How to Use Bed Sheets to Quilt
Using bed sheets to quilt is a real time and money saver. Regardless of quilt size, you can usually find a bed sheet large enough to make piecing the backing unnecessary. Available in a variety of colors and prints, bed sheets are an inexpensive, versatile and durable quilt backing option. When buying bed sheets for use in quilts, feel the sheet fabric to ensure that it is soft and smooth. Also, choose only those that are 100 percent cotton and have a thread count of 200 or less. Select percale or opt for flannel for added warmth and coziness.
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Things You'll Need
- Sheet
- Quilt top
- Batting
- Sewing tape measure
- Scissors
- Safety pins
- Hand needle (optional)
- Thread
- Sewing machine
- Free motion or walking foot
- Yarn or pearl cotton (optional)
- Iron
- Ironing board
Instructions
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1
Wash the sheet by machine in hot water to test for colorfastness and tumble dry on high heat to eliminate future shrinkage. Iron, if necessary.
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2
Measure the quilt top, both horizontally and vertically.
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3
Measure the sheet and make sure that it is at least 4 to 6 inches larger than the quilt top, both horizontally and vertically. Trim away the finished edges to reduce bulk. Further trim the sheet if it is more than 8 to 10 inches larger than the quilt top in either direction.
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4
Lay the sheet right side down on a large, flat surface such as a bed or freshly cleaned floor. Gently smooth the sheet to eliminate wrinkles. Layer first the batting and then the quilt top, placed right side up, on the sheet and smooth them from the middle to the edges.
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5
Pin or baste the three layers together. Starting in the middle, place safety pins about 6 inches apart over the entire surface of the quilt top. Be sure that all three layers remain smooth during this process.
As an alternative to safety pins, sew rows of basting stitches by hand from edge to edge about 6 inches apart both horizontally and vertically. Basting stitches are long, temporary stitches formed by running a single strand of thread through all layers of the quilt. For easy stitch removal, secure each end of the stitch line with a backstitch.
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6
Quilt as desired either by machine or with simple ties. By machine, use a free motion foot for free motion quilting or use a walking foot to follow the seam lines on the quilt top or create other straight-line designs. Start in the middle and work toward the edges. If safety pins are present, remove them from the area being quilted. To avoid tucks or puckers in the backing, remove the quilt from the machine periodically and check to ensure that the backing remains smooth. Adjust the pins or basting, if necessary.
If tying the quilt, use a needle with a large eye and yarn or pearl cotton. Work from the center out, forming a grid with ties placed every 4 to 6 inches.
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7
Once the quilting is complete, trim the backing and batting even with the edges of the quilt top.
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8
Bind the quilt with commercial quilt binding, following the instructions provided, or make quilt binding by cutting 2 1/2-inch strips from the sheet or other fabric.
If using homemade binding, cut two strips the length of the quilt and two strips that are 2 inches longer than the width of the quilt. Fold the strips in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press. Matching the raw edges, sew the side strips to the edges of the front of the quilt using a 1/4-inch seam. Turn the binding over the edge of the quilt to the back and hand or machine stitch into place. Repeat this process for the top and bottom of the quilt, folding the ends of the binding under 1 inch at the corners prior to stitching. After stitching the binding into place front and back, hand stitch the folded ends together to make a neat finish.
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Tips & Warnings
If working on a bed or carpeting to pin or baste the layers together, place a large piece of cardboard under the work area while pinning or basting.
Make a whole-cloth quilt by using a sheet for the quilt top, as well.
Do not try to hand-quilt when using sheets -- the high thread count makes hand quilting difficult.
- Photo Credit floral bedding - home interiors image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
