Flannel backing... will it pill?
 

I have never used a flannel backing before, but I am considering it for a lap quilt... will the flannel pill over time? I am thinking about using some of Moda's Woolies.

Thanks!

Some flannels pill.
Some don't.

I realize that answer does not answer your question - maybe someone knows which ones "behave" -

I love flannel backings and have quite a few quilts that have stayed lovely..... but I also have one or two that ended up pilling.... all flannels were purchased at quilt shops....

I was in a LQS the other day and some of their name brand flannels looked beat up. They looked like they had been there a while and rubbed up against, etc. Not good advertising for the product if you wanted to buy.

I use lots of flannel in quilting and Love the Woolies line! Have never had a problem with it pilling.I also Love the Benartex double sided flannels they are wonderful! It all depends on the flannel. Single sided, lightweight, loose weave flannels tend to pill, heavier weight, tightly woven flannels hold up better

That is great news! Thank you :)

I was about to post this same question and did a search so glad to find this. I know JoAnn flannels are terrible and hope a name brand may be better quality. I have a childs lapquilt to complete and don' t usually use flannel. I recall getting some from Thousands of Bolts that I used as a backing in a navy.

I've found mixed flannels, meaning not all cotton, those seemed to pill , A LOT.

I've used Moda Marbles flannel and it was wonderful. No pilling; nice heavy flannel. I'd be hesitant with some other lines but not Moda.

I used flannel from Joann fabrics for my very first king sized quilt, that quilt is about 16 years old now and obviously has been washed numerous times without pilling. At the time I paid about $1.50 per yard, therefore as others have said the pilling depends but I don't know on what! Good luck!

Thanks everyone! It sounds about like I expected... you never know. But I do trust Moda, so I am willing to give it a shot after hearing your comments. Normally I would use a woven cotton, but I don't want this one slipping off since it is for my aunt with mobility issues. I will have to ask her to keep me posted on how it wears over time.

I bought some flannel at JoAnn's and have never had flannel do like this after washing. It was like threads loose all over and pilling. Loved the print and way it felt and paid $9+ on sale. Because it was washed they wouldn't take it back. I'll use it for dog beds but makes me angry because of what I paid for it.

This is why I am always afraid to purchase fabric from the big box stores. Even their battings made by the same companies you see in quilt shops aren't as good... they give the lower quality stuff to the large stores because they chew them down on their prices.

Flannels are so hit and miss. I've had it where I used two different colors of the "same" flannel and one pilled and the other didn't. Now I pre-wash my flannel at least twice if not three times...sometimes (not always) I can spot flannel that's going to get weird after a few washings.

So far the only flannel I trust 100% is Connecting Threads. They have really nice thick flannel and so far (knock on wood) I haven't had any pilling from their stuff.

I still love flannel in quilts though and refuse to give it up!

I have gotten flannel from Walmart that washed better than this. I hate buying online but may try Connecting threads.

Flannel is really nice for backs but be sure you wash and DRY the fabric at least 3 times before using it, this is for shrinkage. Once is not enough. Good Luck ! ! !

I always thought the better the quality the less it pilled. But from reading some of the above posts, I guess that is not the case. I have a couple of Moda flannel quilts that I made several years ago, maybe 7 or 8 yrs., they've been washed several, several times. The nap on the flannel is GONE, and now feels like soft soft cottons. I don't think they ever pilled up.

I am sitting here right now replying to this thread using a flannel lap quilt and it is the softest quilt. The top is made from flannel backs of hubby's work shirts - he's a retired farmer so the shirts very used. The back is a purchased piece of flannel from a Joann's fabric store. It is about 10 years old - used all the time and is my blankie - I love it. It's a tied quilt, been washed many times and it's like new except softer now. So I guess you just have to look, touch, and feel flannel when buying and hope for the best.

If you are going into a LQS to get your flannel, you will be able to see the end of the bolt. If it says "anti pill", then it should not pill over time. If you do see it on the end of the bolt or you are ordering it on line, then you need to ask. I have found that most people who sell fabric, know what they are selling and are very happy to help. Good luck

I had some fabric I had bought at a rummage sale. She had bolts of 1000 yards there. Leftovers from making bedspreads and drapery for motels. I used some for a back on my quilt, and I couldn't believe how much that pilled. It was a glossy fabric. I can take a sweater de-piller and scrape it off. So not only flannel pills.

I have not used flannel much for quilts but have made burp cloths using JoAnn's snuggle flannel when it goes on sale. The burp cloths get washed a lot. My daughter has used them for 3 kids and after 5 years they have not pilled but they have faded with so much washing. I'm not a big fan of JoAnn's fabrics but the snuggle flannel has held up well for these.

Yep, this a concern too and the fact that it frays so much on washing .