Flannel sheets are becoming my new favorite way to back my quilts. I live in an area where we have winter almost half of the year so our quilts are used quite a bit and they actually need to be WARM! I frequently use sheets as quilt backings.
Three reasons I love flannel sheets as quilt backings
- They are warm
- They are cheap
- No piecing required
If you buy the sheets large enough (like a queen or a king) you can actually get two backings from one set of sheets. That is a huge savings! I just counted up the number of quilts I made in the last two months and it’s a lot. 15 to be exact. So saving a little money on backings is so helpful.
Here are some of my favorites available right now
Aren’t those sheep the cutest!!?
My go to for flannel sheets is usually Target for their price and convenience. I’m not afraid to use any brand of sheets though. I do try to stick with 100% cotton sheets for quilt backings.
Quilting with Sheets
I don’t treat sheets as quilt backings a whole lot different than any other quilting material. I’m kind of a fearless quilter and just plunge ahead with anything that strikes my fancy.
However, here are some tips for quilting with sheets
Use a fine quilting needle if you are having trouble. Sheets are more tightly woven than quilting cotton so a sharp fine needle (like this one) will be helpful in getting through those layers.
Prewash if you are worried about shrinking or bleeding. I admit, I rarely prewash anything. Even flannel sheets. Even linen. Even mixed substrates in the same quilt. So maybe don’t do as I do, but do as I say. If you are the cautious type, prewash so there are no surprises!
Baste as usual. I’m a spray baster and I baste up flannel sheets just the same as quilting cottons. I use 505 Spray baste exclusively.
There really isn’t much to it! Give sheets a try as a quilt backing and see how you like it. Flannel sheets make the softest quilt backings.
I think we will all be fighting over this recent quilt finish because the mix of the flannel and the Essex Linen is a warm and cozy combination. (I wrote about quilting with Essex Linen here.)
The flannel sheet below is from the Target Wondershop Collection.
Quilt pattern is North Star found here.
Fabric used for this quilt:
Essex Linen in Graphite
Tula Pink Holiday Homies – This is a limited edition print.
Grab it from these shops while it’s still available:
Holiday Homies – Fabric.com
Holiday Homies – Craftsy
Holiday Homies – Fat Quarter Shop
Binding: Riley Blake Stripe
Quilter + Photographer + Creative Biz. I'm a long time creative entrepreneur who enjoys introducing quilters to modern and fun quilt designs. I call a tiny town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula home. You will find me hibernating and quilting in the winters and out with my camera in the summers. 
Great idea for backings. I do love those cars with the Christmas trees! I do use flannel for backings quite a bit here in the Great White North (Canada) as well as my guys like the cozy feel.
I used a flannel sheet, and I hate it,
The back has little fuzzy little balls (and the sheets weren’t cheap.)
I used fluffy batting the quilt is to warm for January ,
Its a beautiful quilt that I ruined to save 10 bucks.
If your flannel sheet has little balls, I’d suspect that it’s not 100% cotton.
Also, the puffy (polyester) batting is most likely the reason that the quilt is too warm, not the backing.
My grandmother & Aunt made a quilt that pilled when washed. I used one of the razors made for de-pilling
sweaters etc. Worked great no more problem.
Louana
Mama made quilts out of anything including using sheets & flannel sheets too. As kids we loved them. I’m 76; she made those as far back as I can remember.
It’s not for everyone! Thanks for your input! Others might find it helpful.
I really like this idea and will try it. Thx and Have a Very Blessed New Year!
Thanks for posting this. I back almost all my quilts in flannel and hate piecing the back if there’s a busy pattern I have to match. I always buy my flannel quilts on sale, too.
I would need to buy the flannel sheets on sale and I would think a great time to buy them is during the change of retail season when they should be absolutely on sale. I saw some wide backing flannel at JoAnn’s recently when I bought flannel at the most recent sale.
Thousands of Bolts also sale wide flannel backings and I have bought some pieces from their sale bins.
You made 15 quilts in two months?!? Or did you mean you put backing on 15 quilts in two months?
Yes, yes I did. 7-8 of them were baby quilts so those are fast finishes ;)
Hi. Sheets are a great backing. I’ve used many times. I have also used them as batting. There is no special preparations just use it like your regular batting.
Good idea to use as batting for a thinner quilt :)
I have a customer who uses flannel sheets instead of batting and be warned, they weigh more than regular quilts after the layers are quilted together.
Love this quilt and the flannel sheet print is really cute. How did you bind it?
I hand binded this one the same as usual :)
King size good quality quilt covers make great backings and you get 2. Or even single double or queen depending on size of quilt top
That’s a great idea!
Do you use a batting and then the sheet backing?
Yes, I used batting as normal.
I used a flannel sheet, and I hate it,
The back has little fuzzy little balls (and the sheets weren’t cheap.)
I used fluffy batting the quilt is to warm for January ,
Its a beautiful quilt that I ruined to save 10 bucks.
Hi. Sheets are fine, but if taking your quilts to a longarm machine quilter, we prefer no sheets for backing quilts. Sheets don’t act correctly when loaded on a longarm machine, FYI :). It must be something in the way they are woven.
Maybe some longarm quilters accept these backings but I just know its best to call ahead of time and check with the person who will be quilting your quilt :)
BTY, love the truck & trees sheet backing, sew cute!
Do you just throw out the bottom sheet? I can’t think of a good use for it.
I’m guessing she opens the corners and uses the fitted sheet same as the flat top sheet.
I use it for smaller quilts!
I ‘m about to back a t-shirt quilt with flannel and wondering if I can skip batting? Seems like quilt might end up heavy if I add batting what do you think?
oohhh… I don’t know! I think I would still use batting, just a thinner one.
What is the fabric line you used for the top? I love the patters!
I just listed it! I’m usually good about that but forgot for this one. It’s Holiday Homies linked above :)
Great subject and tip.
I’m a longarm quilter and as long as the sheet is cotton and all hems open, prewashed and squared up, I’ve never had a problem. I use flannel on my own quilts so they stay on the bed and don’t slid off. Think how often you wash your bed sheets, they hold up for a long time through a lot of wear. Most often I find it is the batting that causes issues.
I just bought these car sheets for $16.99 after Christmas sale at Target. I’m going to give them a try for a backing. The other idea I had for them was making pajama pants for my family of 4. I’m going to prewash for shrinkage.
I am working on a blue jean quilt at the moment and going to use the flat sheet as the backing…. no batting…. and any of the jeans that have holes i have cut from the pillow cases to back the hole…..505 spray adheasive…
What color gray was used as the background fabric? Can you share that please?
It’s the color Graphite. :)
I’m curious if you’ve ever had the back made of sheets twist or distort your quilt? Nearly every set of sheets we own weren’t squared up when cut. Does the quilting keep that from happening?
I haven’t had that problem!