dilemma is what to use for the background. I started to use a muslin but now am not so sure. I researched the newsgroup for information concerning good muslins and found a few informative posts.

What would be a good muslin? Would I get a better quality background using a printed muslin? Are Kona cottons better that muslins for my quilt?

I used a muslin from Wal-Mart for a quilt for my son's bed. It's patriotic prints cut in 3 - 1/2 squares with muslin alternate blocks. When I was machine quilting it, I noticed that some of the muslin appeared to be pilling and fuzzy. I kept with it and it looks great on his bed and I don't notice the "fuzzy" muslin anymore. However, I don't know that I want to use that muslin again. I think it was the plain muslin from Springs manufacturing.

From the posts I found, I see a lot of people use Roc-lon. I see it in the stores and it looks loosely woven to me. The stuff I used from Wal-mart is tight woven. Does Roc-lon shrink up during washing? (No offense is intended here, I'm not trying to disparage anyone's comments. I just need some help.) Does Roc-lon hold up well over the years?

I bought a piece of Natural Charm muslin by Springs from a quilt shop here. I asked the lady that used to run a quilt shop here about it and she said that she loved Natural Charm and always carried it in her store. I remember seeing it there. However, I did not buy a piece big enough. I called the store to see if they had any more. They didn't and don't carry it anymore, and the only way they'll order it again is if I buy the whole 50-yard bolt! Unfortunately, this is the only quilt store in the Atlanta area that carries it!

Also, I used a printed muslin years ago I bought from a quilt shop here in the Atlanta area and I found that over the years the printing wore off. It is an everyday quilt. I find that I don't particularly like printed muslins. However, I want to use a good quality fabric that holds up and wears well over the years, and if it just happens to be a printed muslin, then that's what I'll use. I did read in a post that printed muslins are a better quality that plain muslins. Is that true?

I have a fear that Kona cottons are too heavy for my quilt. I read the post where someone used Kona for the top and the bottom and it was too heavy to sleep under. The other pieces I plan to use are lighter and I fear using a heavy cotton next to a light weight one. Am I justified or over the edge with my paranoia?

Sorry for such a long post. Any feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Sandi & Mark (SMark) from Atlanta

Reply to
SMark
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I have used Roc-Lon muslin and I found that I had to look carefully at JoAnns as they had several different kind of the same brand and some were nicer than others. It could be that the loosely woven one you found was of the poorer quality variety. The one I purchased was 100% cotton, tightly woven and very smooth.

I personally like solid basic colors for scrappy quilts. My local shop has solids by P&B and other quilter cotton companies and I have had good luck with them.

I have used Kona's and while they are heavier, I don't find them so much heavier than other cottons that they are a problem. However, the weave to me is more homespun looking than smooth and that may or may not be a factor in your project.

If it were my quilt I would pick a color for the background rather than a muslin. What color do you want your quilt to "read". use that color combined with all your scraps and you will have a lively quilt in the end.

marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

Thanks so much for your help.

I once heard someone report from one of the workers at a quilt show here locally that once you get more comfortable with color that you no longer work in muslin. I find that I particularly love solid backgrounds and just can't get away from it. Also, color terrifies me. But I keep plugging away regardless.

The colors I'm using are pastel blues, purples, pink, greens and yellows... Prints that look like stuff my grandmother would use, but not the Aunt Gracies/reproductions out on the market today. Since the prints are light, I'm befuddled at what I would use as a background color. I'm afraid that the color would blend in with my blocks.

Please give me some ideas on what would you use?

Thanx!

Reply to
SMark

If I wanted a blue quilt I would choose a solid blue that was a couple of shades darker than the darkest blue print I was using...same if I wanted a purple, pink, green or yellow quilt.

If I really was feeling like I wanted a contrast then I would pick a neutral that I liked with a variety of my prints - like tan, brown or grey. If my prints were medium tone I would give navy, teal or even black a try.

Hope that gives you an idea.

marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

That's a really valuable mini lesson, Marcella. Thank you. .

In message , Marcella Peek writes

Reply to
Patti

Moda makes a nice muslin. Elaine in GA

Reply to
Elaine Abner

On Sun, 20 Nov 2005 17:38:12 -0600, SMark wrote (in article ):

You might try something dark, like a dark blue or pink to make those pastels pop. Or perhaps a light yellow.

Reply to
Maureen Wozniak

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