Ariannaquilts

Well I did wash the flannel and it turned out to be more of a disaster than what I expected. First let me say I don’t dry any of my fabric completely I have always taken it out when damp and pressed it. Now my mistake with this was that because I wasn’t going to wash it I had put a border on the wide back which I didn’t think would be a problem. So I washed it and it completely disintegrated at the seams! This quilt is at the point of putting it in the trash. I’m just so tired of all the problems I’ve had with it. This is the third backing I’ve purchased and there was a problem with each of them.
No one has responded to the question of whether it would be too warm with both batting and flannel? Thanks for your response.

Iceblossom

I hear and feel your frustration! Some projects just don't go well, some of my current success as a quilter come from the past 40 years of bad stuff... Did the border itself disintegrate or was it just the flannel? I'd just cut it off at the stitching line and restitch, using a 1/2" on the flannel side. Typically any seams on the back should be 1/2" and pressed open anyway.

Too warm depends on your local... being an ex-Alaskan and current soggy Seattle-ite I always use batting with flannel but I personally hate working with flannel so avoid it when I can. Last year though I did a crib sized donation project with a flannel back (and batting) which reconfirmed to me that I just don't want to deal with it.

Sometimes I use flannel instead of batting. There is still hope for future projects with the rejected backings.

Pat M.

I wash my flannel backs at least 3x, dry in the dryer, use the laundry mat dryer, do not dry all the way, hang on a clothesline to straighten the grain line. It is a pain in the butt, but do you want the quilt to shrink up and be wonky? Flannel is tricky but nice in the winter where you live.
If you have a surger use it to seam the seams on the flannel.

Ariannaquilts

I sewed a green border onto the wide back using a half inch seam allowance both of them frayed in some places to the seam line. I almost used my serger but decided I wanted the seams flat that is why I just sewed it. I just have to get this done I don’t like when it’s just dreading to work on it. Some how I will prevail.
Iceblossom I feel about fleece the way you feel about flannel. Thanks for letting me know about the batting.

Iceblossom

Flannel makes a great liner/batting for warmer areas. Again, especially flannel that's been washed and even dried to death, you don't want it to shrink or bleed. Maybe it is just one of my biases against flannel but I feel it bleeds terribly, I've had red flannel "crock" into a white background Christmas print it was stored next to.

Just wanted to share that last week I was doing some costuming work with high quality flannel. Because I didn't have patterns I was using large (1") seams and had my pinking shears out and realized none of us mentioned pinking yet. It's been about 20 years since I did anything other than quilting, and my hubby had never seen the shears -- we've been together and married for over 15 years. But it's another thing to help.

Some people seem to have a knack with flannel I don't have. I love my flannel nighties, but I just don't like working with it!