I have been designing my own flannel baby quilt for many years - just waiting to be a grandmother. Now, the best thing has happened - my daughter is having a baby in November. To say I'm thrilled would be an understatement. My problem now is actually using flannel in the quilt. I've been reading up on it and actually tried a sample and it is so hard to quilt on flannel. My stitches are way too long and I find myself doing the down and up method which takes way too long. Do any of you have any suggestions? Is there a batting that works better with flannel. I have used a 1/2" seam allowance on the advice of others. Should I wash the flannel multiple times? Or - should I just not use flannel? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

maybe you could machine quilt it, or have it done

When i hand quilt a flannel quilt i use the "big stitch" method. It is a lot easier to get a uniform stitch. Other times i just tie it like you would a comforter.

I just tied mine. It was cute.

flannel makes such wonderful cozy soft quilts- it would be a shame to not make your grand-baby's quilt oh so wonderful-
you can use a center layer of a single sided white flannel instead of batting- which makes it still soft and durable- but flat--easier to hand quilt=
you could get a high loft fluffy batt- and tie it
you could pick up a hobbs heirloom low=loft cotton batt- which is only 1/8" thick- also very nice to stitch through- and (thin)
you could make the top flannel- the backing oh so soft minkie--and no batting..
lots of options--
congradulations on the upcoming grand-baby to enjoy!