As you may or may not have noticed, I’ve been having trouble finding time to sew, and for sure not finding time to take photos of projects and blog about them. I am not by any means losing interest in this little spot, as I’ve always loved the aspect of an online quilting journal, rather than the social media and connecting aspect of blogs, instagram, etc. Often I will daydream about spending more time here, and all the many things I could do to make reading this blog a more enriching and enjoyable experience. It really will happen more, one of these days!
Meanwhile, I have been doing some sewing here and there. Some of these are from before Christmas, and have been sold. I went through a little stage of thinking maybe I’d like to make more smaller items to sell, like pillow covers, etc. so I made a bunch.
I do enjoy that, but if I’m making one of a kind items, it’s a lot of work to photograph and list each one. So in the end, that’s not so profitable.
Right now I’m trying to focus more on sewing the things that I need/want in my home. Like my son’s quilt, (the star one) that he’s been begging for me to finish. As of yesterday, the stars are sewed together and I’m making a strippy border. It’s going to be a queen size, as that’s the size of bed I think he’ll be using in the future. His request was to have minky or something plush and soft on the back. Honestly though, I just don’t see that working to back this large pieced quilt, so I think I’ll use cotton, and then he can use the minky throw that I bought for the back as a separate blanket.
I think my main concern is that I will not densely quilt minky because it’s a serious headache and to just lightly tie or quilt it will not be durable enough, considering all the seams. What do you think? Anyone have experience using plush fabric as backing on a large quilt with lots of piecing? If so, how did you quilt it?
My exact response when I read that he wanted Minky on the back of that large quilt was, "Oh no!" I shall watch with interest the replies and your decision, as I am too faint of heart to pretend I would quilt that sort of acreage with Minky.
The only way I use minkie on the back is when I have someone else quilt it. 🙂
My boys quilts are backed in flannel–which has held up well and they love them. I have never done minky for the reasons you just gave. As your son gets a lot older (mine are 13 and 14) it also might be considered babyish to have minky on their bedquilt. (I'm just giving you excuses to go with cotton! )
Flannel seems like a great compromise!
Sigh, I love everything you make….each creation is so unique and Just Perfect.
I love all your projects! You remind me that I really need to make a brighter, spring themed table runner! I have used minky on the back of some pretty large quilts but maybe not quite a queen size. Spray basting and using pins are extremely important to prevent slipping when quilting. I used simple quilting like a large overall stipple. Good luck!
I put flannel on the back of the last two quilts I made. They are super cozy and the quilting really wasn't too hard to do. I bought flannel shirting because I liked the traditional plaid look and felt like it was a better quality. But I'm not sure if that's always true?
I really like the table runner! It looks like it might be done in quilt as you go but the lengthwise lines are really captivating. Love it!
I don't like the thick seam u get when u piece minkee but I just tried some 90" wide fleece with a low loft poly batting. It feels amazing n was easy to quilt. The front was the outlined plus pattern so it had plenty of seams. I quilted straight across with the serpentine stitch.
I used cotton teddy bear cloth for the backside of a big quilt with lots of piecing. I just outline quilted the stars and it worked fine. I use that quilt daily and it holds up well. I have not washed it yet, though.
I use flannel. I made graduation quilts for several of my kids friends and they love them. Now my daughter is in grad school and I am getting new requests and they want flannel too. I also always put flannel on the back of baby quilts. I have never tried anything plush – too scared. Excited to see your post today, I have missed you, I love your style of quilting.
Interested to hear your son's request for minky – just like my kids and yes my heart sunk too!!! I recently quilted a queen size quilt with minky and although the top wasn't pieced as densely as yours all over, there was one section which was heavily pieced. I did straight line quilting albeit close together, 1/2" apart, for 4 lines then a gap of about 4" and so on. The quilting itself was fine but it was soooo heavy to push through my dsm. And the basting was a real pain again because the minky is large and heavy. I used both spray glue and pins as it is slippy. Despite the hassle it does make for a lovely warm and drapey quilt much loved by my daughter and the cats. Although much to my amusement the lovely pieced side never gets a showing as they all prefer the cuddly minky side!! Good luck.
Minky can be bought in 90" wide now 🙂 I'm not sure about machine quilting it yourself though. It seems like it would be heavy to move through a domestic machine. I made my son a minky backed quilt and he loves it. I didn't quilt it all that close because I wanted to keep the fluffiness of the minky. It's only twin size and it's pretty heavy, very different than a normal quilt. I'm alway glad when you post. I love your projects and fabric combinations!
Don't use Minky – I think flannel or even quilting cotton is a better choice and he'll agree when he's a little older. I don't know if Minky stands the test of time, quilted or not.
The projects are all beautiful Jolene. He's going to be a lucky boy to have those stars, and your pillows are terrific.
http://www.shannonfabrics.com/ They have some tutorials about Minky. Most quilts with Minky have no batting as it is all very heavy. Wash your cotton first before quilting in onto Minky as Minky does not shrink. My kids do not like to use top sheets- in the winter- Minky is warm and cozy, but to heavy for the summer.
My kids love something soft on the back of their quilts too, so I use flannelette. Looking at the other comments I am not the only one. Can't wait to see how you finish this beautiful quilt.
My kids love minky as quilt backs. I haven't done anything larger than a crib size but I have found that omitting batting, spray basting, and quilting in a large grid to be helpful.
I have used minky on the back of several quilts though never a queen size. I have quilted myself with large stippling or had it long arm quilted. I love the minky backs. Flannel is nice too. I use batting even when I use minky. Good luck.
I have a longarm and have used minky on the back of many quilts with no issues. Maybe you could get it simply stippled by a longarmer. Do you live in the US?
Oh and I wouldn't prewash the minky. Cluck cluck sew I think has posted a few times about quilting with minky on a domestic machine.
I've used a Minky backing before and it was a doable challenge (ha!) Lots of pinning needed 🙂 … or how about suggesting flannel to your son instead? It softens up beautifully after a wash and it's heaps easier to quilt 🙂
i have used Minky for back a lot. i have made two queen size several X-Large baby blanket. I did the baby blankets on my Bernina, and I went to my favorite Quilt shop Merrily we Quilt along, to quilt the two queens. At Merrily's she rent long arm quilting machines for a small rental price and I get the enjoyment of using one of those big beauties. Minkey in both places quilted fair to medium density very nice. I have not done one by hand yet, and i probably would tie it. when it cones to putting the quilt sandwich together,I use 505 basting spray it works wonderful with Minkey
What about quilting with no. 8 perle cotton? You take bigger stitches and it goes quickly.
Question for the flannel users and yourself as well–would you pre wash the flannel once? I don't pre wash my quilting fabrics but I find flannel keeps shrinking after several washes. I don't know if the
"Disproportionate" shrinkage would matter?