I'm using all flannel for I believe the first time and need advice
#31
I agree with Daisy Dew. I came from a designer of clothes background. If you are going to wash the item after made , you need to pre wash the fabric. Even in clothing. As flannel is used it puts stress on the seams. Also good thread should be used. The seams will pop as the idem will wear at different rates. Also flannel will stretch a bit more than regular cotton. All that said I love the flannel quilts I made. BUT I have learned the seams need more than 1/4 inch seams. Do it right first time so I don't have to redo it.
I've made lots of flannel quilts and always wash and dry. now you're gong to hate this but, I also use a 1/2 inch seam!
I find flannel quilts get lots of use and when I first started making them the seams were always fraying away to that's my story and I'm sticking to it ! Love the flannels.
I find flannel quilts get lots of use and when I first started making them the seams were always fraying away to that's my story and I'm sticking to it ! Love the flannels.
#33
Jeanne, right now I too am making a flannel quilt. The fabrics are top quality flannels. Here is my experience with them:
In answer to your question about whether the flannel would shrink evenly: no, it will not. Each piece will shrink differently along the warp and weft directions of the weave. (Regular cottons do this too) For instance, the precut 5" charm squares shrunk to 4 5/8 by 4 7/8 inches. There is a 1/4 inch difference in the length and the width of the squares now. Some of the colors shrunk even more. Within the same brand name collection of fabric, each color shrinks differently. That would have really horsed up my piecing if it was not washed at least once first. Flannel will shrink a bit again with the second washing, although not as much. I agree with the others, you should wash your fabrics at least once and perhaps twice.
I'm a die hard fabric pre-washer after having a finished quilt shrink up all wonky.
In answer to your question about whether the flannel would shrink evenly: no, it will not. Each piece will shrink differently along the warp and weft directions of the weave. (Regular cottons do this too) For instance, the precut 5" charm squares shrunk to 4 5/8 by 4 7/8 inches. There is a 1/4 inch difference in the length and the width of the squares now. Some of the colors shrunk even more. Within the same brand name collection of fabric, each color shrinks differently. That would have really horsed up my piecing if it was not washed at least once first. Flannel will shrink a bit again with the second washing, although not as much. I agree with the others, you should wash your fabrics at least once and perhaps twice.
I'm a die hard fabric pre-washer after having a finished quilt shrink up all wonky.
#35
Flannel
I don't know if I've used flannel before, but if I did, it could have been in 1992 and I need a little advice. I don't ever wash my fabric. Could I not wash any of this fabric and have it all shrink the same or do I need to wash it? I'd rather not, if I can get away with it. But if I need to, I will. What is your advice? Thank you in advance.
#38
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1
After putting together a beautiful rag quilt for my niece I put it but washer to "rag" it. The material did not shrink but the colors ran. (I had one light block next to a dark block). All that work could have been saved if I just pre washed first!!
#40
This seems to be the old to wash or not to wash controversy. For my own peace of mind (or is that piece of mind) I wash everything but most especially flannel. The most important with flannel, as far as I am concerned, is that .5 inch seam allowance. Whether not it shrinks it does fray.
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