Lori L

I know this topic has probably been covered before, but I am heading out to LQS in 3hours and wanted a quick answer. I know with the experience of the quilters on this board, someone can help.

My daughter has decided that she wants me to use fleece for her quilt backing instead of the flannel I had picked up. Has anyone used fleece for backing? And if you have......how do you go about quilting, can a longarm quilting still quilt or will it stretch to much? Also.....if you fleece, do you still use batting? My thought was to have it quilted with just a muslim backing and then somehow attach the fleece after it was quilted. Does this make sense? Thank you in advance for everyone's help! You guys are the best and I'm getting so I rely on this board for everything:)

clem55

I haven"t used it, but many here have, and I think they say it works just fine, but most don't use extra batting. That would be awful heavy. I'm sure someone wiith experience will pop in here soon, and I will watch again for their answers. But, judst in case, you have my thoughts.

Joanie Owen

I've made 5 or 6 quilts with fleece backing. I didn't know any difference when I started quilting. Some I just stitched in the ditch and then I did some hooping each block and making a design with my embroidery machine. I did not have problems with stretching. They all turned out so soft and cuddly. So easy to throw in the washer and dryer. Then a friend tried it. What a mess. I am not a quilting perfectionist, and they turned out wonderful. Try it. You will either like it or not.

Lakeview Quilting

Lori, after reading previous posts here about fleece for backing I wanted to experiment with it. This weekend I quilted on Long Arm, meander without batting and so far so good. I'm anxious to bind and wash without fabric softener and see how I like it. I will keep you posted and send you a picture of the completed project. Kathy

Lori L

I think what I'll plan on doing is picking up the fleece when I'm out shopping today. I've already got 7yds of flannel to add to my stash (which is what I intended on using) so what the heck.....let's add 7yds of fleece to the stash too! I'll keep checking here to see what advice everyone has.

Kitsapquilter

I used fleece to back a small quilt for my toddler grandaughter. I did not use any batting. I quilted it myself just doing a SID. It turned okay but I would never do it for a big quilt. Why not ask a LAQ about how it would do on a long arm? It would be interesting to know what a LAQ would say about that.

Lori L

I've got a message out to Candlequilter who is in my IRR group and I know she has a lot of experience. I don't plan on hand quilting this myself or attempting to machine quilt the project. It's my daughter's quilt and now that the quilt top is done......I want to be done too :)

mom-6

I've done one panel quilt that I just outlined the construction machines and the road and the borders, then folded the fleece over for binding. It was my first attempt at machine quilting and I think it came out fine. DGS loves it and that's what counts anyway!

I'm now working on another slightly larger one that I'm doing SID by hand and it is doing great.

The other two I'm working on I had to piece the fleece to make it large enough for the top. The one that was a plaid fleece I'm having an issue with the printed plaid not matching up where I'm piecing it. The one that is just solid black went together without any problems. I just need to get busy on them and get them finished!

I noticed that the lighter weight fleece seems to have more stretch to it than the heavier weight fleece.

Chasing Hawk

I use fleece as a backing, as a matter of fact my current projects are being done this way.

I use fleece a lot with the kids quilts I make, makes it a lot more comfy.

BKrenning

I have done a couple crib size quilts using fleece for the backing--no batting and pieced flannel blocks for the top. Both are very snuggly. I stitched around some block designs on the more elaborately pieced one--stars with alternating chain blocks and the other was a small trip around the world with 5" flannel squares so I just did an X design on it. I brought the fleece to the front for the binding. It did stretch a little on the Trip quilt but not the stars. I think the Trip one was cut wonky and I didn't square it up before I used it. I bought a bunch of fleece prints (& I mean a bunch!) on clearance a few years ago and am trying to use it up. It takes up space that I want to use for quilt backings & that's what gave me the idea to use it as backings.