I am finally writing again. Been down sick with a bad cold but reading alot. The pictures I have sent before but will again. The fabric I will cut up the squares to use and the green will be utilized to go inbetween, probably will add some of the striped also. Problem? Can I use the polyplush throw as a backing? My daughter in law wants that for her couch to cuddle with but a quilt top and would also have 100 percent cotton batting in between with the cotton fabric on top. Should I wash it all before because of the Poly backing? I have never done one with a different fabric for a backing. Attached are the pics again of the front and the back would be cranberry poly that looks fine. Confused yet? BTW HAVE BEEN LOVING READING everything and seen all the fantastic work you all have been doing. WOW is my usual statement!

Sorry I can not help with your ?. But I do love your fabric.

What is a polyplush throw? Is it stretchy?

The most liked quilt I ever made has a cotton top, warm and natural batting, and brushed arnel for the backing. I used t-shirt knit for the binding.

Brushed arnel is a knit that feels like cotton velveteen or velvet. It's as stable as most wovens as far as the stretch factor is concerned. Bathrobes were made from it.

The only caution about using that is - Don't press it with a hot iron - it will melt.

The poly fabric is that plushy stuff that they make couch throws with.. Got it at JC Pennys.. not very stretchy but will have to be careful....

Maybe tie it when it's done? That way you won't have to fight with the back rumpling/wrinkling.

thank you !!

Your fabrics are very RICH looking. I haven't used anything other than cotton for the backing, but your couch throw will be beautiful when done.

Good idea! I have never quilted one yet...but used to tie but it has been years since I have made any quilts at all.
They were mostly log cabins

I'm a compulsive prewasher -

Have you washed everything? or do you just hope for the best when you make things?

What is the length of the pile/plush?

Thank you . I fell in love with the flowered blocks..will prob pull out the pink flower parts and save for something else. I am glad you have faith on... when done :) .. I know once I get started it will move along..just so long so in doubt here..

The poly plush is not real thick and yes. I do plan on washing..don't dare not to !! I plan on washing all but seperately.. am a woos when in doubt

Good question, I am thinking of doing more or less the same thing for a christmas present. I am pretty sure it will work, especially since I am using old uniforms for the top and they have been washed a lot. Adding this to my watched list to see what everyone else has to say. Your fabrics are beautiful!

I wouldn't use batting at all. Those blankets are quite warm, I'd just quilt the top to the poly plush.

I'm finishing a quilt I made with cotton on the top and fleece on the back - no batting at all. The fleece must be poly because - it did melt! Fortunately on the very edge when I was ironing a seam to make the backing large enough. I did prewash and love how snuggly it feels so ... hoping for the best. It's a snowman throw for my daughter's couch so won't be out year-long. I have a baby blanket that was a gift that is cotton on top and flannel on the back - it washes just fine.

Hopefully someone with more experience will answer also.

Personally I would not use anything other than 100% cotton backing. The top and backing need to be 100% cotton so they will shrink the same. A polyester backing is going to stretch when machine quilted. Possibly causing the front to distort after washing. Usually someone that does not quilt does not understand the differences in fabrics and will request something they "like", not realizing its not applicable in the quilting process.

beautiful fabric!

Frequently I read that people use polar fleece for backing on cotton fronts. They don't use batting as the fleece is quite warm. I've never made one, so I don't know about the quilting, but certainly tying it would be workable.

i've used fleece twice to back quilts.

the first time, i didn't add batting. it went well enough but the cotton top wouldn't cling to the fleece so i ended up with some puckers and tucks along the lines of quilting.

the second time, i added a very thin cotton batting. what a difference! the cotton top "stuck" nicely to the batting. the batting "stuck" to the fleece. it wasn't hard to work with at all and i had noooooooo puckers or tucks when it was done. :-)

if your worried it'll be too heavy or too warm, i'm convinced a nice flannel would work just as well as the batting did.

i don't prewash batting, but i've gotten into the habit of prewashing everything else.

I would think it probably might melt with an iron on the polyplush backing. That wont need ironing though the way I plan on wrapping the edge over the front and back.. Keyword, PLANNING.. I know I usually throw those in the dryer and they come out fine.

certainly you can use the poly cuddly stuff for your backing...i do it all the time. i have never had any problems using minky or fleece to back a quilt. the quilt that lives on my bed has a Mariner's compass 100% cotton top/ dream wool batting/ and curly minky backing...all put together, quilted, bound and washed as is...it is a favorite quilt.. the kids call it the (get-naked) quilt because it's so soft and fuzzy! they turn out great...i've made 5 so far that way, the kids all like them cozy soft. some i've used warm & natural, some a poly batt, mine a wool batt...and one i used just a wide piece of flannel for the inside layer. all have turned out just fine with no special treatment, or prewashing.

thank you ! I tried to get flannel but couldn't get the color I needed. So you had no problems not prewashing the batting. I was concerned it might shrink up a wee bit.

thank you . I have alot of cutting to do.. seperating the gold from the green.

Yes for sure.. I will tie it. I haven't gotten to free style quilting yet. Petrified of it , matter of fact!!

thank you . I loved the fabric when I saw it, bought it without a clue of what to do with it..

[quote=ckcowl]certainly you can use the poly cuddly stuff for your backing...i do it all the time. i have never had any problems using minky or fleece to back a quilt. the quilt that lives on my bed has a Mariner's compass 100% cotton top/ dream wool batting/ and curly minky backing...all put together, quilted, bound and washed as is...it is a favorite quilt.. the kids call it the (get-naked) quilt because it's so soft and fuzzy! they turn out great...i've made 5 so far that way, the kids all like them cozy soft. some i've used warm & natural, some a poly batt, mine a wool batt...and one i used just a wide piece of flannel for the inside layer. all have turned out just fine with no special treatment, or prewashing.
GREAT to know.. thank you !! And it quilted ok too? I am not sure if I am that gutsy yet. maybe I will get instructions and sew a wee sample and try it.. Something VERY Simple.. I love all the curls and motion I see but don't feel that brave.. thank you so much.. Guess I should start sometime quilting. This might be the first go at it!

the batting will shrink, but that just adds cuddly character to the quilt.

The addition of batting is going to make this a very warm quilt.. maybe leave it out?
I would quilt it, but not without using a walking foot to help keep the fabric feeding evenly to prevent stretching the backing.
I think it will be an awesome quilt :D:D:D

I've quilted a couple quilts with the combination you are talking about. The only thing I've noticed is that it is a little tighter in my walking foot.

I also did one that was fleece on the top and bottom, with batting in the middle. I probably should have raised my hopping foot on that one, but I was able to work from the front of my machine (custom) and was able to cross the intersections just fine. If I had been doing a panto (from the back) I don't think I would have been as successful.

That is a good idea. I could do that.
I have so much to learn. So I call my local Janome dealer and get a walking foot?

Oh this wild now.. a hopping foot and a walking foot. I think I need to go my dealer and cry for help LOL.... thank you !!

give it a few more years. when you look down you'll see more feet than you ever thought one person would need. :lol:

LOL ......... Ok.. I washed the fleece and the 2 cottons I am going to use. Today I went and picked out another that I might use also. My camera is broken so can't take a pic of it, I dropped it and messed up the zoom lense, it won't open now. Hopefully my old one is still around someplace. I am tired right now and just set the 3 new peices of cloth in my hobby room.. only got a yard each and not sure if I will use one in it also. LOL.. now I know I am going right back to the room and lay them out and make that decision. Geesh... I have been up since 1 a.m. and only slept 3 hours last nite with this dang cold. Off I go to the other room to lay them on and see which one works.. talk with all you great folks later!

Donna