Need home decor advice

[blogslut]

I'm looking to buy something like this:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/168383696/cotton-bed-spread-bed-linenwith-kantha?ref=shop_home_active_23

I'm going to use it as a light bedspread.

Does anybody know how thin the material is on one of these things?

[pinboy3niner]

1. Does material thinness matter?

The filler determines the thickness of the bedspread, so your outer cover is (pardon the pun) immaterial?

[blogslut]

6. Yes, it matters

This would take the place of my comforter during the spring/summer months.

I like my bedspread/comforter but it's damask and the cat has really done a number on it. The one I showed isn't the one I want. The one I want would blend well with the colors in my room: red/gold/beige. I want something inexpensive that looks pretty on my bed, goes with my style and won't get totally shredded by the cat.

[pinboy3niner]

24. OY! I don't think ANYTHING is cat-proof

Best of luck!

[blogslut]

27. So true

NOTHING is kitty proof.

[Wait Wut]

2. Quilts vary.

That one looks pretty thin. I've never seen what you would call a 'thick' quilt, but some are thicker than others. Your best bet is to ask them directly.

A friend of mine inherited a quilt and sewed it to a light comforter to make it more usable. But, for the most part, you don't want to really use a quilt for everyday sleeping. More for cuddling in front of a fire. They can be pretty delicate.

[blogslut]

3. It's not a quilt though

Last edited Fri Jan 17, 2014, 08:48 PM - Edit history (1)

It's one of those things that US hippies hang on their walls. I'm sure it's thin, I just want to know if it's crazy thin like a scarf.

EDIT ADD: Also, I apologize. The picture I showed you is a light quilt. I haven't shown the one I want because there's only one left and I love the pattern and haven't seen it at any of the numerous other shops/sites so I'm keeping it to myself while I decide.

[Wait Wut]

5. Probably is.

I had one (Batik?) that lasted quite a long time, but finally wore through because of over use. Again, I'd find a few you really love and ask directly.

Someplace like this might be able to educate you a bit on specific fabrics and durability:

http://www.keepsakequilting.com/beautifulbalis.aspx?scode=KDCPCG&gclid=CJrHzICzhrwCFYhsfgodxWwA4w

[blogslut]

9. Thanks :)

I can ask the seller directly. I dig that about Etsy.

[MerryBlooms]

8. They are very thin and if you have a cat that would come anywhere near it- buy something else.

[blogslut]

11. :(

Yeah. I'm afraid of that.

I am figuring it's about the thinness of these woven Indian scarves I have.

It's just that I'm having a hell of a time finding plain cotton bedspreads anywhere near my color/pattern needs - red/gold/swirls

Satin-like stuff is right out and microfiber attracts cat fur like crazy.

[MerryBlooms]

15. I have one kitty who has never learned to retract his claws

with fabric. He won't lay a claw on a human or our other cat, but when he runs across the carpeting or beds, you can hear the 'skitchskitch' of his claws.

I would go with an inexpensive med. weight quilted cotton and omg, stay away from anything resembling silk, velvet or loose knitted/crocheted. lol We have hundreds invested in fabric failure.

[blogslut]

22. Well, my kitty is mean and does claw me on purpose.

But when it comes to my things, she's really pretty good as long as her cardboard scratcher is fresh. But, like your kitty, she doesn't retract her claws very well and clipping them is just not going to happen.

I would love to be able to afford a nice cotton quilt with maybe thread embroidery but alas, those cost big bucks.

[MerryBlooms]

28. ((hug)) keep your chin up, a solution will come.

[csziggy]

4. The old Indian print bedspreads I've owned have been fairly thin

I've got some purchased in the 1970s and one that belonged to my grandmother that could be 75-100 years old. The ones I own are block printed, not hand painted as indicated in the Etsy listing. All are about sheet weight but much coaser weave than sheets. They tend to be very soft to the touch.

That said, I recently saw a program about Indian cotton and it seems that the industry is being revived and the quality may be better than it had been since the 1800s, so the cotton for the spread you are interested in may be better quality and finer woven than what I have.

[blogslut]

7. So, crazy thin like a scarf, or...

medium thin more like a standard-issue US-type sheet?

[csziggy]

13. Medium thin like a US sheet

But much looser weave with fatter, softer threads. They make good light weight spreads - but my cats' claws tended to snag the threads and pull them.

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. I agree, they are fairly thin

They are much more sheet weight than bedspread weight. To make them hang better, you could add some beaded trim, something with some weight to it.

[mrmpa]

10. If you have an Ikea near you........

I suggest looking at their quilts. I bought one two years ago and it is perfect for the summer. I also bought one for the winter and the weight is perfect.

