Question about pillow shams

Hi ladies...I am working on a HUGE quilt (to me anyway--I'm still new to this craft...it's a large Queen) and because I'm procrastinating the pinning up the sandwich part, I have decided to make 4 pillow shams out of the 4 large blocks I have left. My question is, is it "expected" to have the shams quilted too, or is it OK to just keep the sham single ply ie no sandwich and therefore no quilting...I've never made shams before and never really noticed if they're always quilted! What's USUALLY done??? Thank you in advance for any advice you experts can advise me with!

I'm just guessing on this, but I would say a true sham would be quilted. But, if this for you, you could just make them unquilted. This is what i do, because I like a more informal look, and I don't want to take the pillow coverings off every night, and I would if they were quilted shams. I use the technique shown in a tutorial that Jenny did on decorative pillowcases, and I mke them using scraps from the quilt. I usually plan for an extra yard and a half for te body of the two pillowcases, plus 1/3 yard each for the cuff. If you have two jelly roll strips left, you can use one for each pillowcase for an extra pizzazz of trim. Be brave, make your sandwich, and quilt away!

I would probably quilt them, but you certainly don't have to. To protect all those seams I'd line them (back each block with a piece of muslin or some other inexpensive fabric and machine baste the two together on all four edges ouside the seam line before turning the blocks into shams. That way when you wash them those seams won't ravel and when you're pulling them on and off the pillows that backing will add support to those seams as well.

I agree with Rebecca....for the sake of stability, the very least I would do is line the shams. Personally I would quilt them. If you are taking your quilt to a LAQer to be quilted, also take your shams and have her quilt them when she does your quilt. It costs very little extra to have this done. Barb

I agree with the other ladies. I like the look of a quilted sham with a quilt, but this is for you and you decide. I guess if you decide that you want it quilted later you could take it apart and quilt it. I agree with "Bubby": if you are having an LAQer do your quilting then take the shams in too and have them quilted for the little bit extra it would cost you. Piece and blessings, Vicki

I usually cut a piece of cotton batting for the back of all my pillow & sham front pieces as it gives it a nice smooth look and gives it stability.

Agree with all . . . I would take this opportunity to practice either SITD or FMQ . . . sandwich them and quilt away . . . Just my thought.

Absolutely, they will wash much better [when the quilt is washed you probably will wash them, too] and still look the same as the quilt for years and years. If they are batted and/or lined then they might not wash the same as the quilt. If you are talking a pieced pillow case then maybe just line them and do a bit of SITD so you won't have thread all over each time they are washed.

Yep, as everyone has said....quilt them....

Thank you ladies for all the advice...I will go ahead and sandwich then quilt the shams...I hadn't thought of the seams not being supported well if I don't, when yanking the pillow out of the sham, etc. Thanks so much... and HAPPY SPRING QUILTING!!!

just wanted to add; I was looking at shams in the store just to see....I saw both quilted & non quilted shams. I agree with everyone here tho....what a good opportunity for practice.