Can I Make a Quilt with a Bed Sheet?
I have a new Great Quilting Debate for you today! Can you make quilts from bed sheets? SHOULD we make quilts from bed sheets?
It seems like this single question is enough to start a riot in certain quilting groups and I decided to weigh in on the issue today with a new episode of the Hello My Quilting Friends podcast.
Click Here to check out the episode.
I also ended up weighing in on fabric purchased from big box stores, and using weird fabrics like silk, jeans, corduroy, and wool in our quilts.
Basically – if my machine doesn’t eat it, why can’t I use it?
I think there’s a bit of snobbery in the quilting world from quilters that can afford $12+ yards of fabric and those that can’t. A quilt is a quilt, and no matter what fabric you use, it’s probably 300% better than what women were using 100 years ago.
So I’m calling for a stop on judgement and this silly criticism. Who cares what anyone else is using? Make what you want to make and use whatever you want in your quilts!
Let’s go quilt,
Leah Day
Hello! I'm at a sewing retreat right now. I brought a bunch of unfinished quilt tops to do. Yesterday I became inspired, I was absolutely going to create a masterpiece, I just needed extra fabric. I went to asda next door and got some of their flat sheets and sale kids duvet covers and sparked a heated debate about cotton/not cotton. I was like: you guys can argue amongst yourselves, im making myself a quilt I'm gonna freaking love <3
i mostly use bed sheets as backing for quilts as it means i don't have to seek out extra wide fabric or piece backing for larger projects. It also means i can save money particularly on a king size i made. I have also used the off cuts from the sheet backing to bind quilts and for large squares in a quilt i made specifically to practice free motion. I have always used pure cotton not cotton poly mixes and no one has complained ……yet. I guess my view is 'my quilt, my rules' and if you don't like it i will have it back.
Totally agree except for one thing: hand quilting. 20 years ago as I started quilting again, I had the brilliant and money saving idea to use a sheet for the backing for a quilt my church group was making. It was excruciatingly difficult to get the needle thru that dense high thread count quilt. Hard lesson to learn.
I say, why not?! Years, ok decades, ago I did machine appliqué before it was. I did, and I still do many things that were and are innovative.
Way too many old ladies tisk tisk me. Do I care? Hell no! My money, my project, my happiness!!
BTW, I am over 65.
hard to believe that someone i don't even really know, seems to share so much of my own outlook on life!!! thank you for standing up for "be who you is,cause if you be who you ain't, then you ain't who you is"! lets put judgement and the blame game where they belong, in the trash
shoshana
shoshana
Very true Leah; it should not matter what is used, as long as the quilter is happy.
You go girl! Great post. If you are enjoying what you are doing and you like your project, that is all that counts. It belongs to you. Make it the way you want it. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
Too funny… just yesterday I came across a UFO where my notes were to buy 3-4+ yards of black fabric to make a wide sashing and border. Apparently the cheapest quilting fabric to be found, according to my notes, was $3.99 at an online store. But I hadn't ordered the fabric before the project became 'lost'. I no longer really care about this project, but I do want it done. So when I found it and read my notes about how I wanted to finish it, I decided that the simplest, quickest, and probably cheapest thing to do would be to buy a black flat sheet or sheet set. IKEA has a full-size set for $20.
I concur. It's your quilt use what you want.
You always make me feel like a quilter. I don't always tell people that I used a sheet as part of my quilt backs.
Oh, I so agree, Leah. I've seen beautiful old crazy quilts made with what looks like one family's entire wardrobe – silks, velvets, tweeds and cottons – and they are stunning. My daughter uses sheets to back her beautifully handsewn, all EPP, quilts and she's very happy with the results. It's all up to the individual. Elizabeth
I so agree with you, quilting is costly, especially with all the beautiful collections out there, then the batting, then the thread, the rulers and needles, its never ending buying all the time, don't get me wrong I love quilting, but you have to be well off to have a successful business, so saving a few dollars on backing by buying sheets, I am all for it!
I use what I can afford. Most of my quilts are made for people that I love .They are not entered in any shows, nor do I think they would ever make it that far. My family and friends Love them and don't ak where I got the material at. They were just happy to get them. When I was just starting out quilting I asked a group about ironing Batting( to get the wrinkles out), I felt I was shamed when someone responded " I just put mine in the dryer for 10 minutes why on earth would you want too iron it!" of course being new I had know idea about putting batting in the dryer. So the point is people can be very HARSH and forget where they first started from. Don't listen to negativity. It took me a long time to ask anything again searching for answers on my own. Stay positive people! Do what feels right for you!
I found this post really useful.
Thank you Andy! I’m happy to hear this!
Thank you for this post! I like using sheets for backing on quilts. 100% cotton, 300 thread count or so, works well. I make a lot of quilts and projects. — mostly for fun — so it’s important to me to save money. I also like trying different things. I’ve also notice some in the sewing community put down others who don’t have higher end machines. I sewed on a really inexpensive and basic machine for years. Stay in your own seam people – if not offering encouragement – keep it to yourself. 🙂
I agree, though all of our sensitivity about machines and materials and things being “good enough” are up to us to resolve within ourselves. It doesn’t matter what others say or think – what matters is enjoying your craft with what you have and making what you wish to create.