Who uses flannel backs?
 

I am a soft texture person and almost every quilt I create has some flannel or soft fabric in it. I don't know how many of you quilters out there are the same.

As a Long-Armer I get my wide flannel batiks from SewBatik.com. They are telling me they are discontinuing their line of flannel batiks because there isn't enough interest in flannel batiks and especially not wide flannel batiks. They have awesome colors from muted to bright and they are multi-color so they tie in with your color scheme.

They say they are trying to make a decision, whether to even carry the regular batik flannel fabric. I prefer the wide but at least if they keep the regular width i can seam it. I am trying to convince them that quilters just don't know about their product. I like the bright colors and i have very little fade issues. I pre-wash in hot water and if there is any bleed i add some Retayne and a couple of color catchers and have no problems after that.

Please give me or them feedback as to whether or not quilters are interested or not in wide flannel batiks or regular width flannel batiks?

I do like flannel on a quilt back, but one of the problems has been finding reliable flannel that doesn't pill when it's washed. I would definitely consider using this flannel on your recommendation.

I would love to use flannel as backing. Checked out the website and love the wide flannel, but my problem would be the cost. I don't usually spend that much on a backing fabric. (I looked at the wide flannel only, as I prefer wide fabric for backing.)

I sometimes use a flannel backing but would rather add seams, than pay more than twice as much for the extra width.

I have never used flannel in a quilt. I am too warm-natured to want it in my quilts, so just don't think about using it in others.

I use flannel for a lot of my quilt backs, but at $11.49 for 1/2 yard, I would be very hesitant to purchase it from that website. Especially when I can get it for $13.95 for 1 yard at Thousands of Bolts. Sorry!

Does this company attend any of the quilt shows? Marketing could be some of the issue to lack of interest. Perhaps getting their products out front and center to the quilting world may help.

I use flannel often as a quilt backing especially for children's quilts.

I make mostly baby quilts and use a lot of flannel!! Didn't know this company existed. They do need to market their product better!!

i make many baby quilt for charity if i use flannel on front ill use cotton on back and visa versa !!

I agree that it is expensive but when you figure you get aprox 2 3/4 yards in one yard of 106" fabric it brings it down to about $8.00 a yard.

They do attend the large quilt shows but in my opinion they haven't "marketed" the flannels enough because most people don't know that "wide batik flannels" ever existed.

I use a lot of flannel, and I buy the 108" AE Nathan flannel from Fabric.com. I've never used a flannel batik.

I love flannel backing and is requested from all. cold here in the North. I never heard of wide batick flannels.

I would definitely buy their wide backs. Especially those on sale. I would try it once just to see what the quality of the fabric is like. If I like it, I will buy more. I put flannel backs on nearly all of my quilts.

I love and often use flannel backings. I have purchased their wide backing flannels and some from fabric.com; it usually is a big savings to purchase wide fabrics instead of regular yardage and seaming. Not to mention the convenience! It would be sad if they discontinue carrying theirs - some of the most beautiful flannel batik backings I have used were ones they carry.

I've made a few quilts with flannel on the back. I've mostly used it on baby quilts, and only use it if I have the right color or width of flannel (I don't like piecing backs). It's so soothing when FMQ'ing with the flannel on the back - the flannel seems to muffle the usual clankity sound (maybe it's just my machine). But flannel is not my usual backing of choice.

I use flannel backs from time to time with baby quilts, but I can't really imagine doing a batik flannel. Maybe it's just because I've never seen one. I do like to include some cotton batiks on my quilt top, regardless of my backing, but I guess since I somehow associate batik with the tropics (I went to a cotton plantation in the West Indies where I got to see the batik process in all its stages!), I never thought about getting it in a flannel.

Do you just make quilts as gifts, or do you sell them too? Wondering what kind of customers would like a flannel batik. Maybe I'm missing out on something. ;)

I sell them. I do a lot of memory quilts and soft and cuddly helps make a memory more comforting i think. I am a touchy feely person and so I guess i tend to go that direction with my quilts.

Hmmm... I'll have to keep that in mind. Thanks for sharing.

I make a lot of Linus quilts and always use flannel on the back of them. I think it makes them more cozy and less likely to slide off of the child or their bed etc. If I am making a lap robe for someone chair bound it also helps them with the same problems. Joanns has a huge sale the day after Thanksgiving that offered the flannel at half price. I purchased several whole bolts of it at that time.

