Quilting with flannel A lot of quilters sew flannel with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Flannel tends to fray (and shrink) more than a quilting cotton does.

That gives you a little bit of a heavier quilt. But you still don't have that quilt batting. Inside I'm going to make this a lighter quilt. By just adding one piece of flannel on the back.

-I tried a new tip for binding with flannel. Red Pepper Quilts suggests zig zagging the binding edges together before sewing it to the quilt. Since I was binding the quilt in flannel too I thought this might help with the “traveling” of temperamental binding. – Last, I serged the flannel edges of the quilt.

When quilting with different fabrics, such as flannel, how you prepare the fabric may differ from how you prepare quilting cotton. This is because flannel can both shrink as well as ravel. Pre shrinking the flannel helps ensure that your quilt will stay the size you want it to if it is washed after it is completed.

Select a light-weight batting in wool, cotton, or bamboo. Or consider leaving out the batting entirely.

The best and most secure solution for preventing the flannel fabric from fraying is to serge or overlock your seams. If you do not have a serger or overlock machine, you can use a zig-zag stitch on the fabric edge. This is ideal for garments made from flannel.

Select a light-weight batting in wool, cotton, or bamboo. Or consider leaving out the batting entirely.

You could cut up all your family's outgrown denim jeans, for instance, and back them with flannel. This type of rag quilt is heavy enough on its own that it doesn't necessarily need to use a batting.

Finishing Your Flannel Quilt Select a light-weight batting in wool, cotton, or bamboo. Or consider leaving out the batting entirely. Jen Daly's Nordic Noel from McCall's Quilting's November/December 2022 issue was also made with Woolies Flannels by Bonnie Sulllivan for Maywood Studio.

Unlike when working with quilting cotton, we recommend always washing your flannel fabric before use because it can shrink significantly. A good rule of thumb when purchasing flannel for a quilting project is to allow for up to a quarter-yard loss due to shrinkage and fraying when deciding how much to buy.

Flannel is a soft, medium-weight cotton fabric that has a napped, fuzzy, finish on one or both sides. This napped finish either comes from brushing or from its characteristic loose weave. Its soft, cozy feel makes it the perfect fabric to keep you warm and comfortable all winter long.

Cotton is a soft, breathable, and natural fiber - and it is likely the first thing you think of when you think of quilt batting. It is machine washable and dryable, so that makes it convenient to use, especially for kids and quilts that will get a lot of use.

Flannel shirts were also made for layering. Wearing a white t-shirt underneath gives you a classic look with contrast that will keep your fresh look alive.

Zig-Zag Stitch To finish your seams, a serger/overlock machine works best. If you don't have an overlocker, you can use an Overcast Stitch or a Zig-Zag Stitch with Fray Check. For a truly tailored and neat finish, opt for French Seams or Flat Felled Seams. I hope this helps you more easily sew Flannel.

100% Cotton Batting Although cotton has a number of different sub-options, it's a great choice for most quilting projects. Things to look for: cotton seeds in the batting. These can actually stain fabric, so beware! Cotton can also bunch after washing unless quilting lines are pretty close together.

The three most common types of quilt batting are Polyester, 100% Cotton, and Cotton/Poly Blend and each has its own pros and cons.