muslin as backing

Same here!! I work so durn hard to get my stitches exact and even - so I NEVER want them to fade into a print!

Though I do think that a neutral tone-on-tone often works nicely and doesn't hide the stitching ... on an Amish quilt I did a while back, just to make sure the stitches showed on the back (black Kona solid) I used a medium neutral grey. Looked right nice - if I do say so myself! :)

Howdy!

I'm just as likely to put a print on the back as muslin, just whatever seems to work. Currently (still) quilting the MeSue quilt w/ its pieced backing (I wanted to baste it that day & couldn't get out to a fabric shop to find "coordinating backing" so I shopped the stash ). Sometimes I like to have a Surprise! fabric on the back. But I never hide the stitches. "No brain: no worry."

R/Sandy --wishing Santa would bring a Slurpee machine *LOL*

*snipped*

Connie :)

I've started a FREE eZine ... and I've posted *LOTS* of free applique patterns! Check it out! :)

Yep, works just fine! I've used it for kiddy quilts and for bigger ones too

The cheap thin loosely woven stuff won't last, but the thicker muslin with a nice weight and tight weave will last as long as the fabrics in the top. You just have to remember to wash it before you use it. The best part is that it will match any quilt top you ever make. Debra in VA See my quilts at

We use cheesecloth or muslin to strain, depending on how fine a weave we need. Debra in VA See my quilts at

In my opinion , it is a lot of work to put a quilt together and also can be expensive depending on the style of it . Why would any of you want to go cheap on the backing ? Dont you want it to look is good on the back as well? And aside from that it will last longer. Genny.

I have had muslin shrink with the first washing 1" per 12". The resulting piece was wrinkled and ironing just didn't do the trick.

I would not use muslin for anything to do with quilting.

Howdy!

Good muslin is as good as any other cotton fabric, and will last as long on the back or the front of a quilt. If y'all are buying the cheap stuff, you're getting what you pay for, and often you're not satisfied with it. Muslin is a traditional quilting fabric, used for hundreds of years. It blends well w/ most patterns, is friendly to other cottons, and makes a great canvas for showing quilting stitches. Bleached muslin gives a crisp, clean appearance to a finished quilt; Garden Path

15 yrs. old and looks just as good now as it did when it was finished: I esp. like muslin used w/ 1920-1940s fabrics, including the modern dayreproductions; these older DWR just pop off the surface w/ a bleached muslinbackground & plenty of good quilting: snipped-for-privacy@sbcglobal.net/album/576460762310280618It's not thin, cheap muslin; they used "the good stuff" when they madethose tops, which are 60-75 yrs. old. Knowing the tools of the trade, including the fabrics, makes for aneasier time w/ quilting. There are hundreds of books in the quilting world,many of them w/ very good info about fabric, quilts, basting, how to getbasting pins to pop up so they can be closed, how to save fingers whenpin basting (use the right tools), how to choose good fabric to make aquality product, how to make a quilt that's worth the time & effort thatgoes into it. Researching the craft can be such a pleasure, too. ;-) RCTQ & other online quilt groups are a delightful way to learnand share, & books let us hold a wealth of information in our hands. Ragmop/Sandy --still discovering new wonders in quilting

On 8/21/07 7:45 AM, in article snipped-for-privacy@q3g2000prf.googlegroups.com, " snipped-for-privacy@sympatico.ca" wrote:

What she said. I would add that with muslin you don't get fading or color run that you can get with expensive 'good quality' prints. (I am still holding a grudge about a Beyer red print)

I still say there isn't any thing as pretty as fine hand quilting on good muslin backing. I do like the 30's vintage so that maybe why I often use muslin. I did one quilt with a Benertex TOT wide backing. I ordered that online. It wasn't cheap and the quality was somewhat diaappointing. I would bet dollars to donuts that it will last less than a quality muslin.

With many quilts there is a lot go> Howdy!

I agree wholeheartedly. I used to use muslin exclusively on the backs (and some fronts) of my quilts and still do so frequently, especially for hand quilted pieces. There's nothing like the look of hand quilting on a muslin back!

All muslin is not created equal. I have used a lot of Roc-Lon muslin from JoAnn fabrics in my quilts, both in the tops and for backing, and have never had any problem with it. Good muslin is less expensive than other good quilting fabrics. I often use muslin for backing on bed quilts and wall hangings, when the backing is generally not seen because it is one way I can save a little money. I would rather use muslin on the backs than to skimp on the fabric for the top.

Julia in MN