Hello! I've been enjoying your forum for some time, but haven't jumped in with my own question until today. I'm planning on doing a baby quilt using Minkee. Does anyone have any helpful hints for working with it? It's always nice to avoid pitfalls before I begin! This quilt would have both cotton fabric and Minkee. As I haven't decided whether I will piece or applique, any suggestions will be helpful. I know I need to launder my cotton first as the Minkee won't shrink but cotton does. Any other pointers? Thanks! This is a great network and I love it!

PIN,PIN,PIN!!!!!!!!!!!! That Minkie is some slippery stuff :wink:

DITTO!!

I don't know what that is? Could you explain it for those of us who have never seen or used it?

I have only used cotton.

It's a really soft, fluffly kind of furry, great for baby blanket material. Like a soft stuffed animal kind of fabric. I like to use it with cotton, flannels and chennile materials for baby quilts as they like all the different textures.

I have never used minkee but I did make a quilt with chenille and pin pin pin is right on.

Thanks for the tips :D :D :D

Thanks for all the info. Bought pink Minkee tonight along with a butterfly fabric on cream. Cotton fabrics are in the washer as I write. Planning on nine patch blocks with Minkee and butterfly fabric, along with cream Kona muslin (just had to try it!) blocks with a chenille butterfly on each. Wish me luck!

i ironed on a very lite stablizer that was left on when i made a warm wishes wih one of the sqs being minkee.worked great!
Gale

when i go to put it together i tape it to the floor at each corner and sides then i pin ALOT!!! Minkee is wonderful but very hard to work with.

I made a quilt with minkee as a backing and batiks on the front. My machine (a Pfaff) could not handle it. The thread broke constantly, and it was extremely frustrating to quilt. I didn't have the slippage problem because of the IDT, but boy, I really don't think I'll do it again on that machine. I got a new machine (Bernina) so we'll see how things go there. I would highly recommend doing some practice work with the minkee before you do an entire quilt just to be sure your machine likes it.

I made a stuffed animal out of minkee once and I used the walking foot for sewing it together. Sure helped keep the slippery stuff in line.

I did a stuffed animal out of minkee one time. Will not do another one. I do like to use flannels and minkee to make baby quilts. I use it as the backing and also along with the flannels in the blocks on the front. Everytime I do one, I say it will be the last...that stuff gets just everywhere! The next to the last one I did, I gave at a baby shower for our minister's daughter.....our new assoc minister was there and pregnant at the time and hinted that she would LOVE one, too. So...of course I made one for her. For awhile, my LQS had put together kits...that made it easy to grab and just select the backing color. And, I bought several and just kept on hand to make up as needed. You really do need to pin securely and keep your vacuum handy. Also, be sure to clean the lint out of your machine often. I have been told it is hard on machines.

I have used minkee a lot in baby quilts. Everyone's suggestions are good! Clean out bobbin case often. If you are working with big pieces, after cutting them, take them outside and shake the heck out of them (or toss them in a cool drier) to remove excess lint. If you are appliquéing with minkee, use that spray adhesive to hold the minkee in place. Be prepared for a messy sewing area, but the results will be worth it! I have done the D9P, warm wishes, pinwheels and used the minkee to appliqué an animal on a quilt - they all turned out cute! On more word of caution - the very first quilt I ever made had minkee in it, and I knew how important ironing was - but no one told me not to iron minkee. The minkee I was using had the raised dots - I ironed them flat = (

Ditto to no ironing...and, also, remember there is a 'nap' to the fabric. You will probably want it all going the same direction.

Hi, this is my first newsletter & can't believe I can join in on the minkee conversation already. I have made sev. blankets out of "rosebud minkee". It's just as soft as baby minkee but is more suitable for adults. Even comes in two tone colors as well as solids. Not cheap at $18/yd.

I back mine with fleece.. It's very warm & cozy. Yes, it is very difficult to work with but well worth it. I use the "pillowcase" method & while it's difficult for awhile, once I get the outsides sewed & it's turned inside out, the rest is easy. I find this method very forgiving. To fix both pcs., I gave up on the machine & hand tie it every 6-8" with buttonhole thread (for strength). Just like they used to do with yarn on quilts.

I made them for 2 little grandkids of one family but the other son's family has seen them so now they're putting in orders. I may never get one for myself.
Have a great day.

echoing everyone else - PIN THE HECK OUT OF IT!!!!

A walking foot would be great in addition to the pinning. The minkee is great after the project is done, but extremely messy. It sheds everywhere and into everything, especially your machine, so clean it out often.

DON"T iron directly on it!! put a sheet or something over it, use a lower setting, no steam. I backed a baby quilt with minkee and after the binding was on and the quilt completed, I went to iron it flat, and accidently touched the minkee with the iron, burned a hole in it. Had to patch it with a flower applique!

So, be careful!!!