Minky Quilting Questions
 

I've pieced together a baby quilt top using unwashed LQS quality cotton fabrics and am ready to assemble the top with batting and minky backing that I will quilt on my DSM. This is my first minky quilt so I did a quick google search for tips on quilting minky and now see that I should have pre-washed the cotton fabric as the poly minky won't shrink. Arrghhh.. I'm not excited about uneven shrinkage and a 'vintage looking' quilt once washed.

I'm hoping to minimize shrinkage and was planning to use 80/20 batting but maybe I should use an all poly batting instead? Also, I read that So Fine! and Bottom Line are good thread choices with minky as they will sink-in or blend-in better than cotton? And is it better to spray baste vs pin when using minky?

Any suggestions before I take a swing at this?

Thanks in advance :)

Christine

I have used minky for backing several quilts. I especially like for kids quilts, although adults enjoy that softness, too. I actually treat it the same as any other backing. I am a pin baster, I use lots of pins always. I use Aurifil 50 cotton thread for piecing and quilting on my domestic sewing machine, a Pfaff 4.2. It blends into the minky nicely. Quilters Dream cotton is my preferred batting. Other than the shedding when it is cut, I think you will love it. As soon as you sew it, it won't shed again. Vacuums up quickly:) I can't really say if I prewashed the cotton fabrics I used or not. Some I do and some I don't. Flannel is the only thing that I always prewash. I like the combination of flannel for a top with a minky batting.

i disagree with your google thing. because i prewash everything. that's just what the "rule" was when i started quilting in 80's. i prewash minky. i also prewash the blocks of scrap quilts because much of the fabric scraps i'm given are not prewashed. i fill tub, swish by hand gently, drain & spin dry. i use at least 6 color catcher sheets because usually number of blocks are for full size or larger quilt. i then press the washed blocks before i set together. one time i didn't do as above and after quilt finished ..washed and one square was wonkey. i got the remains of a fabric that was in the block and measured it before & after washing. the shrinkage was about 3/8 inch side to side for one of the blocks' fabrics. now for the minkie ..yes it's poly, and i still prewash it for quilts. and after i made a bed for my kitty with unwashed minkie and it shrank big time ..i'm glad i prewash the minkie.

for quilting minky i use no special thread. i like to see the quilting thread on surface ..just like it shows in vintage/antique quilts. i use lighter thread in bobbin tho. both weights sink right in to most minky and aren't readily visible. i spray baste all my minky & flannel backed quilts. i use to pin, then i use to thread baste ..regardless of how careful i was fmq on my domestic i would get a few tucks/pleats in back. i tried spray basting a few years ago and it was perfect. the back was smooth w/o mistakes. i live far enough north that opening windows for spray fumes odor is not practicle. i use the odorless spray by dritz and it holds well, not stickey. and i can breath. joanne's carries it.

I have used minky many times - it makes a very nice backing. I have not washed my fabric for the top when using Minky. if you used good fabric it will be fine. I have never had a problem with shrinkage.

I love the 505 basting spray and never have problems with that - - except that I spend a lot of money buying it. I now use elmers glue (learned that here on the board)

I usually quilt on my domestic machine using King Tut thread

good luck and share pictures when you are done :)

I’ve only quilted two projects on my DSM with Minky but getting ready for a third. Like meyert posted, I have not prewashed my fabrics or minky and I also spray baste. I use my walking foot and whatever thread matches my quilt and backing the best...sometimes Aurifil or Mettler cotton, sometimes Glide or Isacord poly.

I had some trouble when I first used minky. A long armer told me to use a stretch needle, isacord thread and spraybasting. Never washed the cotton but it was good quality. Made two huge ones this way and quilted on my domestic. Perfect!

Thank you everyone for the wonderful feedback - I'm off to buy some 505 today and pin, pin, pin before quilting this cute little baby boy quilt together! I'll share pics when I'm finished :)

Christine

I use minkie on a lot of my quilts. I spray baste and sometimes I have to pin along the borders. I always bring any fabrics from the store to the washer. No matter where I buy them. I don’t wash minkie anymore as it never shrunk when I did same as fleece.

Have any of you tried glue basting with milky? I would love to know if it worked, before I try it.

How do you use the elmers glue never heard of that on quilts.