quilt of mixed material
 

has anyone ever made a quilt of mixed materials? I love machine embroidering on flannel but want to use cotton to put my quilt together. I don't think there would be a problem but want to ask those with more experience than I..:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: thanks in advance for any pointers or suggestions.

My first quilt (since I didn't know any better) mixed quilting cotton and home dec fabric, and it didn't seem to cause any problems (it's fairly heavily quilted, about 1/2 to 1" apart). The top I'm currently working on, I had to use some brushed cotton for the setting triangles as it was the only thing I could find in the right color. I turned the brushed part to the back.

I've mixed materials before. I love to add shiny bridal satin left over from the kids wedding dresses. I've added polyester fabric from left over children's dresses. Ive yet to make a t-shirt quilt...some are cotton/poly...but I will some day. And i love to embroider so I make new fabric from time to time, and soon, I plan to acrylic paint some fabric...so on and on I go....No rules.

thanks everyone I'll let you know how it turns out.

I have mixed cottons, flannels, wools, denims, etc. To have different textures to make quilts interesting. It is your quilt, put in anything you want! I do agree with Tartan to preWash to avoid uneven shrinking.

All the time! I mix flannels, regular cottons, Minky, corduroy, denim....I've made many quilts with a variety of textures. Just finished (2) kids quilts with flannel appliqués on cotton background squares with flannel sashing strips. Turned out great. I've been mixing textiles for 50 years.

A friend of mine just did that and all was fine. I usually put flannel on the back of a quilt because I like how comfy it makes the quilt and never had a problem. When I do use flannel I always double sew my seams though because it has so much looser weave than cotton for quilting.

I did wash the flannel before I embroidered the squares as I had a very bad experience with shrinking and the embroidery puckered. Thanks everyone for you suggestions and inspiration.

I agree with others, flannel shrinks a lot more than 100% cotton so be sure to prewash.

My first quilt was made from fabrics left over from the dresses I made in high school. There was everything from cotton to double knit, to chinz, etc. All played well together.

The only suggestion I have:

If this is an item that is meant to be washed at some time - make sure that everything will tolerate washing.

Do some light studying on quilt history and you will find that mixing fabrics has been accepted for years and years. Some of the most beautiful quilts were from the late 1800's and early 1900's -- all of those crazy quilts that incorporated silks, satins and velvets, along with the lacy embroidery stitches used to hold the blocks together. Many of them did not last "forever," but they were certainly beautiful to look at.

I use mixed fabrics all the time. I have used flannels, denims, linens, corduroys, fleece, minky, poly/cotton blends and woolens all with quilting cotton. While I do not prewash most of my quilting cottons, I do however prewash some of the above fabrics before using them in a quilt. You can always make a mixed material mini quilt or quilt block & wash to test your fabrics cohesion and reactions. I am finding that making mini quilts or test quilt block sandwiches is a great way to work through design or quilting issues.

I love to mix fabrics! From Cotton to corduroy, Satin to polyesters, Silk to rayon I love it all. I tend to pre-wash and add interfacing to lighter weight fabics.

I've made several raggy quilts using woven cotton for the top and backing and flannel for the inside layer (rather than batting). No problems but would recommend preshrinking the fabrics. Also made a quilt using both flannel and woven fabrics in the top. Worked fine.

Long ago I made quilts with leftover fabrics I had from making my Girls' dresses etc. The polycotton fabrics looked better than the cottons years latter.
Experimenting is how many things are discovered. There are no rules on making quilts or lots of other things.