Sewing/ Baby Quilt-making advice please
 

I am learning how to make quilts. The one I am working on is for a co-worker. She is expecting her first child (girl) and this baby is a miracle. I want it to be very special. I am making a raggy quilt. One side will be brightly colored patches made of 100% cotton quilting fabric. I know exactly what I want that side to look like. The problem is the reverse side. This is the side that will be against the baby's skin. I have flannel and fleece to match. Which one should I use? :confused:

Even if you don't sew, feel free to chime in. Which would you prefer on a "skin" baby quilt for your little one? Thanks in advance. :)

Oh Judy you are so sweet. I would use which ever is the softest.

Thank you. :)

Fleece is softer, but flannel is also soft and seems to get softer with every wash. I think fleece pills (even the antipill type) after several washings. That's why I'm torn.

I've hand quilted for years - I use cotton sheets for the backing. But that may not achieve the look/feel that you're wanting? If not, I'd go for the flannel.

Good luck!!!

I would go with the softest... that is too sweet of you making a quilt! I love homemade quilts!! :D

Cool! Thank you!! :) Good idea on the sheets. I hadn't thought of that. :thumbup: Will the flannel work okay or will it cause problems?

Thanks, but I'm just a beginner. Don't be too proud of me until you see the end result. LOL! I did make a raggy quilt diaper bag for another friend and it came out very nice, but I learn more every time I make something. ;)

that is the best way to learn! I wish I knew how to sew.... ;)

One thing to consider is that the flannel will rag out really well when you wash it. The fleece won't. They do make rag quilts of all fleece, just clipped to have a rag type look, but I have never seen one mixed with a material that frays like the flannel. I would go for the flannel.

When I was in high school I bought some fleece footed pajamas 'cause at the time I thought they were cool, but I often found that they would "shed' little fuzzy, thread-like things that would get in my eyes. It was very irritating. If you use a fleece make sure it is not one that would do this. The newer fleeces like microfleece probably wouldn't. Just something to think about.

Please be sure to post a picture when you get it done, or even in progress. I would love to see it.

This is one I can answer for sure!!!

DO NOT USE FLEECE!

Use the flannel...

What is on the face??? and what is the filler?? Are you using a walking foot or just sewing it with a regular foot on your machine? When sewing dif fabrics together a walking foot is nice cause your fabrics won't slip out of place, Fleece is awful at slippng, so is any type of soft silky stuff, I am a slave to the walking foot, I swer, I use it for everything, wether I neeed it or not! LOL

The fleece can't be dryed on high heat, and pills easily, even the no pill kind will get ewwwwey if washed with other clothes... and its not a great fabric to use in quilts... flannel is GREAT for "rag" quilting, if thats the type of quilt your making, are you leaving raw edges and cutting them so they will fray??? if so, you should for sure use the flannel or a quality cotten... Otherwise it will not fray And BE SURE to set your machine to a tight stitch! cause when it does fray over many washings you want the integrety of the seam to stay nice and strong!

Good luck! and post pictures of it when your done!!!

I got a quilt when my son was born...25 years ago! It was my favorite blanket of all of his and I still have it today and my granddaughter uses it. It is backed with flannel and like someone else said, it gets softer with each wash! I hope we get to see pictures of your finished quilt. Your friend is going to be so happy to get it...nothing more special than a hand made quilt!

If you want the softest ever fabric for the back of the quilt for a baby, I would recommend Minky. You won't find anything softer or more luxurious. In our fabric store, children loved to stroke the Minky. It is unbelieveably soft. you can look at some here ( http://www.chenillemagic.com/mall/ch...lvetfabric.asp ) but the best thing to do is go to a fabric store that carries it so you can touch it. It is delightful.

Wow! I wasn't expecting this kind of response. :eek: Thanks! Here's the answer to some of the questions (that I can answer).

I am making a rag quilt where all edges are cut, frayed and exposed. It gives it a sort of shabby chic look that I really like.

The top is 100% cotton 6" squares that I am placing in a diagonal pattern. They are made of varying patterns that coordinate..stripes, flowers, solids. The colors are bright pink, lime green and soft yellow. It's hard to describe, but it really looks beautiful.

