The 'crinkly' look
 

Hello! I have recently completed my first quilt and have just joined the quilting board :)

I was wondering about the crinkly look. I really love it and want more of it! My quilt did crinkle a bit, but I was wondering what else I could do to encourage more crinkliness in future quilts.

Are there battings out there that crinkle more than others? I know to avoid poly, but out of the cotton ones, is there a make that crinkles more? I used Sew Simple Super Soft Cotton. As for what you do after the quilt is finished, how much of an impact does that have? I machine washed my quilt on the delicate cycle of my front loader. I don't own a tumbler anymore, so I then draped it over a hot radiator - is that a good substitute or should I take it to the launderette?

And in terms of the quilting itself, does quilting closer together give more crinkles, or does it not matter?

Sorry lots of questions!

Not sure about your question, but I wanted to welcome you to the board from Northern California. Would love to see a picture of your quilt. We all like show and tell. BrendaK

I'm wondering if you might have better luck getting crinkles if you put the quilt in the dryer - or tumbler, as you called it. :) Maybe take it to the launderette.

Thank you! Here's my quilt, avery simple pattern, perfect for a beginner, I'd say! I've already started my second, which demands more precise piecing, so cross your fingers for me!
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Yes, I can try! And I'm hoping to be able to get one soon. My SO doesn't want to, but I'm working hard to convince him!

In future quilts if you use unwashed flannel on the back you will achieve crinkling after you wash it due to difference in shrinkage of front fabric to back fabric. Anyway, that is my experience.

So, is that flannel as well as batting? Thanks for your reply :)

Love the modern look of your quilt. You have a great eye for combining patterns and colors!

my experience is that it's the shrinkage that makes it wrinkly. I us only 100% cotton, quilt store quality fabrics and do NOT prewash the fabric or the batting. For batting I use either warm and natural or another 100% cotton batting or a batting that is no less than 80% cotton. I DO dry my quilts in the dryer since the heat adds to the wrinkly nature. The danger in not pre-washing is that some fabrics may bleed...but since I limit myself to quilt store quality fabrics I've never had a problem with bleeding tho others say they have. I also use lots of reds and purples and deep colors so either I'm really lucky or I shop at the right stores!

I think that more quilting reduces the amount of wrinkling since it binds the three layers together but I've never done a study on it.

Thanks for your reply! I did not pre-wash my fabrics for that very reason and I would only ever buy quilting fabric, probably. I just popped some colour catchers in the machine when I washed it and it all came out fine. My second quilt is mostly white with some super bright red and blue, but I'm using Kona Cotton Solids, which I hope will be ok!