I'm making a simple flannel receiving blanket.

I know it is recommended to wash the flannel before sewing because it shrinks. Every time I've washed flannel, it gets little fuzz balls on it.

How do I prevent this?

Kris

Some flannel pills and some is more pill free, the price per yard is more too...

I find that it can pill more depending on what you are washing along with it. The agitation is what rubs the fabrics together and can cause pilling, maybe wash it alone with nothing else. Try letting it soak, agitate for a minute or so and then drain the water and spin. Do the same for the rinse cycle. Put it in the dryer on the highest heat setting so it isn't tumbling for as long either. I hope this helps you :D:D:D

Kris, Whenever I "Wash" flannel I don't agitate it. clip the corners - place in the washer - very little soap - and just swish it around with my hands- then drain-spin-rinse the same way-then shake it out- place in the dryer. I remove when the flannel is almost dry. lay it out, smooth it. PRESS if it needs it. Anne

It's a good idea to wash and dry flannel all by itself. If you combine it with woven fabrics (towels, clothing), the rubbing of the woven fabrics against the flannel can cause pilling. I haven't had a problem with flannel pilling when the entire load is flannel (and not too big of a load, to minimize rubbing together).

Thanks, I learned something new today.

Thank you so much everyone for the advice. It is in the wash now (all alone).

How do people that make the rag quilts keep them from pilling since the flannels rub against one another.

Kris

I should mention that it's the same thing with fleece. Fleece doesn't pill if the whole load is fleece; it often pills if the fleece is washed with woven clothing.

For a rag quilt, the best way to wash is probably in a front-loader as the tumbling action is much easier on the fabrics than the agitation from a top-loader.

Thanks for the info, I didn't know that about flannel or fleece.