Flannel help
 

I'm in the early stages for making a Warm Wishes baby quilt out of flannel. Just pulled the fabrics from the dryer and one of them has already pilled and seems old looking so I'm not going to use it...the others seemed fine but did shrink a little. All were purchased at quilt shops although at different ones. So my question is where have you purchased flannel on line that you were happy with and didn't have any problems.....the goods news i guess is that at least I washed and dried all the flannel fabric before making it to see what behavior problems it might have...I don' t always do that.

I'm not sure what a person needs to look for in flannel - some very cheap flannel that I have purchased ($2.00) per yard washed beautifully and some expensive flannel didn't. The only thing I make in flannel anymore are receiving blankets (no piecing) or chenille quilts. Flannel is not a fabric I like to work with when piecing.

Connecting Threads flannel seems very thick and rugged. I made a raggy quilt out of it and have washed it 4 or 5 times and it still looks very good and no pilling. Nice and soft. Not a huge selection there for "kiddy" flannels, but they have solids now that might help you out.

I buy a lot of flannels- mostly from my lqs- or fabric.com; one thing I do watch for when looking on line is single or double sided flannels- I prefer double sided flannels- they are heavier and tend to wash up much nicer- single sided flannels tend to be a looser weave, are thin and pill more often. *some of them do tighten up and become better once washed* I do tend to choose Benartex flannels most often- the moda woolies flannels are also nice good quality flannels, i'm sure there are many other nice brands too- those are just 2 I have experience with

I, too, have been very pleased with Connecting Threads flannel.

Haven't bought any online but I have purchased Moda flannel. It's wonderfully thick and easy to work with.

I collected over 30 different masculine flannel fatquarters. Spent an afternoon serging all the raw edges. Tossed them all in the washer then dryer. Did noticed some of them twisted? a little. I'm just using them to make a D9P/window pane pattern from MSQC. I'm just making sure that I don't stretch the fabric while piecing and square up a lot. I bought some Moda flannel for the back and also for the window pane strips. It washed up beautifully and feels wonderful and thick.

So, I have no problem recommending Moda flannel. Don't know the names of the fatquarter flannels that I bought but I did buy them at various quilt stores.

Many of the flannels I've bought at Joann's for baby blankets pilled and "looked old." It was very hit and miss in quality. They have cute designs. These were the "snuggle" line they carry and often put on sale. that said, Joann's quilters flannel that is more expensive looks good after washing and is fine for receiving blankets or burp clothes. I would definetly recommend Moda flannel when you want to make a pieced special quilt, it washes well and is very thick.

I recently bought some really nice flannel, from Hobby Lobby . . . BUT you have to look for the thicker ones. I've learned (the hard way) to never, ever buy thin flannel.

Ditto on the double sided flannel, it just seems to hold up better. The flannel sold at Hobby Lobby is mostly from A.E. Nathan and is USUALLY pretty good quality, but you do have to watch, especially the prints. (I used to work in the fabric dept. at HL up the street from me and the quality of the SAME fabric would vary from shipment to shipment.) I have not yet ordered flannels online so can't really answer to that, however I think would have confidence in Connecting Threads, but their selection is limited. A lot of others here will have places to recommend.

And yes, ALWAYS prewash and dry flannels (at least once) since the do shrink a great deal and usually significantly more in one direction than the other. That way you will know, as you have already discovered, if any of them are not going to play nice with the others.