[blogslut]

12. Only online for me

And no, nothing that works with my color scheme.

[mrmpa]

23. Sorry about that...........

I did look at their site after I posted. Nothing there is close to what I have. I bought the summer one that didn't come close to my color scheme, but I didn't care, it is just so light and cool. The winter one is white so it fits in.

[blogslut]

26. There's like, a bajillion things I want from them

But I gotta be good. I love the prices, though.

[mrmpa]

29. Ikea is about 15 minutes from my home..........

when I bought my condo, I went to Ikea and bought 2 bookcases, china cabinet, chest of drawers, some kitchen textiles, my bedroom textiles and just recently bought a chest for my living room.

I had bought a new TV I had installed on the wall in my living room and needed a storage unit for all my DVD's, CD's and my afghans and throws. I could not find anything that would fit all that. Then one day my 83 year old mother said "you need a chest". I thought about it and looked at the Ikea site and found a 6 drawer chest of drawers, very streamlined with no knobs or decorations. I bought it in the light birch. It sits right under the TV and everything fits in it perfectly & the price was excellent.

[blogslut]

32. Have you been here?

http://www.ikeahackers.net/

[mrmpa]

33. i haven't...............

but it's so cool. I started looking through the archives.

[Kali]

14. probably pretty thin

or rather it is heavier thread than a sheet, but a looser weave

it's only $20 though, so why not try it and see? sometimes thin loose woven stuff isn't as attractive to cats anyway...

[blogslut]

17. You're the devil

I was thinking the same thing - it's only $20.00! Actually, the one i want is $25.00 including the shipping.

I realize kitty will probably do bad things to it but the damask one I have, well, the pulled threads show up like crazy.

I would love to have a dark red quilt embroidered with gold thread but even when I find something like it, I totally can't afford the price. And the stuff I can afford doesn't suit my color needs.

I found this one bedsheet/tapestry from that seller that has the perfect colors for me and it's fairly classy-looking.

[IcyPeas]

16. I believe it is like a gauzy cotton

so it would be pretty thin. Purely decorative. Some of them are beautiful though.

[blogslut]

18. Yeah

I know.

And I should hold out for something more sturdy in a color/pattern that I like.

But, like Kali said: It's only $20 bucks!

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. the new maerials these days are very very thin.

Esp. from India.

several ideas:

You could put something on top of your bed just for the cat..a thicker material.
I have one cat that is allowed on the bed, I trained him to " go on your blankie" whichi, on the bed, is a small very thick rug.

You could use that pretty fabric as the top of a thicker under comforter/quilt.

When I want *real* material, like we used to get back in the 1980's and earlier, I search Etsy for "vintage" code word of whatever I want.
I have gotten sheets,pillow cases, towels, still in orginal packing, nice and thick, for very very reasonable prices.
Also Corning ware and Pyrex kitchen stuff, etc.

Just some thoughts.........

[blogslut]

21. No luck training kitty for anything

She's 15, mean as hell and I'm a little scared of her. She's usually pretty good as long as her cardboard scratchy thing is fresh. But she doesn't retract her claws very well and my damask comforter is just the worst kind of material for a cat. It is, however, reversible with a nice, solid red side and I could put the Indian bedsheet on top of that, sort of folded and all decorative-like.

I think I'm gonna get the thing. It's calling to me.

As for Etsy and CorningWare, there are sellers who sell older Corelle teacups. I totally want a set. Did you know that Corelle doesn't include teacups made out of Corelle anymore? They're stoneware! Shameful!

[blogslut]

25. Well, I went ahead and bought it.

I'll probably be cursing myself later but only because I did not heed the warnings of my wiser friends here at DU.

Anyway, here's a pic of the bedsheet/tapestry thing I actually wanted and just bought:

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. Yeah, it's probably going to be thin, BUT...

think of how cool you will be in summer...

AND...

You can always put a white box-pattern duvet (sans duvet cover) underneath in winter. If you have a place like Anna's linens nearby, you can get them super cheap in summer.

[blogslut]

31. It will be super nice in summer.

I'm pretty jazzed.

[dinger130]

35. Be careful of how you wash it.

If it's cotton, it could shrink quite a bit. Wash in cold water. Also, you may have to iron it after washing. I would hang it outside on the clothesline after washing on a windy day so that maybe you won't have to iron it.

Yeah, I know.....some people still have clotheslines. That's a shocker. I use mine quite a bit for sheets and all of my bed clothing. Love the smell and it saves on the electric bill too.

It's a beautiful bed cover. I would just be careful with it.