Can you use flannel for binding on a quilt?
 

I have a new customer who has used either flannel or brushed cotton as her border and backing on a baby quilt- is it okay for her to use the same fabric for the binding on it too? I've never used flannel or brushed cotton (and to be honest, I don't know what the difference is between the two - can you tell me?), so I don't know exactly how to advise her on the binding. This is her very first quilt and I want to do right by her!

Thanks in advance for reading and advising! :)

Yes, she can use the same fabric for binding. I would simply advise her to cut it on-grain (not bias).

I have used flannel for binding on several baby quilts. Makes it very soft and nice to cuddle up to. I agree with Prism99 and cutting with grain.

Why do you recommend cutting the binding on grain and not on the bias?

Flannel stretches more than a regular fabric when it is cut on the bias. Yes I use flannel for binding when I make a flannel quilt. I like the soft finish for the edges of the quilt.

OK - Thanks for the advice!! I was afraid that flannel would "wear" more quickly than regular cotton, but I'm glad to hear that other folks have used it before! :thumbup:

Oh, the other thing to mention is that if it's flannel it should be washed and dried twice before cutting. Flannel can shrink a *lot* and in a binding that shrinkage can distort the whole quilt.

Also, for wear, she could double the flannel in the binding if she likes. Just cut it twice as wide, iron in half, and treat as if it were cut as usual. That's not really necessary, though, and creates extra work and extra thickness. I wouldn't bother. I might save leftover fabric, though, in case the binding ever needs to be replaced.