Sorry but in defense of Joann's When I was pregnant with my youngest son I bought YARDS AND YARDS of snuggle flannel to make larger receiving blankets with since you can't buy a blanket big enough to swaddle a baby in. These things are 18 months old and have been washed more times than I can even think about. They still look the same way they did the day I made them. All except the fabric isn't as stiff.

I wash in cold dry on HOT. it still gets the shrink job done!

There are different qualities of flannel, as folks have already said. I didn't see this idea on any other post, but you might try putting the flannel into the dryer again with an old towel that you have wet down. the wet towel may help pull the lint off the flannel...but make sure it's an OLD towel that has been washed many times, otherwise the towel lint will spread to the flannel. Also, at the end of the cycle, pull the flannel out right away and see if it is less wrinkly than before.

I had a piece of flannel that got all pilly an nubby too after washing in warm water - I think it shrunk too much and the fibers were damaged. I never used that fabric - cut it up for dusting and polishing cloths. Some flannels are just poor quality.

I have not had a problem with JoAnn's flannel. I only wash any of my fabrics on the permanent press cycle. Never use hot. So spray and iron. I think it will be ok.

I didn't used to think there was much difference in the flannels, but just finished a quilt with heavier flannel & it feels like a dream. It is soft & rich feeling. But heavier flannel is about twice the cost of cheaper flannel. You have to decide how much you're willing to pay first. Cheaper flannel will work just fine for most projects.

If you look at my post about my "dreaded baby quilt" you will see the patterned flannel backing. I bought this at Joann's - not sure if it is snuggle flannel or not? Since I am not a prewasher w/my quilts and had never worked w/flannel before I did not prewash the flannel backing either. I washed the completed quilt on gentle in warm water and had no problem with shrinkage. The pics are post washing. Maybe I just got lucky but I was pleased with the way the flannel and the quilt in general looked even after washing. Good luck!!

I don't want to cause any troulbe but this post is why I washed my flannel in hot water.
I left off the name of the poster.

"From what I've read, wash and dry the flannel a couple of times in HOT water to maximize shrinkage before you cut; use at least 3/8 inch seams and heavily starch the flannel to help stabilize it. I haven't make a flannel quilt yet but plan to someday"

I'll try to get the lint off and then use starch and iron, iron, iron.

Darker flannels seem to pill more and lint is much more visible to the eye.

I use flannel all the time with my baby quilts and there is a difference in flannel not all the same! I pick off pieces as I iron and then use a sweater shaver for the rest, looks great when done.

I mostly use flannel as filler inside placemats and table runners. I also used some in a scrappy quilted throw that was already heavy and didn't need batting. So I really don't want it to shrink after it is inside. For me the appearance doesn't matter! If your flannel doesn't respond to any of these suggestions, you can always use it as a filler where it won't be seen.