So today I bought flannel for 8 lap size quilts for 8 grandchildren - from Joann Fabrics. At $1.99 per yard, I could not resist. I know the quality is not the best, (and really varies between fabrics) but I could not resist the price. I plan to

-Serge the cut edges before I wash the fabric
-Starch the fabric before I cut it out

Any other hints?

4 quilts will be the disappearing nine patch, the other 4 will be Warm Wishes.

I don't expect these to be heirloom quilts. Just quilts to cuddle with while watching TV or reading a book. Grandkids range in age from 6 months to 6.5 years.

These will be Christmas gifts, so I have some time to get them done.

I hope I didn't make a mistake buying this fabric!!

I used Joannes flannel to make two rag quilts for my dgd's, they turned out really well. Flannel is very forgiving. No regrets

The flannel aisles were B-U-S-Y today. I helped another customer pick out fabric for rag quilts. So much fun. (I will NOT share how many hours I spent at the store today)

I use the JoAnn's "snuggle flannel" for baby quilts all the time. They won't last a millenium, but they are great for the grandbabies :) And I've used some of the thicker ones for charity quilts, too. They are just fine IMHO

I bought and used some Joanne's flannel that is on sale for 2.50 a yard...I washed it...thank goodness...it does shrink...but it should be fine...will find out in a few months...fingers crossed - I made two more gifts with it. here is the Warm Wishes Pattern if anyone is interested. http://www.ashevillequiltguild.org/A...or%20Linus.pdf

The Fons & Porter program this morning featured a flannel quilt. She hand quilted the quilt with a heavier thread and did it in "folk" style - long stitches and less stitches per inch. She also suggested using a longer Machine stitch (3 instead of 2 or 2.5) so you don't get puckers when sewing it together because the fabric is a much looser weave than traditional cotton quilting fabric.

oh yeah, I do that too ~ longer stitch length, I actually use a 3 or 3.5, it lays so much nicer for the topstitching! But I use no longer than 3 for the piecing.

Thanks for passing along the pattern.

To cut down on the serging time, you can serge an end of one fabric to the beginning of another. I saw this tip from a published quilter who says she pre-washes all her fabric this way.

I bought flannel from JoAnn's and made pj's for my granddaughter in December. 2 of the 4 pair of pj's have pilled quite a bit. Bought some at the store and some online. I hesitate to even mention this pilling because pj's get washed at least once a week whereas the little quilts won't. I bought some Joe Boxer flannel pj's for myself this year at Kmart on sale after Christmas for $9.99. They are not pilling. I flirted with the thought of buying the pj's and using the flannel. If I bought the largest size they sell (3X) I would probably have a good amount of flannel for the price. Just a thought. Gerry

you are on the right track with the washing and drying....flannel does shrink a lot the first time it is laundered. BE SURE to check your lint trap often!!!!

I use a 1/2 inch seam on all my flannel quilts....don't do triangles with sharp points becasue of the bulk of the fabric but simple squares or rectangles are fine with the wider seam allowences that ( I think ) flannel needs!!

jodi

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I've done this for years!! K'mart does have some very pretty flannel PJ's that they carry for the winter season. Watch the sales and buy the largest sizes.....lots of fabric for a very decient price.....if memory serves, they go on 1/2 off sale which brings them down to about 12.00. They wash and dry wonderfully and the patterns aare very very cute!!

jodi

I forgot the flannel is on sale. I need to grab some too!

Good idea. Thanks.

Another good idea!

great idea.Thanks