Don't think I can do this.
 

My friend is struggling trying to use a minky backing. I just want to offer to take it & quilt it for her (pantograph). I've never even felt this fabric before, it sure does stretch. Any tips or should I just not go there. I just hate to see her so stressed, plus I think she doesn't really like quilting. Making the blocks seems to be her forte.( grin).

Before accepting this job get on the internet for tips on sewing with minky! It can be tricky for sure.

Pin a lot . I would get a different backing.

I wouldn't take it on. She needs to learn, just like we do. However you can do whatever you want to LOL

I would spray baste with 505 and keep quilting as simple as possible. I wouldn't try to FMQ with it, and a pantograph might even be too much as you want to keep lines as far apart as the batting allows. The baby quilts I have seen made with minky had simple straight lines going across the least stretchy direction. Really, minky is so pleasing on its own it doesn't need a lot of quilting. This is one time when less is more!

I use Elmer's school glue to sandwich my quilts, and it works great with minky!

I will pass along all suggestions. Of course she is wanting to try birthing . This is going to be one warm quilt, I feel the LQS took advantage of her. They helped her choose pattern,fabric (fannel), batting (warm & natural) & minky backing. All for a baby quilt.LOL. She has enough fabric for 3 quilts, the other amounts are fine.

birthing a quilt usually only works best if it's to be a tied quilt. good luck to her

If using a long arm leave out batting. Attach the minky with the salvages on the leaders and use clamps on the sides, extra clamps if you have them. Should work fine, I have had no trouble doing this.

Hmmm - flannel - warm and natural batting - and minky backing?

That will be one warm (and heavy?) quilt - - - -

Might be awesome as a floor quilt, though.

I have used minky on the back of 2 quilts & have 2 more ready to LA.
It does stretch but the secret is to NOT stretch it. Just pin it up and start quilting. Now this is on a LA I don't think I'd attempt it in a domestic machine b/c of all the tugging & shifting you'll have to do with it.
Best of luck

Personally I wouldn't use minky to wrap around an infant. DD received one as a shower gift for our last baby. Selah kept slipping out, we nearly lost her. The thing was just birthed, so I took it and machine tacked every 12 inches or so.

I hate it so I would pass. I quilt all the time with all kinds of materials as I do tons of donation quilts.

My very first "quilt" had a minky backing. I just didn't know what I was doing - so not very stressful. I was proud that I finished it....

Tell me more about this issue please. I'm about to do two baby quilts with minky backing. I never considered that it might be slippery. I just thought it would be drape better than flannel and be a nice texture for the babies to cuddle against. I'm planning to quilt them on my long arm.

Minky is a very stretchy fabric. I used it once and I doubt if I will ever attempt to put it into another quilt.

I backed the minkee with lightweight fusible, I used Misty Fuse, before using it for a backing. No stretching all.

I have quilted minky on the LA and have used it both ways, with and without batting. It is not as hard as I thought it would be, just don't stretch it.

Ditto what the others said. As much as I HATE spray basting, it was the right method for the Minkey backing to help control the tendency to stretch. I also left the batting out ... flannel on the top, Minkey on the bottom - nothing in the middle. And I used a straight stitch with a walking foot.

Looking forward to more info on this. I'm planning a quilt for my first grandchild (that sounds so strange to say...my first grandchild!) and was thinking of minky for the backing.

I have never used minky and don't think I would. My quilts are too warm with just polyester batting.

It sounds too hot and heavy for a baby quilt. I would worry about the baby getting overheated.

When I my daughter wanted to use it, we used a walking foot (a must), you can spray the backing to make it stay in place more. I had her do a stitch in the ditch and then she tied it, in lieu of doing more quilting. The first time she tried to use this fabric, it was without the w. foot, it turned out ok but so much better the second time. You might also want to use a needle meant for stretch fabrics too.

Fleece is another good option too.

That's plan B, but I'd really hoped to use the minky since I've already got the perfect color and amount on hand. I've got a little time to think about it yet. I learn so much from this board.

I've used minky successfully, both on the long arm and my domestic machine. The long arm is easier, I think -- just don't stretch it. Otherwise, sandwich and baste well in your favorite way and be patient. I make baby quilts larger than the norm, and as the child grows, he/she seems to love the minky backing more and more.

Once I tried birthing of these baby quilts many years back. (The baby is now in third grade!) Notice I said once! It just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger. I love the feel of minky but I HATE sewing with it.

I've used Minky as a backing for a baby quilt and quilted it on my DSM. I spray baste using the 505. I start by spray basting the top to the batting and then baste the Minky to the batting. When I spray baste, I fold over the top piece to half way down, spray a section across the bottom and smooth the top over what I sprayed. Continue till you've reached the end, then repeat at the other end. Same thing when I do the backing. I never have a problem with shifting or puckering. When working with Minky as a backing, it's best to follow a design from the front for a simple quilting pattern and USE a Walking Foot!! That is so important with Minky as the backing. Good luck to your friend, I'm sure the quilt will be wonderful!!

Did you just fuse the edges or the entire back of the minkee?

Loved the minkey as a backing. No batting! My friend LA we put the low stretch side so it did not distort as she quilted it. It made a cuddly sweet quilt - top side cotton patch work & back with the minkey. The mom & toddler loved it.

I have long armed and domestic machine quilted with Minky, as other have said when doing on domestic be sure and spray. I much prefer doing Minky with the longarm machine. I have never had a problem using the longarm to quilt Minky, I just be sure and have the stretchiest direction of the Minky go left and right when loading and use very little pressure if any when clamping. For the design I have used many different pantographs, from Roses to Western and they all worked out super. I have also done a floor length Double sized Deer Quilt (for my son) that used a King size bedding Minky (purchased on vacation because he loved the softness and feel) for the back that long armed Super too.
The slipiness would be a concern also to me for a baby, so would be very careful in the way it was used, though for warmth and softness it would be great. A wonderful bedding or floor quilt.

I do minki backs all the time. I even do minki on the front and back. I have no problems. As was suggested, load the minki with the selvage on the leader cloth. Be careful not to stretch the fabric side to side with the clamps. They should be tight but not stretched. Batting is up to you. I usually put a batt in them, warm and natural or 80/20, but you can do it without too. Good luck, don't be afraid of it. Minki shows the quilting beautifully.