Help with Making a Flannel Quilt
 

Hi! I have a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can me with. I'm making a quilt for my grandson out of flannel. I'm doing the Double Slice pattern from Missouri Star Quilt. What I've done so far is cut the 10" squares and then cut that into the 3-1/2" and 6-1/2" pieces. I didn't realize until that point that I probably should have washed the flannel first because of shrinkage. Here's my question. Should I stop at this point and wash the cut pieces or continue on sewing them unwashed? I haven't done a flannel quilt before so I don't know what would be the best way to proceed. I'd appreciate any help and advice you could give me. Thank you!!

Having never worked with flannel cannot help. But someone will have some good advice for you soon. Love this board!!!

I am a prewasher but since you have cut so much, I would continue with assembling the quilt and finishing it. Then wash with some color catchers; you will find those in the pre treat sections. You can still check for a color bleed with a couple of scraps you have from the fabric.

Don't wash it - just carry on and wash the finished quilt. Washing could cause fraying or uneven shrinking, either of which would make the pieces you've already cut useless. I've made an all flannel quilt without prewashing, and it was fine - don't wash until it's complete.

I would not wash it til you are done. My very first quilt ever, about 12 years ago, was in flannel, 3 1/2 inch squares, trip around the world. Why in the world the teacher chose that for us is beyond me, but, it was a great learning experience. We used the flannel straight from the store. No prewashing. I used warm and natural for the batting, and flannel for the backing. took it home and washed it. It is 12 years old, on the granddaughters bed still (under a bigger quilt), and has been washed a gazillion times and it still looks good and she still loves it.

I agree with just carrying on, but don't wash it till it is totally done. Don't attempt to wash the pieced top. I would also recommend an all over quilting pattern as the batting will help stabilize everything, but it has to be stitched to the fabric to do this!

Good advice from everyone above. I will add- you may want to increase the size of the quilt a bit to allow for shrinkage. If it needs to cover a bed to a certain length. Possibly add a border to compensate for shrinkage.

I agree - unfortunately, flannels usually shrink when washed and colors can sometimes bleed but with colour catchers and quilting you should be ok.

Thank you all so much for the great advice!! I absolutely love this site! I'm going to finish my blocks and then off to the store for the color catchers. I never would have thought of that! I've made a few quilts in the past, but they were cotton fabric. It never occurred to me that the flannel would shrink. Thank you again!!

I usually wash flannel before using it but you have already cut it so just continue with your piecing.