I always pre-wash flannel because of the shrinkage. So far I've only used it as a quilt back or in a rag quilt. It will still rag, because it is the fraying of the edges that causes the ragging, not the shrinkage. I got some marvelous dark purple flannel once at a quilt show. It was very thick and the color didn't even fade or bleed in the wash. I wish I knew the source, because I would love to get more of it. I think I will try BellaBoo's idea of buying my next flannel from CT.

I got a bunch of flannel from Hobby Lobby and because I had had problems with JoAnn's flannel pilling so badly, I washed some of it and it came out fine--no pilling. I'm not normally a pre-washer but because I had heard so many people on this board stress that flannel needed to be prewashed, I did. However, I'll probably go back to my "bad" habit of not prewashing--I feel that as long as all of the fabric is not prewashed then it will all shrink at the same rate and I'll end up with a slightly smaller quilt... I'm not a big fan of ironing:o

I used flannel from Joann's for my rag quilt. However, I did purchase the pricier stuff (not the $2.99/yard flannel) I pre washed the flannel before I cut it becaue it DOES shrink! I used my Accuquilt Rag Die to cut my pieces. After sewing them together, I washed it twice in the washer and boy did it ever fluff up! I think it is risky not to wash flannel before sewing it, IMHO.

I bought a large yardage of flannel from Connecting Threads to use as the back of a quilt. This was when I first started quilting, wasn't used to online ordering (had always been able to stroke the fabric before buying it), and was at a point in my financial life which meant this purchase would make that month pretty tight. I was nervous - but I had to have the flannel - the pattern and colors were just right...

Best quality flannel I have ever felt or seen. Still looks like new ten years later (has outlasted some of the flannel squares on the top of the quilt), and I usually keep that side of the quilt up because I still like it so much. It has not faded, even though it is a very dark green and the bed has sunlight in a strip across it most days.

I can't speak for all of CT's flannel, but that one was superior (and relatively inexpensive, although it didn't seem like it at the time!!)

Alison

Hopefully this is not a double post. I bought/used some Moda Marble flannel last year. Was absolutely wonderful and would highly recommend it. And I'm not a fan of Moda Marble cotton at all. I did pre-wash - because I pre-wash everything - but I believe you could easily get away with not pre-washing.

I prewash all the flannel (and I rarely prewash anything) -- I have had some really bizarre shrinkage with flannels regardless of where I have bought it. I quit buying the batik flannel because some of it never softened up when I washed it. I washed some flannels that shrank not a all and some shrank several inches. If I am going to piece with the flannel I want to make sure that if they shrink they do so at the same rate.

connecting threads has great looking flannel, never used it though but have thought about purchasing some for a rag quilt

I do not prewash regular cotton, but ALWAYS prewash flannel. It shrinks so much more than cotton! I wash it on hot and dry it on hot, trying to shrink the heck out of it before I sew with it. Even so, I have still have some seams come apart in my flannel quilts due to shrinkage. Prewash!

When you use flannel for backing do you still use batting and if you do, what kind do you use? Thanks, Pat

my first quilt that I used flannel backing, I did not wash the flannel. Then I read on this board you should wash the flannel because it shrinks so much. Oh durn, and I had hand quilted this quilt also!! So when I washed it, I washed it in cold water, and put it in the dryer for about 30 minutes and then hung it over the line to dry. I think the quilt still looks good in spite of the fact I did not prewash the flannel! And this was WalMart flannel too.