I'm new at quilting and wondered when using flannel (squares), is is best to cut the flannel with a rotary cutter or scissors?

Marge

Hi Marge, I prefer to use a rotary cutter when cutting flannel. I find it to be faster and more accurate than scissors. Hope this helps.

:roll: I always use rotary when I can, for all knds of fabrics. It's so much quicker when your pieces have sraight lines. good luck

By all means, use a rotary cutter whenever possible, but I find that when I cut flannel I have to clean the rotary cutter every now and again, as both the cutter and the mat can get a little fuzzy.

One tip for using flannel, WASH TWICE! Flannel has a looser weave of thicker/fluffier threads. It will shrink quite a bit and at different rates. I have found this varies by manufaturer. This is especially true of JoAnn's or Walmart type flannels. Never cut flannel before it is washed. Trust me on this.

Oh yes, wash twice and you can also spray the heck out of the flannel with spray starch or sizing to keep the fabric in line while you are cutting and stitching.

I think you may have hit on a question I've been wondering about. Should flannel be washed before piecing? From the sounds of things, it sounds like it. I have some good quality flannel that I want to make a string pieced quilt with for my father.. a lap quilt. I want the softness but was wondering about the washing. . Any ideas would be welcome. Wash... if so in what?

Thanks
Sandi

Do you dry flannel in the dryer after each time you wash it?

Yes you will want to dry in the dryer so that it will shrink before you cut it.