I am making a couple of baby blankets with flannel but need to know if I should wash them first. Does flannel shrink? Also, any quick patterns for a small receiving blanket would be helpful. I don't think I will piece it or maybe just a few pieces but what about the binding? Thanks

I always wash flannel first. It's the only fabric I actually do prewash. It shrinks, sometimes a lot, and different ones shrink at different amounts. My friend who makes lots of receiving blankets just uses one layer of flannel and serges the edges. I don't have a serger, so I don't make them, but you could probably just zigzag around the edge.

I would wash and machine dry it first. I am sleeping in a bed with dark red plaid flannel sheets and when it was so cold here last month (minus 10 degrees) I wore white socks to bed and then noticed that the socks were pink in the morning. The red had faded onto my socks! The sheets are almost threadbare and have been washed a million times and are still fading.

HTH - hope this helps.

I agree that you need to pre-wash flannels because they shrink so much. No separate binding is needed, but I would add a small hem, or purchase some kid-friendly lace or other edging and stitch that around the edge.

serging seems to be acceptable.. freq when u purchse receiving blankets.. thats all they have done.. serged..

I've serged plenty but my fav is to add a cute trim or turned under the edge and stitched with a pretty decorative stitch.

Well most will pre-wash, but while talking to my LQS who longarms also, she looked at me one day and said, why do you want to pre-wash the flannel. ummmm cause it will shrink, I usually use it for backing. She says well my dear think about this for a moment...."Once it is quilted, where is it going to go" I'm like Huh!!!!! she says"really how much shrinkage (there will be some) is going to happen and where is it going to go, once it's quilted it isn't going to end up smaller than the QUILTED quilt." hummm, so since then, I haven't pre-washed my flannel. Same concept when making a quilt top with Flannel...So no more pre-washing for me...If I think some colors will run, I will test in a small amount in water, or I will just use color catchers in the wash and through the wet catchers in the dryer with the quilt. It's worked so far...just my HMO....

that long armer must sure be putting a lot of quilting on the quilt to say it won't shrink. So quess the answer should be "don't prewash" see what happens and then make a decision. I would think the possibility of fading would be a major factor.....as well as shrinkage which it's gonna do.

Oh well enough said

I think picking a good fabric really helps if you don't want to piece it. I usually make complicated quilts, but the other week I made a very basic quiltlet with two pieces of flannel and batting in the middle, tied every 4" with embroidery floss. You can see it at http://lobsterdesigns.dreamwidth.org...h%27s+quiltlet together with seriously adorable photos of the baby on it.

And I definitely washed the flannel! I did self-binding, never done it before so mitring the corners took a bit of figuring out but it was blissfully easy all round.

I wash my flannel first too.

I always wash my flannels. The color bleeding, shrinkage, and fuzzy drop offs some times gets me even when washing twice. And this was expensive LQS fabric.