Read about it here! Each quilt 'block' will have cotton on the front, flannel in the middle, and fleece on the back. However, if I were doing a summer-weight quilt, I wouldn't use flannel for the back. One reason batting works well when hand quilting is the thread knots get knotted into the fibers and made more secure over time. I think we will all be fighting over this recent quilt finish because the mix of the flannel and the Essex Linen is a warm and cozy combination. I suggest that you spend the extra money on high quality materials and then enjoy your finished cozy warm quilt! I know which fabric shrunks the most. If you want to increase your seam allowance by 1/4″ all around, you would need to add 1/2″ to the cut size. I am making a quilt for my daughter who wants flannel backing and no batting. It all starts when you meet at the fabric store… or wherever you go to purchase your flannel. You’ve pre-shrunk and straightened-up your fabric. I got ready to quilt doing free motion around some of the figures starting in the center . Great question! I washed and dried on high heat 3 times. In the article, you recommend using a 1/2 inch inseam rather than 1/4. Hi Suzy! You could try using a washing machine bag to keep those extra threads confined. I have never tried free motion quilting but I’m not sure I would ever attempt it on flannel now that I have read all the questions and comments. Here are a couple links that should help – https://suzyquilts.com/wash-and-care-for-a-quilt/ and https://suzyquilts.com/how-to-care-for-your-new-quilt/. Hopefully the pattern allows for that. A big reason we quilt stitches close together is so the batting doesn’t travel. but i’m 5 rows in and really don’t want to. I have made several quilts and considering myself an advanced quilter. so what tips do you have for using flannel (2 layers) for batting of a baby quilt. ZJ Humbach shares tips for quilting with flannel that can make preparing and working with the fabric much easier. I too am trying to make a memory quilt out of flannel shirts. That isn’t necessary for piecing the quilt top. Just wondering if it is necessary to do wider binding strips because of fraying, etc. The flannel sheet below is from the Target Wondershop Collection. This product features a layer of 100% cotton batting and 100% cotton flannel - stitched together into one product. Love your post. I can't afford quilt shop flannel so I buy my flannel at Jo Ann's and with the Black Friday sales I … Is it possible that the quilt sandwich wasn’t basted well enough? I like that those things will lay flat and not be puffy. However, since you are dealing with precuts, I probably wouldn’t prewash, just make sure you are sewing with at least a 1/4″ seam allowance. (I think my preference is stitch in ditch as I’m imagining one of our dogs chewing on hand ties.) I don't do really heavy quilting. Use more cozy flannel for the backing and most definitely use batting. Oops. Pingback: Lake Michigan In Denim Quilt - Suzy Quilts. But I hate to prewash my fabrics. Unfortunately, I think your options are to switch to a thinner, sharper needle and thinner thread (probably a traditional quilting thread that is wax coated) or to switch to just one layer of flannel or light batting. I was looking for pointers on finishing up with the fleece backing. If you’re following a pattern that assumes you will have the entire precut, don’t do it. I back all my quilts with flannel as I like that cozy feel on one side of the quilt. But if you’re going to make a big commitment together, you know, like sewing a quilt, we’re going to need some honesty. Choose to cut squares or strips. Here’s why: After you make it home with your brand-new flannel, you’ll definitely want to pre-wash it. It sounds dreamy! Also, the density of your quilting will make a big difference on the quilt’s initial stiffness. The plaid flannels are not created eqaul and really depends on the manufacturer. Learnt so much here while my porridge is cooking! This is especially true when quilting with flannel. I quilted with flannel and now noticed there was some stretch while I was quilting…..should I take it all out and redo it? It was a lot of work to do this quilt . Sew “mixed” blocks with flannel and cotton? I cut pieces about 10×10 cm and wash them all together. . The walking foot is also a good suggestion, and I’ll be using it once I get ready to do the quilting (I’m almost there). haha I’m kidding I’m kidding After the quilt is finished don’t wash it. After turning them right side out, I do a fancy