quiltingcandy

What if you wash your top before sewing it to the quilt? Maybe if you sew around the edge to stabilize the edges and do a very gentle wash with warm or hot water and rinse with warm water. Or consider basting it to a sheet. I have done it with quilt squares that had an accident of some sort.

Quiltngolfer

If they are good flannels you won't have a problem, but some of the cheaper ones will shrink quite a bit.

Cari-in-Oly

Sorry, I didn't mean to seem cranky.

Cari

eparys

I had a Maywood flannel shrink almost 2 1/2" WOF recently - so cost and brand (while it is a predictor) is not always dependable.

ekuw - I am not a prewasher for regular cottons but after this issue with the Maywood flannel I always now prewash flannel at least once. I might suggest after your top is complete that you gently wash, dry and press it, if you are concerned.

minstrel

I never prewash anything and have made quite a few flannel/cotton quilts as well as all flannel. I've never, ever had any problem with any of them shrinking enough to be a problem either way. I always wash in cold water and dry on low heat in the dryer till almost dry then lay out to finish drying. They do come out with the nice, even wrinkly look. I use Warm and Natural batting in all of them.

ekuw

Thank you everyone for all the advice. The flannel used is all of good quality, so I am inclined to just go for it, unless I can get a good price on flannel for the back-maybe I'll get a "black friday" sale :-)

tessagin

I was thinking this very idea also.