tngal22

I have used Minky (from JoAnn's) for 30"x40" approx quilt. I pinned the quilt top with ALOT of pins since Minky tends to shift. Once I had the Minky nice and tightly pinned, I did straight line sewing (in the ditch actuallly) and didn't have any issues.

Minky is hard to sew with, from what I have found, because of the shifting so much. Pinning every couple of inches while making sure it is tight has helped greatly.

Tartan

I have never sewn with Minky but I would think you would have to treat it like a knit fabric. Use a ball point or knit needle, try not to stretch it as you quilt and do a simple design.

QuiltnLady1

The best way to do test stitching is to use exactly the same fabric/layers that you are making/quilting.

I find I prefer to stabillize minkee when I use it. I just finished one that had no batting and I used 505 to attach the minkee to a piece of muslin (that I had washed a couple of times to get all the shrink out) -- I have also spray-basted it to batting and to the quilt top (if I am not using batting). Minkee has 2 issues -- it is a knit and the back is very slippery -- by attaching it to the muslin, both of the problems were minimized. I have a healthy respect for anything that is that stretchy and that slippery.

From what I have heard, the LA folks do not have the problems that I have seen on a domestic machine.

judylg

Thanks for all of the suggestions, am going to pick up needles tomorrow when I am out. See I can end up in a quilt shop even when I do not want to and be tempted!

Havplenty

this would be my suggestion also. minky is strechy fabric and you need a ballpoint needle for it. that should help to stop the skipped stitches. ask me how i know.

grammy of 6

I just made two throws today with Minky and had no problems. I zig zagged the self binding and it worked great.

CindyBee

Try using a strip of wash away stabilizer. I've had to resort to that before. After you sew the seam you can just spritz the stablilizer with water to dissolve it.

judylg

If the new needle does not work, yes the stabilizer will certainly be worth a try. Thanks.

ckcowl

what kind/size needle are you using? minky is a polyester knit- a knit needle (ball point) may help- i've backed about a dozen quilts with minky and found i have the best luck when using a good/new/knit needle- and poly thread- also slow down- and lengthen your stitch length.

Nolee

I completely agree to always take minky to a long-arm quilter. The price is ALWAYS BUT ALWAYS worth my sanity!!