Sleepy Hollow

I wonder if anyone has attempted to applique minky onto a cotton quilt. If so, do you have any advice on things to do or avoid?

I designed a baby quilt that will be pieced cotton in the shape of a castle, with a dragon appliqued to the front. Because the castle will be mostly greys, I was going to make the backing a fun color, as well as the dragon. Then, while looking for "dragon fabric", I saw the minky.

I'll post a photo of my design in the next post. I hope to machine applique the dragon onto the front. If the minky works out, I might do it on future quilts in the shape of an elephant, teddy bear, etc. Something fast and simple, but to add a little color and texture.

Do you forsee any issues with this? How tight of a stitch would you use to applique the minky to the top?

Also, because of the castle shape (I want to have a shaped top, to follow the shape of the castle rather than a straight line), I'm looking at "birthing"/"enveloping" the quilt to avoid having to try to bind it. That part may prove to be an adventure, but I'm willing to tackle it.

I can ask my mom if she thinks it would work, but she hasn't done it with the two fabrics, so hoping I can find out from someone who has attempted it and find out what they learned.

Thank you!

Sleepy Hollow

Ignore the very poorly drawn Dragon, I added it by scribbling with my phone photo editor. I will design a better looking Dragon for the real quilt

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Castle would be pieced cotton, batting warm and natural, hoping to make the dragon in minky. Maybe the backing in minky as well if there isn't too much fear of the front and back shrinking too disproportionately.

roguequilter

yes ..you can applique minky to minky. i've done it, i've even appliqued faux fur to minky. i top stitch with very short stitch close to the edge, then do a very narrow zigzag if needed. [ATTACH=CONFIG]568468[/ATTACH] this is a quilt i made for my grandaughter. the kitties tails were stuffed and left raised ..3-D style. the flowers were also stuffed and left 3-D. little fingers need texture to explore.

Sleepy Hollow

Thank you for the response. I may debate using minky to make the castle as well (JAF her has varying shades of grey, so I could make it work). I already have a bunch of grey cotton though, so not sure if there will be shrinkage issues.

I guess I could test with a whole cloth quilt, using similar methods and fabrics, and applique a star or some other simple shape onto that (so, make a usable practice quilt to test for shrinkage).

Sleepy Hollow

Oh, I meant to say I love the cats! It looks so soft and colorful, I'm sure the granddaughter just loves it, I know I would have!

busy fingers

Yes you certainly can. I made a playmat using cotton blocks and appliquéd all different fabrics on to it including chenille, minky, satin, fleecy etc. I ironed stabiliser on to the design making sure that I used a pressing cloth and had absolutely no problems with any of the fabrics used.

Good luck with it and show us the end result.

roguequilter

i prewash everything, even large scraps. couple of years ago i was working on blocks for a row robin i was involved in. the scraps i washed were fine, but for one block nothing seemed to work, so, in 'oh what the heck' moment of daring ..i used a piecee of scrap that was perfect color & print. then, curious, i cut a patch from remaining scrap fabric ..measured carefully & washed in the sink, dried on the deck and the amount of shrinkage was amazing. i now wash everything, even late additions. with minkie i also learned the hard way that it will shrink, some more than others. i've not had colors run, but the fabric definitely can and sometimes does, shrink. my only concern with pairing minky with cotton woven fabric is weight difference. i've used some less expensive minkies that seemed thinner than normal for backing quilts. it worked, but there was really too much difference in weight & i won't use the two together again. i have also used lighter minkie with good quality, heavy flannel ..that worked ok and i have & will continue doing that type of pairing. i am a scrapper by desire and have been given bags & bags of beautiful scraps ..but for a project like you are planning, it might be a good idea to go ahead and maybe buy some grays or flannels or whatever to do the castle wall. and i hope you post a pic of finished quilt! this is going to be wonderful, the type of fun quilt my little grand treasures would be delighted to recieve.

roguequilter

thank you! ...she did love it

Sleepy Hollow

Quick little update...

I finally got a chance to start my castle and dragon quilt! I see now, looking at the photo, that I didn't get the window placed quite where I wanted it, but it will work for this one. Also, if I do another one, I will probably use lighter greys and darker blacks, but it works.

Here is what I got done last night (I had the rectangles cut out already). I also drew up my dragon and will get that cut and appliqued tonight. I have a light green minky with "bumps" that I think is going to work well. I'll quilt in the detail with black thread.

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Kwiltr

I appliquéd minky onto cotton, but it was a smallish pieces. However, one thing I did that helped hold it in place was use a bit of Elmer's Washable School glue to hold it in place until I got it stitched onto the background. You can't iron minky or you'll flatten the bumps and spray adhesive isn't ideal, cause you don't want that getting places you don't want it and Pins get lost in the pile a bit. Looks like a cute project. Will look forward to seeing the finished quilt!