minky for backing
 

How easy or hard is it to use Minky on the back of a size 60 x 80 quilt? I hate the mess it makes when you cut it but it also wants to stretch. Also do you use batting in between? Top is cotton and I will be quilting on a sit down long arm. I only know how to meander and I don't think that will work with Minky. I guess I would have to make a grid? How would you quilt? Top is a panel with borders.

I’m looking forward to some expert input here. Thanks for asking the question. I still consider myself a beginner at quilting. I tried minky as backing once and tried point to point quilting. It looked awful. But that was probably more me than the fabric.

I’m all ears on this one too... “Grandma-to-be” (that would be me) got a little over-excited at the prospect of the very first grandchild and promptly bought 4 kits for crib quilts w/minkie! Fast forward to Baby Blake’s upcoming 2nd birthday on December 28... oops - they are still in the box hoping for some courage and tips from others who have successfully gone before us! It’s really embarrassing not to have these done yet! Maybe i could put two kits together for his extra-long twin bed when he goes to college! 🥴

I haven't used minky on the back of a quilt (mostly because it has so much nap that I worry about how that translates. However I have used fireside fleece on the back of two of my three quilts I've made (I am no expert by any means) and I'm using it again on the back of the two quilts I'm making for my brother's granddaughters. They call Fireside Fleece "adult minky" and it is so cozy and warm. I also use a batting because I want the warmth and puffiness. Some people leave out the batting and if you live somewhere warm that might be good. It does make the quilt a bit heavy, but I'm OK with that too. It has a slight nap so you have to watch how you piece the two pieces together when you're doing a queen size, but I seamed two widths with a 1" seam allowance so the seams would lay down well on the black one and I'm really happy with how it turned out. It makes your bobbin thread very forgiving because it sinks in.

I've attached some pics of the backs of the two quilts I've finished with fireside so far.

I love minky as a backing.

I don't long arm.. I quilt on my Janome 6600. I have quilted meanders, loopies, hearts (using templates) and straight line cross hatches.

I use batting and I glue baste.

I have never had any problems with using the minky

Tish05 - your quilting gorgeous. I have never heard of fireside fleece.. I will be checking into that one :)

I am currently using minky for a backing for the first time. I have used fleece for many backings before though. I like to piece so my quilts generally have lots of seams, and if I use minky again I will add batting, it is thinner and my thick seams are obvious to the touch (but not so much to the sight). I don't know how useful my experience is to you b/c I quilt all mine qayg, but keep my backing solid and stitch and flip joined rows, so all straight line quilting so far it is going very well.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]618702[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]618704[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]618705[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]618706[/ATTACH]
This is what the quilting looks like on the minky side, the stitching isn't as obvious as this I tried to get the light to reflect and stand out the stitching.

Minky is my favorite backing, especially for babies, kids, well almost everyone. I use Quilters Dream select batting. I quilt on my domestic sewing machine. Often do a meander design. My grandkids think it looks like puzzle pieces and seem to get a kick out of that. I do pin-basting only, lots of pins. I use a Supreme Slider on the bed of the sewing machine and Machingers gloves for all quilting, so haven't had a problem with quilting (as far as moving the quilt).

I have used Minky on many, many quilts over the years- even queen sized ones. It is a favorite backing. I pretty much always meander quilt it- turns out wonderful. I always use batting, I like the extra loft plus it keeps the seams from the pieced tops from being felt on the back. The key is to Smooth it- not stretch it as you go.

heres a Minky back on a baby quilt -meandered

Tish, can you tell us where you buy Fireside Fleece? It's new to me too, and sounds like fun to try.

I was able to find only 1 online store that has it...in a limited number of colors.

All of these quilts posted here sure are pretty!

I have used minky twice. The girls at my favorite quilt shop told me to put it in the dryer on low heat for about 15 minutes to get rid of the mess it makes when cutting. I also have a sit down long arm and did not have any problem quilting it. And I did not have a mess all over my quilting room. This worked for me.

I have sewn with minky before, but never on a quilt. I am wondering, does the quilt stay on the bed as I always found it to be very slippery when working with it.

The dimpled minky is more stretchy. The smooth ones are very pretty quilted, but the longer nap looks best with looser quilting. Shannon Cuddle is a very good quality minky, and comes in so many varieties. The minky at JoAnn's is a different brand, and is more stretchy. Fireside is made by Moda, and is a much thinner fabric than Shannon Cuddle, but it is very nice, too. Shannon Cuddle has been the most popular quilt backing fabric in the store, for several years.

My friend just quilted a baby quilt for her grandson and she was nervous, but it turned out beautifully and she said it was super easy! It's very forgiving - she used brown minkee with green thread, and you can't see the thread at all.

Thank you for the tips comparing minky to fireside fleece!
 

Quiltedsunshine!

I appreciate the advice you have given about your experience using minky and fleece. Does the fireside fleece ever get balls of fuzz from heavy use?

I have used minky on several quilts and have done both FMQ and using a walking foot and have had not trouble...
One did not have batting because my grandson lives in Key West so I just did cross hatching about 3 to 4 inches apart with a walking foot and it came out great. I did use batting in one with a yellow minky background and FMQd with a matching thread and you could barely see the quilting on the back side. Other than the fuzzies you get from cutting, I like working with minky.

I have used minky many times for backing. No problems at all. The dimpled I tried for the first time last week with much hesitation but it turned out fine. Always use batting as it keeps from feeling the seams through to the other side. If you want it light, try Quilters Dream Request batting as it is very thin. Fireside is my favorite! My local quilt stored ordered a color card and I chose the color I wanted them to order for me. I do have a long arm...just be careful not to stretch the minky too much with your clips.

Honestly, I don't know. They go home with someone and I don't see them after use. I might have to ask.

They sell Fireside at a number of the quilt stores in and around Calgary, so I've been buying mine at the store. There is a Canadian online store in British Columbia called DinkyDoo who sell it online and often have sales if you purchase an entire bolt.

Re the question about balls of fuzz, I haven't washed my Life of the Honeybee quilt yet (it's the black backing in the pictures), but it's been used on our bed in our motorhome and there's no fuzz or pills on it yet.

As far as the available colours, it doesn't come in a huge range of colours but the colours that are available are still pretty useful. For the two quilts I'm currently working on, both for my brother's teenage granddaughters, I chose a lime green for the turtle quilt and a purple for the cat quilt. I think they will look great when done and I think the girls will love having that as the back side of their quilts, since they both like colours (what teenage girl doesn't?)

I do a lot of quilts with minky , you just have to make sure the stretch is going top to bottom on a longarm.

Quilted sunshine in Utah, thanks for the info! I am going to do a web search for Shannon Cuddle immediately. ;->)