zigzag around the edges and this “closes” the opening and makes the edges stronger. Find quilts for men including flannel quilts, Father's Day ideas, and more. I have only made 2 rag quilts but they both turner out quite well. I ordered a FQ bundle that I love! Make sure your batting is larger than the quilt top. Thanks! It is used as a layer of insulation between fabrics, most often used in quilt making. Using your example, you would cut 4″ x 9″ strips. Also, is pre-washing necessary if both the backing and the quilt top are flannel? However, if you are able to lose a couple inches from each precut, prewashing flannel is a good idea. Thanks for your help! I don’t quilt with flannel. For this quilt, I am using squares. Tip – If you want, add a large bath towel into the dryer to keep the yardage from twisting and accumulating unwanted wrinkles. I am a newbie toquilting in general but no experience with flannel. I almost have the top put together and as much work as I have already put into it I don’t want to have to go repurchase the fabric and start all over. I’ve been asked to make a memory quilt using flannel shirts. Thanks in advance!! I like to press to the side just because I think seams are more stable that way. No matter what, if you don’t prewash all of your fabric, you will have some level of shrinkage once it’s washed, causing the vintage crinkle effect. Your email address will not be published. Can you recommend a pattern that works well with flannel? Assuming you are cutting your flannel for pieces in a quilt, eventually they will be trimmed on all sides. Again a thousand thanks and best regards from Hamburg from Julia (happy). The fabrics were all pre-washed and it did not shrink at all, which was mildly disappointing to me. (I hate playing blanket tug of war with my hubby and two dogs, and the thing kind of just kept growing.) More flannel? If you post this question to the Suzy Quilts Patterns Facebook group, along with the make and model of your sewing machine, others will have great suggestions for you. Any idea what I can do to make it look decent? .say it aint so??!! Good luck! The quilt isn’t feeding well into my machine, the only way it will is if I push the quilt through but even then the stitches are super tiny regardless of what stitch length I’m using. Where do you buy your paper for making half square triangles? Batting: it would be warmer and more quilt like as opposed to a massive blanket. This is a great idea! So snuggly. A local quilt shop is a great place to start. My squares are 8'' when cut, and then finish at 7'' (with a 1/2'' seam allowance). It was a simple 9-patch made from Bonnie Sullivan's Woolies line, which I loved. That can get warm. We get it, flannel. She wanted it soft and snuggly, so I did things a little different than I usually do for a T-shirt quilt. You’re grandson will love this cozy quilt. Here’s what flannel’s putting on its online dating profile: I love to snuggle by the fire on a chilly evening with hot apple cider. Hope that helps! Fold the fabric in half, lining up the selvages, lay the fabric on your cutting mat and cut that way. Flannel quality varies a ton, depending on what you buy. And here comes the update: I’ve sewed the edges of two fat quarters with the zig zag stich and then prewashed them And what can I say? You don’t have to exert as much energy when moving the quilt around. So, when I cut the fabric, do I increase ALL measurements by 1/4. Here at SQ you will find free sewing tutorials, product reviews, basic how-to’s, design inspiration, and quilt patterns geared toward you – the chic, modern quilter! Pingback: A Quilty Adventure Part VI: How to Sew with Linen - Suzy Quilts. Apparently that wasn’t a good idea? ), Pingback: How to Make an Outdoor Quilt: Your Guide to Canvas - Suzy Quilts. (Best Quality Quilt Batting) The Warm Company is one of the most popular brands on the market. But it is exactly the right number of FQs that I need for the pattern (Lucky Log Cabins by Quilty Love). Stick with a 1/4″ seam listed in the pattern so the math doesn’t get confusing. Hi Suzy, Batting is the filling of quilts and makes them warm and heavy. Something to show off the plaid, and in larger pieces? So this finished quilt is a generous lap quilt size - … ), You have to pardon the Flight of the Conchords reference. Place your middle layer fabric square down next. Most often this fuzzy fabric comes in narrower rolls. Promise. Some quilters prefer natural fibers because they are lightweight and soft. Here’s more on that – https://suzyquilts.com/starch-quilt-fabric/, Pingback: The Best Iron for Sewing (One Quilter’s Opinion) - Suzy Quilts. Anyway I would like to starch the flannel as I know that it stretches, but what do I do with the minky? Or is flannel more likely to beard in general? More quilting = stiffer. Interfacing shouldn’t be necessary. Have you ever mixed wool with flannel and noticed bearding? I did recently make a quilt using a flannel charm pack and found out just want you mean about flannel stretching! Thank you so much. I have a question.. Also going to try to long arm quilt it. To make this a super easy rag quilt, there is no batting between the layers of flannel. Just completed my first rag baby quilt, used flannel fabric, I must say it looks great, I washed the quilt but don’t have a dryer, but it still came out looking pretty good, one problem I have all these lose threads from the fraying, no matter how many times I shake the quilt, i keep getting more and more, concern is for the baby. And I have one more to do in flannel since I already purchased the fabric, but I’ll be making changes on how I do it, and your suggestions should make things easier. Stay warm this season with quilts made from flannel. See more ideas about quilt patterns, quilts, flannel quilts. You can still sew with it, just be aware that it will shrink a lot and look quite different once it’s washed. I bet that would loosen up some threads. 2. Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to say, “Hi!” in the comments! Thank you. aahaahahahah please help or maybe it could be the spray adhesive i don’t know. They make high-quality… to account for this happening. I also recommend washing it in cold water and fluff drying in your machine or air drying to prevent massive shrinkage. .and I have a quilt basted and ready to go but i DID NOT PRE-WASH. . haha! Fortunately, I did think to prewash in very hot water to get the bleeding and shrinking out of the way. Will be using a beautiful dusky rose flannel to back a nap quilt for my bestie. I have seem some rag quilts made with minky as the backing because it is soft but it does not fray. Hi! Am I doomed. I usually do wavy lines or diamonds - something simple. I am making a t-shirt quilt. I am making a quilt using a pieced top with a flannel back and no batting. I don’t want to put much more work into it so I plan on tying it and using flannel instead of batting. Starch will wash out of the fabric completely once you are fully finished and send the quilt through the washing machine. I’m nervous and sad. It will give you a great seam, since a shorter stitch could stretch the flannel fabric (also, if you happen to make a mistake, it’ll be easier to pick open the seams. I am quilting a baby quilt using a precut 5″ flannel charm pack. Not all flannel is created equal. Has anyone made a rag quilt using cotton instead of flannel? My first one turned out great even though I didn’t know you had to prewash until now. I also had cutting challenges because the fabric likes to move while the rotary cutter is rolling along; that was very frustrating and sometimes left a ruffled cut. Your information about handling and sewing with flannel are very interesting. Just starting a flannel quilt and found your article. I will be making a quilt that will have both flannel and quilter’s cotton on the pieced side. Just curious if using interfacing in any way could help the quilt become more uniform and wear out less. On the flannel batting subject… I am making a baby quilt (my first) and used flannel for the top pieces as well as the batting and linen as the back. I’m glad to hear that! I make T-Shirt quilts quite often for graduations, memorial quilts, etc.. I think the new Reflections pattern would be perfect in flannel! My question is, do I still need to add batting when using flannel as a back? Absolutely! Please help, I’m so messed up at this point I don’t know what to do. But… it is flannel! Flannel Rag Quilt - Can I use 3 layers of flannel instead of batting. The quilting aspect was not discussed though. Go for it- just wash and dry well so the shrinkage factor is minimal. Hello. This may be a frustrating answer, but you probably need to just keep shaking it and pulling at the raw edges until it stops shedding. That means that even though it’s soft and cuddly, even one wash can pill that baby up. especially for the laughs haha. It also makes it stiffer and feels different. If this is your first rag quilt (or your first quilt!) Batting is the filling on quilts and mostly the reason why a