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Can you recommend a source for cotton flannel? Making receiving blankets...
BLT Intermediate TX USA Member since 11/4/05 Posts: 177	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 9/30/12 0:47 AM I want to make some receiving blankets for a niece arriving in January. When I made my receiving blankets for my first child (20 years ago! ) I found some luscious, beautiful flannels in a quilting shop. They lasted well through two daughters (some of them I used with my son, too). The fabric was expensive, but the blankets were worth it. I just went to my local quilting shop and found the selection disappointing - I don't think this flannel (with possibly one exception) will hold up to multiple washings. Plus, the colors and patterns seemed either very predictable, rather loud, or sort of washed out. I bought two, but want more. Does anyone have any recommendations for a place to get quality cotton flannel? I have found flannel on various websites (SewBaby, Fabric.com, Fashion Fabrics Club), but in most cases the price seems so low that I don't know what the quality will be like. Or are they now selling large receiving blankets out of quality fabric? I know that when I was having babies, to have a nice receiving blanket you had to sew - but maybe that's not the case any more? Thanks!
Cathy Loves Fabric   Intermediate USA Member since 4/16/04 Posts: 1820	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 9/30/12 1:30 AM BLT, I'm waiting anxiously for an answer to this question. I've been looking around for a long time without much success. Now we are expecting triplet grandbabies and I'd love to find some. ------ My hope is to sew to the very end. They'll find my head slumped over my precious Kenmore 19606 and have to pry the seam ripper from my cold, dead hands.
lgrande   Advanced Beginner MT USA Member since 1/18/12 Posts: 1110	Login to reply to this post In reply to Cathy Loves Fabric << Like this post Date: 9/30/12 9:21 AM I have purchased flannel from Denver Fabrics which was REALLY nice and I think it would be just what you're looking for. Just be sure to search for double-napped flannel. ------ Linda Bernina 830LE Bernina B530 Janome 6600P Pfaff 1209 Babylock Evolution Janome 644D
KathySews   Advanced Beginner MI USA Member since 10/1/06 Posts: 2916	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 9/30/12 9:56 AM I am interested in this also. I purchased flannel at a local store and the pilling is terrible. Very frustrating.
CSM--Carla   Intermediate FL USA Member since 1/21/06 Posts: 1063	Login to reply to this post In reply to KathySews << 1 member likes this. Date: 9/30/12 10:44 AM Me too. Joann's flannel is SO not worth it--even at $2.50 per yard--(30 inches wide).
Pj3g   Intermediate WI USA Member since 2/14/11 Posts: 483	Login to reply to this post In reply to Cathy Loves Fabric << Like this post Date: 9/30/12 6:11 PM Quote: Cathy Loves Fabric Now we are expecting triplet grandbabies WOW!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are going to be a busy Grandma!!!! ------ Thank you Lord for my Mother who taught me the joy of sewing.
elizajo   Intermediate LA USA Member since 4/15/05 Posts: 1181	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 9/30/12 6:16 PM Many new moms are into swaddling babies now, wrapping them up like burritos. Larger blankets are necessary for that. Crinkled cotton gauze, called muslin in some countries, makes the perfect swaddling blanket. It shrinks to about 47" and is as soft as a cloud after washing. I ordered some from Dharma Trading Company, it's the lighter weight one. Then I serged the edge with the rolled hem stitch using a new poly-yarn serger thread than can go in the dryer. They come out like an expensive popular brand. The gauze keeps the baby from overheating by the time they are wrapped in a few layers for swaddling and it's stretchy weave hold in place very well. Currently, most flannels no matter the quality are going to shrink to around 40", I haven't been able to find anything close to the traditional 45" fabric. ------ Elizabeth
diane s Intermediate OR USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 3916	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 9/30/12 7:32 PM With seven grandkids over the past couple of years I've made countless receiving blankets, diapers, and wipes from flannel. I haven't been able to figure out which ones will stay smooth while others will pill. Price doesn't always determine quality, because I've had good luck with several from WalMart which run about $4.00 a yard. You can usually count on the Designer flannels, such as Michael Miller and Valori Wells to stay smooth, keep their color and not pill. I wish I knew how to predict. The only glitch is flannel is now only 42" wide before shrinkage. On fabric.com do a search on designer flannel and several pages will come up. If you live in a warmer climate, cotton interlock knit receiving blankets are wonderful. I make them double sided. So soft with a little stretch, great for swaddling. That's the only kind of blanket my sister who lived in Florida had. ------ My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.
Chemical Beginner IL USA Member since 1/23/08 Posts: 50	Login to reply to this post In reply to BLT << Like this post Date: 9/30/12 8:21 PM BLT congrats on your niece, and Cathy congrats on the triplet (!) grandbabies. I hear Nani Iro flannel is awesome. Purl Soho stocks it but the pattern selection is extremely limited... you can find a few more places that carry it if you google. Purl also has Robert Kaufman flannels-- wonder if they are any good (the cheap price makes me wary tho)?
BLT Intermediate TX USA Member since 11/4/05 Posts: 177	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/1/12 1:01 PM Yes, we did the burrito thing too, and that's why we used homemade blankets - none of the rest are big enough. But maybe they're making them larger now? It's disappointing to hear that the width of flannel has decreased. What I bought Saturday said it was 45" - I'll have to check the accuracy of that after I wash it. And yes, we did crinkly cotton for summer and flannel for winter, too.. :) I looked, and it looks like the standard receiving blankets are still too small. I'm pretty sure that we made some of ours 36" square and with some, used the full width of the fabric and made a square. I recall (but my youngest is almost 12) that 45" was too big for some purposes, but better for others. I know that we greatly preferred squares. There is at least one company that makes larger, lightweight swaddling blankets, but they don't list the dimensions on their website.

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