gmabrown

Ladies I'm making a rag quilt with fleece for the backing, flannel on the top. Do I wash the flannel so it will shrink. Someone told me that fleece doesn't shrink, this is my first time doing fleece and flannel.

quiltstringz

I am not really sure - I have never done a rag quilt with fleece. Normally you use all wovens so that all of the clipped pieces will rag and you don't normally wash any of the fabrics. Will be watching this to see if anyone else has ever done this.

athomenow

I did a rag quilt and backed it with fleece and didn't prewash. I have washed it many times since and it's hasn't done anything crazy!

dunster

I would always prewash flannel. Not only does it shrink, but it shrinks unevenly in width and length, and the color often bleeds as well. Flannel (even so-called "good" flannel) can also pill, and if that happens you won't want it on the top of your quilt but can use it as batting.

Pam B

No, you really should not need to wash any of it until your quilt is finished.

TexasSunshine

I have made several flannel rags quilts, (3 layers of flannel), just finished one today and I always wash the flannel first before sewing. I then wash it after sewing and it rags up real well. I am pleased with it.

sewingsuz

I always would wash the flannel because it shrinks. I don' think the fleece shrinks.

Jingle

I pre wash all fabric and for sure would flannel.

Prism99

I don't think you need to prewash the flannel, although you can if you want to. If you are quilting an X through each square, the quilting will prevent the flannel from shrinking more than the fleece (and fleece will not shrink at all). So, I think you would be fine either way.

If you are unsure, make a single square out of the materials (sewing an X through the middle and sewing 1/2" from each edge) and wash it.

Edit: If you do not plan on quilting an X through each square, then you should prewash the flannel if the squares are larger than 2" or so (and I assume they will be larger). A 6" square of flannel that is not quilted to the fleece will be able to shrink on its own.

cmierley

I made a rag quilt and used jean material and flannel and had batting in the middle. I didn't preshrunk. I did place an x in some squares. The others I appliqués flannel hearts and stars. No problem with shrinking.