Soft backing

Comment

Comment by Jan Blixt on May 9, 2013 at 6:38pm

I love Minkee. It comes 60 in wide.  I always make sure I load it on my machine with the salvages running vertically so I don't have to worry about it stretching when I quilt it.  I've never tried quilting it on my domestic machine.

Comment by Jennie Steward on May 8, 2013 at 3:53pm

Just prewash the flannel and all will be fine.

Comment by jbt on May 8, 2013 at 10:30am

I have used polar fleece and no batting.

Comment by Debra Miller on May 8, 2013 at 10:27am

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I am thinking flannel. Does anyone know if it comes in wide widths? I will post pics. Yeah, she is a smart one. I sat her at my sewing machine one afternoon and she had it down in about 10 min!

Comment by B J Elder/WA on May 8, 2013 at 8:36am

Flannel works great. I just did a quilt that I put fleece on the back as the boy it was going to wanted a really soft quilt, too. I didn't use any batting in that one.  Be sure to let us know what you use and post pictures.

Comment by Barbara Graham on May 8, 2013 at 8:24am

I have used flannel and Minkie. I even put flannel on the back of son's wedding quilt--it was pieced and appliqued. I did prewash that huge chunk of flannel. Minkie is unbelievably soft--it behaves best, from what I've learned, if you spray baste with 505.

Comment by Sharon Reeves on May 8, 2013 at 7:00am

I've sewn flannel backs on cotton top quilts for Project Linus for a few years. I always wash all my material first because of the shrinkage and then it's fine to work with. I have 2 lap quilts of my own with flannel backing and love them. They are so soft and warm in the cold months. The batting does shrink a little, giving it a tiny puckered look. Go with what you feel is best. Your DGD will love and cherish it always, because it's made by DGM with love and she got to help.

Comment by Prairie Quilter Jan/NE on May 8, 2013 at 5:17am

I use flannel backs with pieced cotton tops all the time.  It just depends on your preference.  I don't prewash my fabrics - either the cotton or the flannel - but I don't care about the puckering/shrinkage.  It gives me that vintage puckered look/feel that I like.  Others want their quilts flat and smooth.  It's just up to you.  

Comment by Dona Coffey on May 8, 2013 at 1:42am

My son's quilt has a flannel backing and it felt so great last fall when we had no heat.  We tied it.

Comment by Carol Ann Hinton on May 7, 2013 at 10:17pm

I've used flannel backs on pieced cotton tops before.  Works great!  Important: WASH IT FIRST and DRY IT IN THE DRYER before you cut it to size.  Flannel shrinks more than hard surface cotton.  Also, use the thinnest batting, or no batting, because the quilt becomes heavy.  Minkie is another possibility, but it's so stretchy and "squirrely" I find it harder to work with.  (It's also more expensive!)  Good luck with the quilt; I'm sure she'll love it.