The batting I bought for the middle of each square 'sandwich' is the cheap quilt batting at Walmart. (Probably a mistake, but I spent the money I saved there on a little bit better rotary cutter.)

I have a basic Singer (simple ?)sewing machine and I am using the regular foot. I have no idea what kind that is, but it's probably not the one mentioned on here. I need to research that online and find out how to get one of those. Thanks for the advice about the close stitches.

I also read that I shouldn't backstitch when quilting, so I am learning about that as well.

I found a really pretty bright pink flannel with white dots to use as the back. I think it's going to work great! :) I will save the fleece for another (different type) of project.

Thanks!!

Sounds like it is going to be beautiful, Judy!! I have never seen a rag quilt done with diagonal squares. Can't wait to see pictures of it.

i just made my grandson a rag quilt i love flannel its the best for this type of quilt. i also made one out of cotton for my bed its ok.

Those are both very pretty quilts!

That's it exactly! How pretty! :D :thumbup: The first one is in the diagonal pattern I was talking about.

Both quilts are really pretty! Okay, how many squares for your bed and what size bed do you have? I like that idea. :)

Thank you. :) Will do!

Quilting is my bag! lol I do backstitch! Some do not, others do.. its who taught you and its a personal pref. When doing a rag quilt, back stitching is a no no, so you are right on that one! ;) However normally you would be making the entire quilt at once... (front and back at the same time with rag quilts)

Have you made the front already??? Maybe I totally misunderstood... I hope so, lol

Anyway, I hope you decided on the flannel! Cause it will fray right! I've made some pretty rags and they just get better with time... Remember to use the tught stitch and you'll get YEARS of use out of it! As the fray gets down to the seam that tight stitch will protect the quilt;)

I can't wait to see it!!! Are ya gonna post pics of the fabric to tease us??? I can't stand the suspence!

I am at work right now, but I'll post something tonight. :) Yes, I have a pretty pink flannel with small white dots that I'm going to use.

I have also read different seam allowances from a half inch to a full inch. Which do you prefer for the rag quilts? (I know the regular ones are 1/4 inch). Also, do I go over each seam twice?

Thanks for the advice
 

Here are the photos I promised. The first photo is the first quilting project I did. It's a rag quilt diaper bag. I would do it differently now, but it came out pretty nice.

The second photo shows the fabric I am using for the quilt I was talking about in this thread. On the left are the fabrics for the top. On the right is a sample of the flannel I am using on the back. I really like these colors even though they aren't traditional "baby" colors. I think my friend will like them as well. At least I hope so. ;)

The diaper bag is cute! I love the fabrics you chose! You are going to make someone very happy. I can see that "blankie" being dragged around by a loving baby for many years.

Do you use the spring action scissors for all your clipping? I just ordered some off of ebay and can't wait to try them.

Thank you. :) Yes, I bought some by Friskers, but I'm not that happy with them. I should have bought a higher quality. They are better than regular scissors, but they just didn't seem to be sharp enough. It definitely saves wear and tear on the hands though. :thumbup:

ummm holy cow, alot of squares lol, i will have to count the squares i made it like 5 years ago lol. its a cal. king bed. that was the first thing i have ever sewn in my life .

wow i just seen the bag and the fabric for yours i love them:) great job:thumbup:

Did you get the Fiskars Microtip? These are the ones that I just bought. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=024

They were recommended on a few rag quilting sites. I hope they work well. They are supposed to be super sharp. I have arthritis in my thumbs so I thought I had better get them before I make a rag quilt.

I found a calculator online to help me figure out how many squares, so don't count. Bless you, I'm sure it would take awhile. :) Thanks for the thought though. ;) :thumbup:

Uhm, yes. :rolleyes: Hopefully, yours will be better. I don't have the package anymore, but they say 'softtouch' on the blade.

Maybe I'm just not using them the right way or something? Maybe they need to be sharpened?

They are definitely better than regular scissors though! :thumbup:

Oh, Dear!! Well, like you said better than regular scissors.

Absolutely better! :) Maybe I was just expecting too much from them. ;) I mean, they are scissors after all, not the 8th wonder of the world! :p