I don't want to cause any troulbe but this post is why I washed my flannel in hot water.
I left off the name of the poster.
"From what I've read, wash and dry the flannel a couple of times in HOT water to maximize shrinkage before you cut; use at least 3/8 inch seams and heavily starch the flannel to help stabilize it. I haven't make a flannel quilt yet but plan to someday"
I'll try to get the lint off and then use starch and iron, iron, iron.