Flannel for backing ???
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Central NY
Posts: 859
I never us anything but flannel, but I do wash and dry it twice before using it. I frequently buy flannel sheets for this purpose. JCPenney has nice ones on sale for half price at this time of year. Thousands of Bolts also has wide flannel backing in nice heavy material. I'm careful to pin a lot and have never had any puckering.
#23
First, I dont wash any fabrics at all, until the quilt is done, and flannel is so nice on the back of a quilt, makes it so much more cozy n warm, I also love minkee (which is expensive) but soooooo worth it.
katz
katz
#24
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,265
One of my guilds had this very question during a long arm quilter's program last evening. All three long arm quilters recommend washing the backing fabric in one piece in hot water and drying it on medium high heat - and then doing it again.
#25
put the flannel thru a couple very hot washes and then a couple very warm dryings and it will be SHRUNK!
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Utah
Posts: 435
I am making my 19 month old grandson a small quilt and was considering using flannel on the back so it would be cuddly and soft to him. I'm usuing a panel and will just add borders. I won't be quilting it per se but will be tying it. Is there anything I need to know other than wash, wash, wash prior to use? Is there a certain distance it should be tied? TIA
#27
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
ive backed more quilts than i can count with flannel- it is one of my very favorite fabrics!
just pre-wash it and dry it- (i've been using flannels for 45+years and only pre-wash once- not 2 or 3 times- i've never had an *adverse* effect)
i toss it into the washer on a warm -regular setting- then i toss it into the dryer (flannel is a looser weave and will fray more than regular cottons- that's why its so good for raggy quilts) so you can either *use pinking shears- or zig=zag or use a serger* on the cut edges- to help control the fraying or even place the yardage in a large mesh bag-
i most of the time don't bother- i deal with the tangled mess of strings when it comes out- but some folks tend to really freak out when they see those-so you might want to (spare yourself the trauma)
flannel quilts up beautifully- and each time the quilt is washed/dried it will only get softer/cozier- and oh so nice.
choose a good quality flannel- fairly heavy- i use double napped benartex flannels most of the time- moda's *woolies* flannels are also wonderful.
just pre-wash it and dry it- (i've been using flannels for 45+years and only pre-wash once- not 2 or 3 times- i've never had an *adverse* effect)
i toss it into the washer on a warm -regular setting- then i toss it into the dryer (flannel is a looser weave and will fray more than regular cottons- that's why its so good for raggy quilts) so you can either *use pinking shears- or zig=zag or use a serger* on the cut edges- to help control the fraying or even place the yardage in a large mesh bag-
i most of the time don't bother- i deal with the tangled mess of strings when it comes out- but some folks tend to really freak out when they see those-so you might want to (spare yourself the trauma)
flannel quilts up beautifully- and each time the quilt is washed/dried it will only get softer/cozier- and oh so nice.
choose a good quality flannel- fairly heavy- i use double napped benartex flannels most of the time- moda's *woolies* flannels are also wonderful.
#29
Flannel makes a wonderfully cuddly backing. As others have said - prewash it. Prewash it in the harshest conditions you can dream up = hot water, heavy detergent and hot rinse, and hot dryer. That way the 'damage' is done before you get it into your quilt and no matter what that quilt goes through later, the flannel won't present a problem.
Flannel is great not only for kid's quilts, but also for lap quilts and quilts for people in wheelchairs. The flannel clings to your clothes, or the bed, and won't let the quilt slip off.
Flannel is great not only for kid's quilts, but also for lap quilts and quilts for people in wheelchairs. The flannel clings to your clothes, or the bed, and won't let the quilt slip off.
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08-22-2011 02:39 PM