Question about fabric from a newbie
 

Hello

I'm fairly new to quilting and don't know anything about different fabric types. I usually use a flannelette as my backing but was interested in using minky as I found some adorable prints. Can I use minky as a backing? I guess my question is will it wash well, or shrink differently from the top?

Side note: I am so bored with the flannelette patterns at Fabricland (the only fabric store near where I am). Does anyone know of any online stores with interesting flannelette prints?

TIA

Just want to Welcome you to this quilt board.

Minky makes a very nice backing. Some people also use fleece. Both of these stretch so quilting them is trickier that flannel. They don't shrink. Flannel does so I alway prewash flannel. I do run a zigzag stitch along any raw edge because flannel also frays. I bought some very nice flannel at Connectingthreads.com.
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Hi and welcome from North Carolina!

I can't help with your Minky questions because I've never used it, but I can tell you about flannel. Tesspug is right on. It shrinks and frays and some is off grain. I make receiving blankets for infants out of it, but I really don't like it for backing quilts. Fleece is even worse from my experience. From what I've heard here on QB, Minky may work better for you.

I have used Minky a number of times for the backing and it works beautifully. Little stretchy so be sure your sandwich it well (I use June Tailor Spray). The quilts have laundered well too. I've tried the printed Minky, dimensional and plain. Good luck, the finished quilt will be wonderful

Do different qualities of Minky matter?

Minky makes wonderful backs on quilts! It does not shrink
it quilts beautifully- just remember to smooth it- don’t stretch it.
It has been a family favorite of ours for many years

Welcome to the board! I haven't used Minky but others have.

I have purchased from LocalQuiltShop and from Walmart. Have not had trouble with either. I do recommend having a lint roller handy. Every cut will produce lint. Just roll it before handling. It does not unravel. Only the cut fibers fly around. It really is nice on quilts. And very forgiving in the quilting!:) Welcome to the board and to quilting!

I haven’t used it but welcome to the board. There is a wealth of information here.��

You can use almost anything you want as backing - you area making the quilt, you get to make the decisions! Having said that, be warned that some fabrics are a bit harder to work with. Fleece and minky like to slip and slide around A LOT. You need to be even more careful about puckering and gathering. Also, there are many, many online fabric stores. This group can give lots of suggestions and then just watch for their sales (watch their shipping costs also). Any, you can always buy online from the 'big' places like Jo-anns, buying the sale fabric and use their free shipping coupon. Welcome, have fun quilting and remember, you are the boss!

I haven't used Minky but I do use fleece as a backing on almost all my quilts and never have a problem. I pin baste and use a lighter pressure on my presser foot so as not to drag. Although fleece is stretchy, it's not that bad and with good basting it behaves well. I do not use batting in my fleece backed quilts. There are many adorable and very pretty fleece prints as well as juvenile, masculine and feminine prints.

I've just finished 3 lap quilts using a minky-type backing I purchased at Joanne's. I've done others with this too. I work on a long arm for quilting, so will tell you that if you are sending to a long armer or doing that yourself, you want to try to get a minky type back that doesn't stretch both ways--that will prevent any issues. I'm not sure how that works if quilting on your domestic though. One suggestion regarding fleece--there is fleece and then there's fleece! Having used it for variety of projects, some fleece pills easily and doesn't hold up well, others do great. Again, having them stretch only in one direction helps with the quilting process. As a long armer, I will not take backing that stretches both directions--just too big of a hassle. Good luck!

Minky & fleece are great for backings. I have used both & spray baste. That really helps with any stretching & shifting while quilting.

Lots of patterns adapt very well to flannel. Use of Minky on the back? Lucky person who receives--so cuddly and warm.
Interestingly enough earlier in topics is a link to thedoormouse.com/pattern.htm for a flannel quilt
Welcome

I too have used minky; it makes a wonderful cuddly quilt.

Hi and welcome to this awesome board from Arkansas!

I love the way that minky feels, but I do not like working with it at all. My favorite longarmer backs quilts with it and she has no problem with it. The quilting looks great and it turns out very cuddly. When I used it on my regular sewing machine, it stretched a lot. I can’t imagine trying to use it again.