Second that, I have made a lot of quilts and backed them with flannel as I just love the cosiness, had no problems with laundering and after 7 years with one of them, no pilling, I get mine from thousands of bolts who have a fab selection at a great price http://www.thousandsofbolts.com/inde...search_string=

I guess I need to get out of my sewing room more often. I didn't even know there was such a thing as flannel batiks. Is it hard to quilt on like the regular batiks? I know my customers are unaware as well since many of them sew on batiks as well and I've never seen a flannel batik back. Will go to the site you mentioned and see if I can get a few scraps to show my customers. I'm sure they would love it.

I have used flannel on the back of baby quilts

I love flannel on the backs of my quilts, and I love wide fabric, and I love batiks, but I had NO CLUE that wide flannel batiks existed! I didn't know flannel batiks existed!

Will definitely have to check this out.

As a newbie, I have only used regular cotton thus far, but am just starting my first flannel-backed large throw as a chemo quilt for a close friend.

i love the feel of it but would not pay twice as much. I think the batik market is niche, and would surmise that batik flannel is even a smaller subset of quilters. Batik flannel at $23/yd ? I personally wouldn't consider it. And from a company I've never heard of? Too risky where color and quality are at stake.

I just made a baby quilt and used flannel on the back as also as a batting. I wanted it to be flexible and it would snuggle closely about the baby this winter. All layers were washed and dried before assembly.

I was just thinking the same thing. I have always pieced my flannel backs. I did not know anyone makes or sells them! The disappointing thing is that until recently, I have had subscriptions to ten sewing magazines and never even saw an ad for them. Maybe you should send them a link to this thread. IMHO

I had never heard of that company. But, the minute I get finished here, I will look them up. I love batiks but had not seen the wide flannel. Thank you.

I love their extra-wide flannel batiks and use them whenever I can. They're probably one of the highest-quality flannels I've seen, but they do require several pre-washes and a lot of Color Catchers. A yard may be twice the price of a regular width yard, but remember that they're more than twice the width of a regular yard, too, so it's actually a better deal. I would be VERY sorry to see them discontinue their extra-wides.

I like to use flannel on baby quilts. But as dunster points out....in can look trashy after a while. Would love to find some real top quality flannel. Will have to check the site!

Sew Batik has great products. I haven't used their flannel, but have felt it at shows. I agree that they need to push it more at the shows and in their ads.

Unfortunately, even though I love flannel, I don't know anyone in a cool area to make a quilt for with a flannel back.

I sew tops for Victoria's Quilts that donate to cancer patients. Using flannel as a backing is a requirement for the
quilters because they want warmth during chemo treatments . Have a special group of ladies who use the LA
machine to do this. Canada has sewn approx. 15,000 of these quilts. Our group over 700 last count.

Thank you for this post. I too did not know about this site. I almost always use flannel on the back of my quilts. Soft and cuddly and as an added bonus they don't slide off the bed! It can be hard to find around here so will have a good look at this site. Thanks

I love to use flannel for the back of my quilts. It makes them very cozy. I have not heard of this site, but I am going to check it out for a queen and a king size quilts I am doing.

have you tried putting the Retayne in with the 1st wash on the batiks. I guess it must really set the colors because I wash in hot water with the Retayne and a couple of color catchers and have never had a problem with bleeding after that.

Ditto for me - Just looked at them - they are beautiful!!

I use flannel on just about everything I do - including oversized queen size bed quilts. I love how it feels, looks, stays on the bed, and as it is cold up here in the winter - adds an additional touch of warmth

I have done quite a bit of long arming on wide backs including flannel and absolutely love it! I would definetly recommend Sew Batik. I have also purchased some of their fabric to make a jacket and skirts with, absolutely gorgeous fabric!
KEEP IN MIND that though wide backs are typically higher priced 12.00-23.00 a yard in a yard chunk (that is 1 yard by 108" ) you, in reality are getting 3 Yards, which makes your cost for one that is 23.00 a yard =8.00 per yard. In my world that is a bargain!No piecing needed, which means no matching needing of pieced seams.(if that is a concern-to which some quilters it is). No I do not work for them.....I just Love their products!!

I use flannel, but I found the flannel batiks I bought to be very stiff, just like batik cotton is. So I lost the advantage of the soft cuddly aspect of flannel, when it was batik flannel. I wouldn't use it again, personally.

This softens up pretty good after it's washed.