Fleece pieced quilt top?
 

My DH wants a "really warm" quilt for our bed. "As warm as you can make it" he said. Heavy isn't an issue either, he likes heavy quilts.

I was thinking...what if I used fleece for both the top and the backing, with ...wool...? as batting? (Or is poly warmer?)

Anybody ever piece a quilt top out of fleece? I am not sure if that's a good idea or not...I know it stretches a bit but if I just did simple 4-patch or even just went big block style, that should work, right? Should I increase the seam allowance? I haven't sewn much with fleece so I don't know how it behaves.

Or....other suggestions? I have a flannel pieced, flannel backed quilt that has W&N cotton batting and that's not warm enough for him, he layers another quilt on top of it. He wants just ONE, very warm quilt on the bed. (I think he might be part lizard....lol)

It's going to be a king size, so I'm hesitant to just experiment. That's a lot of fabric to waste if it goes bad!

Ideas and stories of past experiments welcome!!

Well, poly is warm, but I don't find it comfortable because it doesn't breathe. I would go with natural fibers, flannel top & bottom & wool batt. You can also double batt with cotton on the bottom and wool on the top.

In 2007 we were without power for 11 days in January due to an ice storm. I have every kind of quilt and blanket known to man here. On the second day, I wrenched my back so bad on the ice that I could barely walk from the living room (with a fireplace) to the bathroom, so spent 10 days on the couch. The very warmest quilt was a double thickness fleece blanket that a friend had given to me. Mine was tied on all four sides. And when it was washed and dried in a dryer, it came out kind of wonky.

Making yours a king size would require seams as I don't think the fleece comes that wide. Don't know what you would use for batting though.

HTH

I would agree with PaperPrincess. Flannel is very warm and two layers (front and back) with 2 layers of batting would be awfully warm. Plus, using flannel on the top would mean some awesome piecing. Just make sure and preshrink your flannel and use big beautiful blocks for the top. Please post when done. :)

Do you know if the fleece blanket you had was pre-washed? I would assume (but I could be wrong) that if I pre-washed I shouldn't have things go wonky...?

I would definitely have to have seams on the back, but that's OK; more than half of my quilt backs are pieced and I've gotten pretty good and making sure seam intersections from the back don't line up with seam intersections on the front. As long as I'm careful with that, I don't have any issues quilting them. (I quilt on a DSM, no long-arm involved.)

Hmm. Maybe I should make a throw-sized version first and see how warm it is, and also how well it survives the wash... Although that makes me think...a king-sized double-fleece quilt is going to probably kill my washing machine if I try washing it at home. And I really HATE laundromats.

Hmph. He might just have to live with two quilts. LOL

Flannel and double-batting might be the better way to go...I'm familiar with flannel...

I didn't even think about breathe-ability. Hmmmm!

I would think that it doesn't get THAT cold in Sonoma County, to warrant a "really warm" quilt, but if that's what he wants, why not use flannel for the quilt and wool batting instead of fleece? We live where it gets pretty darn cold during winter and I just have a quilt with 80/20 and a blanket and it keeps me plenty warm.

We made a regular cotton quilt for my FIL and backed it with fleece. It has cotton batting. I fell asleep on the couch after quilting and before binding, so my wife laid it over me in the cold of winter. I woke up SWEATING, and the room was probably 62 degrees. I would imagine that quilt is warm enough for anyone. Why not make a sofa quilt first and see if he likes it?

Yes, I am pretty sure that the maker of my fleece blanket DID NOT WASH IT FIRST.

I have made several pieced double sided fleece quilty blankets...and they are HARD to deal with. The fleece is so stretchy you have to be very very careful at every step on the process. Once done i did the "birth" method - didn't want to even attempt binding. They are incredibly warm - and wonderfully soft....but they are A LOT of work !! I have also made fleece blankets - solid cut of fleece on the front and swirled ultra soft fake fur on the back. Also very warm. These have been VERY popular....but there is no piecing.

I am quilting a double fleece throw on my long arm as we speak. Only one pass done here, but it will be warm..and VERY purple! If you quilt on a frame, you need to load the selveges on the leaders and tightened the rollers gently. Too tight and you will not get a good stitch quality. I did not use a batt on this throw.

