Originally Posted by
Xtgirl
I want to tag on to the rag quilt question if I may. Is there any reason I couldn't piece the entire top together and make a regular sandwich without cutting up the batting and then quilt in the blocks with my long arm? Do you have to cut
the batting and do the sandwich?
This would no longer be a rag quilt. I think you need to start a separate post because longarming flannel is a completely different technique, especially because of the stretchiness of flannel. I would definitely recommend heavily starching the flannel before cutting the pieces for the top; starching stabilizes the flannel so it doesn't distort as you work with it. (This is not such a problem with a rag quilt because precision is not necessary.) Ordinarily I would also recommend heavily starching the backing before creating the quilt sandwich; however, this may not be a good idea if you are longarming. There is not reason why you can't create a traditionally sandwiched quilt out of flannel; however, there are special considerations if you are piecing flannel and longarming flannel.