Skeat

Super responses!! I am so glad to know that I am not the 'only' one:)I checked out Tim's muslin online last night too:)Will defin have to go find that bolt in person and hug it to see what I think:)

I personally love muslin! I use it for everything here. Makes a great foundation to strip piecing and backgrounds for stitcheries, even quilted ones...and, sometimes backgrounds. I too will buy the whole bolt when I find it! I never have enough!!

I do hope the responses keep coming in:)All info is good in my book:)SKeat

BellaBoo

I heard Moda made a muslin but I haven't seen or found it. I buy Kona muslin for quilts and I buy the permanent press premium muslin for projects, for backing on place mats, potholders, coasters, pincushions, etc.

Trixie

Hi, Muslin choices can be confusing, depending on what you want to do with it. Muslin threads are made of shorter strands and can be very coarse and as you know vary greatly. I am betting the Kona muslin is a much better quality and I'd be cautions in using thinner fabric in quilts as it will not hold up as well. Hope this works!

Shelley

For muslin, I usually try to buy it by the bolt at Dharma Trading. I think you can also get just what you need by the yard. You can order a sample pack that gives you all the fabrics they sell. It's been a while since I did that, but it really gives you an idea of what they have.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/

It appears to be run by a bunch of hippies (maybe grown up hippies?), but it's great stuff and they are wonderful to work with. I love the Kona cotton, it's not thin and it feels great.

kathy

I like the Kona if you use it "as is" but I like to dye my fabric and this gives it more texture, the Kona I dyed ended up feeling more like denim and is a bit difficult to work with for piecing. So if I'm going to dye it I get a midweight muslin. Even the white muslin of any brand dyes differently than other white fabrics, it seems to take more dye to get the same color but I like it since I'm not trying to match a specific color.

Pammie

I've used all types of muslin (inexpensive - cheap! to pricey). My favorite is P & B's quilter's muslin (runs about $5 to $6 per yard). I also like Kona products but have trouble finding them. I don't wash before because I like the "shrunken" look after my quilt is washed.

gangles

I guess I am the odd ball, I buy 100% cotton print fabric, usually at Walmart for $2.44 a yard, wash, iron and put it on the back of my quilts. I bought a pretty cream with tan paisley design yesterday to back a quilt. Cost Less than $12.00 to back a queen size quilt. I don't have much money and have to do the best I can and I like the look of a one print back.

Susie T

I took a hand quilting class at my LQS and they suggested Kona as muslin since some muslins are too rough and difficult to hand quilt. I found it to be very nice and good quilting cotton quality. I love the knowledge of my LQS staff and pay a little more up front. Of course, once I get comfortable with my knowledge I go off and hit the deals, LOL!

Thanks to all of you for your vast knowledge, you've helped me save a ton of $, which I go out and spend on more stash !!!

butterflywing

i have been buying from dharma for years and years, and i have always come back to them for dyes and chemicals. BUT remember that dharma is primarily a DYE and CHEMICAL supply company, so their perception of quality may be different than yours. not wrong, just different. they're very into organic and i don't know if that's really necessary for quilting, especially considering the price. their fabrics are specifically made to suck up color and that also means any bleeding from colored fabric. i would suggest using retayne with their muslin.

if you're looking for soft, middle of the road, affordable muslin may i suggest joann's printed muslin? i hate joann's, but for $10 a yard you get 108", 100% cotton, printed muslin in many colors and designs. with your coupon, $5. like all muslin it will shrink shamelessly, but that is a good thing, because it tightens the weave. i've used it for backing and it's strong. i don't know if i would use it for binding, because that might rub it too thin. but on the flat areas, it quilts nicely and holds up well. you have to ask them where it is. it's usually hiding.

butterflywing

what are you hoping to do with it? different uses call for different qualities, don't you think? and different widths. it's foolish to buy 90" if sometimes you need only 60". that's too much waste. or 120" if you often need 90". but if you need 60" square and you can get 120" at a good price, then BINGO! you hit the jackpot! cause if you buy 60" you can get 4 - count them - 4 60" squares for the price of less than 2 yards. that's why you should consider before buying a whole bolt. sometimes the waste makes it not such a bargain price. i buy 108 - 120" backing because i make 96" quilts. the extra becomes the binding. no waste. for foundations, i use the good parts of worn-out sheets. they're cotton and they're soft. actually, for foundations i'll use anything that's cotton and white and soft. old nightgowns and men's shirts are terrific. and i mix them.