Hancock's did sell wide fleece a few years ago. I bought some wide enough to make a blanket for a queen size bed. We use a fleece blanket on our bed all winter. Double fleece would be warm enough without any batting I would think. You could do the seams with a serger and open them flat.

A friend had me make her a queen size corduroy quilt out of large squares. I made the squares the same on both sides and tied at the intersections. Did not use batting, but that would be easy to add. It is very heavy and very warm.
I think if I wanted it warmer and heavier I would use the heaviest polar fleece I could find to use for the batting.

How about denim with flannel backing. Those are very heavy and warm.

Ohhh....I like the idea of doing a throw blanket first. That would help me iron out any problems with the construction (no pun intended) and also help him see if that's "warm enough" or not. (Or maybe TOO warm!)

Personally I think he's a little crazy, but he does get really cold at night even if the room feels warm (to me). We usually end up with all the blankets on his side of the bed. Maybe I'll just make it twin sized and it can just stay on HIS side of the bed. I'm a pretty warm sleeper and usually have to stick my feet out from under the blankets to stay cool enough to sleep comfortably.

Hmm...there's an interesting thought. King size quilt, but done in "halves" - one half "cool" for me; one half extra thick and heavy for Mister Icy Feet.

Oh, I'm going to make myself crazy with this. Thanks for all the ideas, ladies!

I did one for my DGS with flannel front & back and hobbs cptton batting, he loves it

Sewnoma, I think I might be cold blooded just like your husband. I understand and like HEAVY, very warm blankets....and my husband thinks I'm nuts! Lol! Your idea of 1/2 cool and 1/2 warm is exactly what I did. I took two twin size down comforters and stitched them together. Dh's side is summer weight and my side has the warmest fill I could find. We also have a dual control electric heated mattress pad. He never turns his side on but my side is always on.

One of the blanketeers in our Project Linus chapter makes several pieced fleece blankets each month, and they are also backed with fleece. They look great!

Concerning wonky fleece: I buy and prep fleece for Project Linus blankets - tied, braided loop edge, and crochet edge. There are many bolts of fleece that are just plain wonky to begin with and nothing you can do will help, so it is a good idea to look closely at the fleece before buying. You may have to roll off a yard or more from the bolt to see it, but look at the design and also look at how the selvages are lining up with each other.

Once you trim the selvages, hold up the fleece with two top corners together and see if the sides line up when hanging freely. This procedure is similar to finding the straight grain on a piece of cotton, but at least with cotton you can see the threads. Knits aren't so easy.

Also, I would recommend anti-pill fleece, which usually looks much better than other fleece after several washings.

Making a small quilt or lap robe is an excellent idea.

I also am planning to do Project Linus blankets. Can anyone recommend a good site to buy quality but also to buy economically?

I apologize for the multiple quotes. My question was pretty unclear---What I am requesting are recommendations for a source for *** fleece *** that is good quality but also economical.


Thanks-----

Donna

Donna,

I know there are some on-line sites that sell fleece in larger quantities reasonably - perhaps your Linus coordinator can direct you there. Shipping can add up with so much bulk.

My best results have come from Joann's and occasionally Hancock's when they run their fleece sales. They do $4/yard occasionally and $3/yard at least once/year (usually around Thanksgiving). When this happens, I buy on-line and at the store. Joann's remnant policy is wonderful -- for them 1.5 yards of fleece is a remnant, and the price is half off of the current price. So if fleece is $5/yard (a frequent sale price), then the remnant is $2.50/yard. Once in a while when remnants build up, they run 70% off. The clerks encourage me to scour the shelves looking for bolts that are actually holding remnant quantity. Also, there can be bargains in the red tag department of Joann's. Here fleece has been marked down to $6 or $7/yard, but red tag goes on sale for half price at least once/month. Our Hancock's has a fleece remnant bin, and everything there is $3/yard.

I can get all the fleece I need for the year (several hundred yards, since I am the main buyers for our Make a Blanket Day) just watching those sales.

Best wishes for your Linus fleece blanket making. Children do love the cuddly fleece blankets, and there are so many cute prints!

Why not use flannel on top with a wool or poly batting and Minky on the back.

My DD says Minky is way to HOT and she has her room in the cool basement.

Have you thought of a heated Blanket? Maybe just for his side of the bed?