BuzzinBumble

This year we have the joy of two new babies joining the extended family. So of course this is the perfect opportunity to make them baby quilts. Also I have two other small children to make kid sized quilts for. Minky is so cuddly, it seems perfect for using as the backing fabric for the children's quilts.
I've just started looking into how to do that. I found a great article about using Minky and want to share it here. http://amysorensen.typepad.com/the_e...ing-minky.html
I'm also hoping some of you can chime in and tell me of your experiences with it. Are there any safety issues with using Minky for baby or crib quilts? Does it continue to shed fluff after binding?
Any advice will be much appreciated!

QuiltnLady1

There are a couple of things I would add. When I use Minky (or the Joanns fake Minkee) on the back, I spray it to the batting and then spray the top to the other side -- I want them glued solid so the minkee can't slip around. I both love and hate Minkee as binding -- I love the feel and hate the bulk -- if you use it as binding, I round the corners (it is so bulky) and I make sure to grade the seams.

dasmith2

Im about to use it for a backing(if I ever get the top finished). I'm not sure which way to quilt it yet. I thought about doing it like a pillowcase, to avoid doing the binding, but then I cant spray baste.... I have no idea really lol

jaciqltznok

it depends on how many chemicals you want those babies to breathe while they are using their new blankees!

The best I have done is to soak the minky in a watered down starch solution. THen I spread it out on an old shower curtain to dry outside..it was stiff...BUT it did not stretch and the starch washed out when I was done quilting it!

BuzzinBumble

Oh dear Jacquie! What did you mean about breathing in chemicals? Does Minky give off fumes? That sounds scary and I sure hope it doesn't.
Thanks for the advice QuiltinLady1 - I am definitely going to try the layered spray basting and also Jacquie, your starch technique too. Then i can compare which method works better for me. Dasmith - birthing the quilt is a good idea, but I think i am going to use satin blanket binding if possiible, because every kid I've ever seen loves that stuff.

ckcowl

i think she is talking about using spray basting stuff---the minkee does not emit fumes/chemicals- i've made probably 20 quilts with minkee backs- i've never starched it- sprayed it with anything- it quilts beautifully. the only thing you need to keep in mind is it stretches- so smooth it- don't stretch it when you baste it-
and as for the shedding- only the cut edge sheds- and once that is (enclosed) in the binding it is not a problem-i've used some of the really shaggy-curly minkee - i just took it outside and gave it a good shake after cutting- no problems. it makes wonderful quilt backs- my granddaughters call it the (get naked) blankies! they love wrapping in them out of the bathtub.

BuzzinBumble

LOL - "(get naked) blankies" That's so cute! My kids would have loved that idea when they were little. Too bad they didn't make Minky back then. Thanks for the help CK!

Nanaquilts44

Thank you BuzzinBumble for the web article. I am about to use minky for the first time on my grandson's quilt. All the info helps.

bakermom

That's pretty much what i do too. I also use the left-overs to make little "tag" blankets. minkee on one side, satin-y fabric on the other with pieces of ribbon folded and stitched along the sides. Babies love to feel the different textures and some use it as a "blankie" to soothe themselves to sleep.

yayaquilts

When I have quilted with minkee on the back it does slip a bit, but not much. I just pin basted the quilts I've put minkee on, using lots of pins a fist apart and they didn't move much. They've been washed and haven't stretched at all, nor come apart. Straight stitching lines as your quilting works best, making "X's" through squares. I tried doing 'loop d loop's on my grandson's quilt and the minkee doesn't want to do 'loop d loops'! I found I couldn't make large 'loop d loops' so they ended up very small!

I prewash and machine dry minkee and that takes most of the shedding away--sheds where you cut it! Doesn't shed later. All minkee is 100% polyester. In my opinion, I don't think there is much difference in the LQS minkee and JoAnn's minkee. Polyester is polyester, all man-made, unlike quality of 100% cottons. You can get minkee at JoAnn's for $8.99/yd on sale and in a LQS it's $12.99-17.99/yd! I trust the feel of it more than anything.