quilt is warm and heavy. Since you don’t have batting, the only reason you need to stitch the two layers together is so the remain relatively together without becoming a ballooning duvet cover. New to sewing? Arm your sewing machine with a new, 80/12 or even 90/14 machine needle if you have one. Here’s its secret: part of the flannel-making process is using a fine metal brush to raise some of the cloth’s fibers (usually only on one side), napping it up a bit, and really upping flannel’s fluffy feel., Quilting with flannel is an obvious fan favorite because of this softness and warmth, but just like quilting with any new fabric, it’s good to know what you’re working with before you really get going. Finally, do you have a recommended batting for flannel quilts? So, for my question can I hand quilt this flannel quilt without getting all the gathering and making it look cheap and crappy? I’m new to your site and have already learned so much. Today I sewed the first block and it turned out great. I read that you didn't pre-wash your fabrics.. My question is what is the best fabric to back it with? Eventually it will…it just might take a while. Thanks for your help and best regards from Hamburg! The binding helps to hold the layers together. Trust me this quilt is anything but cheap, to me anyways. Share your experiences (and any other tips you have) in the comment section below!. What should I do now?? https://suzyquilts.com/best-quality-sewing-thread/. I’d like to keep my flannel quilt fluffy and not have it stiff as a board when it’s finished (I’m not planning on a lot of quilting once it’s pieced to help prevent stiffness). I’m using flannel in my summer quilt for batting. I wanted to use 42″x90″ in the center, then cut a 42″ in piece in half(21″) and seam to the center piece on each side., to avoid a center seam. The shrinking is a big problem. I don’t want to cut the flannel into tons of little pieces. If you have a cute pre-cut flannel bundle I’d hate to see it go unused. I was going to ask how to pre-wash all of those little pre-cut squares, but after reading your helpful article and comments, I’m thinking maybe I shouldn’t do this flannel set I found. The top and back are 100% cotton quilting fabric. I made a ridiculously oversized jean patchwork quilt with flannel backing and no batting. https://suzyquilts.com/why-wool-batting-makes-the-warmest-quilts/. Since flannel is really stretchy, ironing can stretch out the fabric a little too much. Should the binding strips be cut wider when working with flannel? Oh well - my nephew loves it and that's all that matters. Thanks in advance for any advice! It could be a thread issue. If you’ve met one, you have NOT met them all.. The vinyl/plastic tablecloth idea is a great idea to use when doing any machine quilting on a domestic machine. Thanks for any advice! Hi, thank you for your tutorials and very helpful videos! Thank you! Is using an 80-20 poly blend batting because I’ve prewashed the flannels kosher??? The issue with using flannel rather than batting is that flannel is made up of threads woven together – so the needle and thread need to push their way between those threads. Mary, it’s going to be OK. My guess is that your longarm quilter will quilt close enough together that even if your quilt wanted to shrink up and get wacky it wouldn’t be able to. Low loft batting is thinner and shows off the quilting stitches. Flannel rag quilts are simply two or three layers of flannel sewn together to form whatever size quilt you want. I made a quilt for my college-aged nephew that was three layers of flannel; top, batting, and backing. Thank you for the tips, above, on quilting (or even just sewing, in general) with flannel. I am very much a beginner quilter and whenever I have a question, your blog is the first place I look! I’m getting ready to make my husband a quilt from a flannel layer cake. Each quilt 'block' will have cotton on the front, flannel in the middle, and fleece on the back. I plan to buy a high quality flannel layer cake to make a quilt. Is 11” too far apart? (Woolies Flannel by Bonnie Sullivan). When I shop for fabric, and not just flannel, I typically frequent the same quality places because I know they only carry quality fabric. But: it is flannel… For the background I have Bella solids cotton. Anyway, I’m not answering your question very well. I have not used flannel in a bed quilt but have made table runners and placemats with flannel instead of batting. I know this is a pretty basic question but want to get it right!