Fleece backing question
#1
Fleece backing question
Working with the granddaughter on her quilt for the boyfriend. She has decided to do an Irish Chain front with an Army Fleece back. I have never used fleece as a backing. What do I need to know or do? Besides it does stretch like crazy!! Can fleece be starched to stabilize it? Does it need batting in the middle?? I am worried it might be too hot. We are in AZ but he is in Boot Camp in GA.
#2
How big is the quilt? I used fleece for the backing on a lap-size quilt once and it worked just fine. I didn't use any batting as I thought the fleece was warm enough and lofty enough without it. I do remember that I basted the heck out of it because I was afraid, like you, that it would stretch. It wasn't that bad to quilt but I didn't do anything fancy and kept the quilting to a minimum. That was before i had my LA so I did it on my domestic.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Englewood, CO
Posts: 531
I like the idea of using fleece on the back of quilts...how snuggly! And , I have used the minkie kind on a baby quilt I knew would be well loved. I used my frame and was just really careful to not stretch it.
But, I have not done one with normal fleece. I am afraid the fleece will get old and look awful when the top still looks great. I rarely see fleece that lasts 3 seasons, let alone 25 years.
Just a thought.
But, I have not done one with normal fleece. I am afraid the fleece will get old and look awful when the top still looks great. I rarely see fleece that lasts 3 seasons, let alone 25 years.
Just a thought.
#5
@Suze9395 - LOL, it's a 19 year old female in love with a boy in Boot Camp, her last concern is longevity. It just needs to tell him of her undying love and say US Army!! LOL Goodness, I would not be 19 again for anything!!!!! But I have to give it to her, for someone who has never even sat in front of a sewing machine, she is doing really well. She has done everything except the cutting!! I guess that is proof of true love! I'll post pictures if we get this done!!
#6
I use fleece all the time for backing. I use very minimal quilting as it makes the fleece stiff. My favorite way to use it is to pillowcase or birth the quilt, then 1/4 inch around the edge, then quilt a few large shapes to keep the quilt together. My family loves these and they have lasted four years very nicely, often washed.
#7
Working with the granddaughter on her quilt for the boyfriend. She has decided to do an Irish Chain front with an Army Fleece back. I have never used fleece as a backing. What do I need to know or do? Besides it does stretch like crazy!! Can fleece be starched to stabilize it? Does it need batting in the middle?? I am worried it might be too hot. We are in AZ but he is in Boot Camp in GA.
Otherwise, buy a billion safety pins and start pinning!
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
fleece makes great backs---remember to (smooth) it, not stretch it- lots of pins (starch really is just wasting the starch)
great for tied quilts- she could do the pillow case (birthing) method to put it together- top stitch around the edges- then add ties to hold it all together- really makes it easier than quilting-
if quilting is the desired finish lengthen the stitch length, and do a simple wide cross hatch or stitch in the ditch maybe around each large block-minimum quilting necessary. he will love it & so will she
as for batting- if she wants it to be (lofty) cozy warm add batting---he will be sent somewhere else when done with boot camp-===could be cold---it is a personal choice- i live in northern michigan & tend to add batting -- but some people make them without...one thing is the batting does kind of (stablize)the fleece- especially if using warm & natural or a 'like' batting...if you do go with batting the quilting does need to be the amount the batting recommends...so w&n is a good choice- you don't want one that needs to be quilted every 2".
great for tied quilts- she could do the pillow case (birthing) method to put it together- top stitch around the edges- then add ties to hold it all together- really makes it easier than quilting-
if quilting is the desired finish lengthen the stitch length, and do a simple wide cross hatch or stitch in the ditch maybe around each large block-minimum quilting necessary. he will love it & so will she
as for batting- if she wants it to be (lofty) cozy warm add batting---he will be sent somewhere else when done with boot camp-===could be cold---it is a personal choice- i live in northern michigan & tend to add batting -- but some people make them without...one thing is the batting does kind of (stablize)the fleece- especially if using warm & natural or a 'like' batting...if you do go with batting the quilting does need to be the amount the batting recommends...so w&n is a good choice- you don't want one that needs to be quilted every 2".
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kansas City area USA
Posts: 421
I've used fleece on a ton of lap size quilts....fleece is about 55-60 inches wide, so that will be the width of your quilt. I agree, do not try to use spray basting but use a fair amount of pins. I would not try to use the ''birthing'' method as there will be some movement of the fleece ( cotton top and back and batting, all stick together ) since it isn't ''sticky''. I lenthen my stitch length a bit, use a walking foot to prevent a lot of fabric movement and just do a simple SID to hold the fabrics together. You can either do a turned binding....backing to the front....or use regular cotton fabric for the binding. I cut mine about 3 1/2 inches wide, fold in half...( like reg. binding ) and use a 1/2 inch seam. I just feel a wide binding looks better on the bulkyness of the fleece. I have fleece blankets that have been used for years with several washing/dryings, and they still look good!!!!
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09-29-2010 11:45 AM