I've made 5 flannel quilts and i didn't prewash any of them. I like the wrinkled look and they are fine as far as i can see. Your fabrics are really cute.

You're right. I like the wrinkled look too. After all if a baby is using it, it will get washed and wrinkled lots, more cozy that way. It's just that if you're combining fabrics that don't shrink equally you will have a problem. I wash all my flannel as soon as I get it home, so it is ready to go when the mood strikes me. Sometimes, if I am not in a hurry, I serge the edges before washing.

I like the fabrics you used and the way you put them together.

At this point, I think I would just leave everything unwashed. Put the flannel backing on as planned.

Tie it (at least every four inches, if not closer) and - when necessary - wash it in cold water and machine dry it on "low" or hang it on a line to dry.

It probably will get a little "weird" but it it's a "quilt to be used" - I would just finish it and let it be loved.

As far as batting goes - depends on what you plan to do with it. Sometimes, just a little extra warmth is all one wants.

I won't add my two cents about what to do about not having washed the fabric. I just want to say that you did a wonderful job of piecing. Your top looks wonderful and I am sure your son will treasure it.

What a cute quilt. You have done a great job.

Personally I would stitch around the edges of front and back, throw the batting in a pillowcase (you want the batting to shrink along with the quilt top and bottom), and put the whole kaboodle in the washer on Delicate.

Of course I have a front loader which is far easier than a top loader machine because a front loader does not agitate like a top loader which causes alot of problems. That said, you could fill the bathtub, put top, backing and pillowcase with batting in tub to soak. Rinse, hang to dry or delicate in dryer.

Given that you don't need the warmth, I'd stick with your idea of only having the double layer of flannel. Have you tried washing the pillowcase that you did? You may find that it does not shrink as much as you fear.

I think I would wash and dry the top and the backing separately before joining to insure that the shrinkage issue is taken care of.

Your thought of the diagonal 'X' quilting through each square should give the stability you want for future snuggling, dragging around and being washed frequently (if you can get him to let go of it long enough to wash it!)

I would just put the backing on and quilt it and then wash it. Trying to wash an unquilted top is a recipe for disaster. If the top and back are both unwashed flannel it should be fine. If it shrinks some after it's done, so what. Shrinkage does not ruin a quilt.

Quilting family! I am overwhelmed at your responses! I got up this morning - after a LONG night of sewing - and was pretty discouraged, but now... wow.

THis is indeed a quilt to be loved. My grandson is about to get out of his crib and this will be his "quilt to be loved" for his big boy bed.

The pillowcase washed without trouble - it was just the monkey fabric, since the quilt is 5 different flannels I was more afraid of it. I think I shall put it together as planned and hope for the best. I'll steam the dickens out of it, use a thin batting - read back through this several times and see what else I can pick up ....

Ya'll are wonderful!

Your quilt is really pretty! I'm sure your grandson will love it a lot!

May I make a suggestion on quilting. One of my relatives made a baby quilt for my oldest out of flannel. Really nice. And it was used a lot and loved a lot. But, everytime I washed it, I had to get needle and thread and restitch seams.

My suggestion is, on quilting it, if you have a double sided blanket stitch, please stitch over every seam. That way every edge is caught. Otherwise, everytime it's washed, there will be some fraying on the seams.

I now own a serger, so every flannel quilt from here on out will be serged!

Your last sentence was what I was going to say. I have had the same experience. The other thing to do is to use a fancy stitch of some kind and go over all seams. I also make 1/2" seams when I do flannel quilts.