KrazyQuilter

Has anyone ever used fleece for the batting for a tied quilt? Just wondering if shrinkage is a problem if if I wash it on hot and dry it on high before I use it. Or maybe that Warm & Natural or whatever it is...can I machine wash that and not worry about shrinkage after quilting it?

azdesertrat

I have never used fleece but I don't see why not,go ahead and wash it first although shrinkage is a problem with most fleece,flannel on the other hand does shrink,I have used that before and it works nice

butterflywing

if this quilt is a comfort quilt for a baby or a wrap-around for tv watching, why put on a backing? i've made those kinds of quilts without a backing and they have been as cozy as can be. the batting will not shrink, especially after washing and drying. make sure to use a fabric softener sheet or liquid because there will be a lot of static cling. if you don't use the best quality fleece it will pill after several washings but it would do that inside a sandwich too and you would feel the little bumps. i have one of those tiny mustache trimmers and i shave the fleece pilly-things off every now and then. mine doesn't have to last forever. i tied one for tv watching. yum! by the way, that stuff is colorfast so if the top is also, then it will withstand baby formula and other baby stuff, if you know what i mean.
but if you plan to put a lot of work into the project then use true batting and backing. don't let good work be ruined by materials not made for the job.

butterflywing

ooops! even after all that talking, i still didn't answer the question all the way.
the warm & natural will definitely shrink - - - the fleece hardly at all. if you want to pre-shrink the w & n put it into a large cotton 'pillowcase', safety pin it closed, wash on hot very very very gently. after that dry it, opened out flat on a sheet on carpeting. you want to keep it flat, flat, flat. don't try to drape it over something to dry. you can dry something smaller on a bigger bed, like a single quilt on a king bed. but it must be flat. block it very gently. it stretches like crazy. i put another sheet over it and (gasp!) walk on it very carefully, no shoes, to squeeze out as much water as possible and flatten it out so 'pooches' don't dry into it. it can take several days. be prepared. if you can wait, do it in the winter when the heat is on. otherwise use lots of fans. i choose not to prewash for exactly those reasons. i wait until the quilt is done and then wash it gently. the shrinkage gives it a real 'quilt' quality. all of the batting companies will give you great instructions for the care of their own products. on their websites, use their comment box or contact us box. they all answer right away. some will even send samples if asked. then you can test washing.