The best part of a quilt, for me, is the snuggle factor. This is why I have been trending more and more towards flannel backs for my quilts. When I posted a picture of my recent flannel acquisitions on Instagram, I had a few people asking me questions on how I use it.
Sewing with Flannel isn’t too much different than sewing with Quilting Cotton, but there are a few things to know.
First, ALWAYS prewash flannel before sewing with it. I have found it usually shrinks 2″ on each side, sometimes even more. That is pretty significant when you are quilting and piecing.
Second, buy quality whenever possible. You can see in my first picture the way that the purple dot has pilled and faded after just one wash. I chose it because the color is perfect for my Purplexing Quilt. You don’t want to put in the effort of making a quilt only to have it look ragged after just a few uses. I am seriously reconsidering using that print.
Lastly, when you actually do your piecing, I would suggest pressing your seams open. As you quilt it, you are going to be dealing with a lot more weight due to the heavier flannel. When you press the seams to one side, you are adding bulk in addition to the weight. When you are trying to move around a heavy quilt, the very last thing you want to deal with is a thick bump.
So now I am off to quilt my heart quilt, and hopefully baste a few others while I have the floor mopped 🙂
I bought some of that purple dot from JoAnn’s for kid pajama pants. It works for that, but you are right about quality. Designer flannel will cost more, but you get what you pay for. I’ve become such a fabric snob. 🙂
Looking forward to seeing the finished product on that flannel quilt…so cozy!
Thanks for the tips and the quilt looks beautiful!
Thanks for that info on flannel. I love it and it reminds me of my childhood! but haven’t used it yet in a quilt. I might reconsider though. Is there any line or supplier that you would recommend?
Oh no! I bought that same purple fabric and had no issue with it after one wash. I hope it will stand up to the test of time.
Lovely. Looks so soft and warm. I haven’t tried flannels for quilting, but they do look awfully cozy. Flannel is probably a little warm for Florida. =( Thanks for sharing your tips.
Good to know as I have bought quite a bit of flannel for backings lately 🙂
I love flannel backs for quilts! I used that same Joann’s purple for as the backing on a recent quilt and am happy to report it worked perfectly with no problems! So I was very happy with it. I also backed a quilt in AMH flannel recently too, and it was so nice to work with! And I didn’t even pre-wash it, and it was fine after I washed the quilt. I think I may stop using quilting cotton for backings altogether, I love flannel so much! 🙂