Can I use 100% cotton flannel for the sashing in my 100% cotton quilt
 

I have some left over cotton flannel that is the perfect color for the sashing in my quilt. I am using a cotton flannel blanket for the backing.

will the two fabrics look and wash ok?

Thanks for your help?

Cotton flannel & quilting cotton often shrink at different rates. I would launder the flannel first, but other than that there's no reason why you can't.

I agree with PaperPrincess. Always launder flannel because it sometimes shrinks a lot, shrinks unevenly, or bleeds. I've mixed flannel and quilting cotton in quilts before.

Ditto what PaperPrincess and dunster wrote!

My only thought is that the different weight of the flannel will make matching all your seams between the blocks and the sashing harder.

I always pre-wash flannel if I am using it with cotton. As stated above, the shrinkage ratio is much greater in flannel. Watch out, flannel is much more stretchy than cotton.

To answer your question - it will wash and look just fine - but, IMHO, only if you pre shrink your flannel. I would also pre shrink your blanket as well as they may shrink at different rates.

I always pre shrink flannel. I have had even expensive flannel purchased at the LQS shrink. One piece started off at 42"wof and ended up 39" wof.

I prewash/shrink all fabric.

If you can I would use 1/2 inch seams because sometimes in wear the flannel will pull out of the seam. I would wash the flannel also.

I agree to washing and drying the flannel but I usually wash and dry mine 3 times.