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Member since 12/6/04
Posts: 700
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Posted on: 11/23/06 9:01 PM ET
My quilting teacher mentioned that if we are going to use flannel on for the backing of our quilt, we must use good quality. How do you tell if it is good quality?
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Member since 9/29/05
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Posted on: 11/23/06 9:54 PM ET
In reply to casken
Usually thickness and weight!

Go to a quilt shop and check out their flannel and then check out Stuff Mart's flannel.

Big difference.
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Member since 5/8/04
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Posted on: 11/23/06 10:59 PM ET
In reply to casken
My experience with a quality flannel is that it is more tightly woven and won't fray as easily on the crosswise grain as a lower quality flannel. And of course, as stated above thickness/weight. Sometimes you'll feel the better quality flannel has a softer hand to it, whereas a cheaper one might have a lot of sizing on it and will feel just a bit stiff.
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I feed my soul by the stitches I sew. Bernina 765, Bernina 480, Bernina 1230, Bernina L460, Babylock Euphoria




  
Member since 12/6/04
Posts: 700
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Posted on: 11/23/06 11:20 PM ET
Thank you. I think I'll just stick to the quilting stores for my flannel.
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My Blog: www.iocchelli.com/just-sew-it/
  
Member since 10/19/06
Posts: 905
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Posted on: 11/24/06 0:30 AM ET
In reply to casken
Quote: casken
Thank you. I think I'll just stick to the quilting stores for my flannel.

That might be a good idea until you can just grab the fabric and tell. Good vs. bad flannel just screams at you though! The weight difference is obvious.

My husband's always trying to show me fabrics from halfway across the store and never seems to get that I need my hands on it!

Good flannel gets better with washing and bad flannel disintegrates.
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Kelly
  
Member since 12/9/04
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Posted on: 11/24/06 8:44 PM ET
Hi! If you want to entertain yourself for hours (while DH watches hockey), try fabricparadise.com. They have tons of beautiful flannel, all of great quality!!
Have fun!
Rhonda
  
Member since 4/28/04
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Posted on: 11/25/06 6:08 PM ET
Even the quilt stores sometimes have the lower grade flannel. I agree with the others though, weight and weave. Look very carefully at the weave/density. I even tug a little on it and see if it distorts easily in the weave. Good flannel feels very thick and fuzzy and just tightly packed for lack of a better term.

Edited to add that Wazoodle I found online has very very nice flannel. I have been pleased with my purchases from them and have used flannel from them to back quilts. They have held up nicely over the past few years and many many washings as they are toddler quilts to washed pretty much every week.

Tanya
-- Edited on 11/25/06 6:09 PM --
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Member since 2/7/03
Posts: 198
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Posted on: 12/1/06 10:29 PM ET
There are 3 types of flannels used for quilts.

1) Quilter's flannel: This is regular quilting cotton that is sanded (velvety nap) on the face only. The back is never napped. This is always suitable for quilts and crafts - not as comfy for garments.

2) Regular flannel (aka flanellette): This is available in 'mart' grade 4.0z/lyd and heavyweight, 4.9-5.4oz/lyd. These flannels are woven with napped (fuzzy) yarns. The heavier weights are often brushed again (double napped) to make them softer and fluffier. The heavier weights are suitable for quilting, the mart grades should not be used in quilts.

3) Yarn Dyed: these are the plaid flannels used for sleep pants, work shirts, and linings for jackets and sleeping bags. They are usually a low nap with a finer weave and yarn. They are always suitable for quilt backs.



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Mike
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Member since 7/30/02
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Posted on: 12/2/06 11:12 AM ET
I love it when you come in w/ the background info on fabric, Lee Anne.

I have a BEAUTIFUL bunny flannel that is the nicest, softest, fluffiest flannel I think I've seen. It's still in my stash, actually; no idea what I am going to do with it. I got it from Wazoodle. (It's light blue w/ little bunnies on it - don't suppose you remember this fabric - it's from a couple of years ago.)

I bet it is the heavyweight flanellette that you describe, Lee Anne.

Anyway, just piping in to say that a good quality flannel really is much nicer than the cheaper stuff.

I also have some thinner flannel, also from wazoodle - probably on the lower end of that flanellette range. I'm wearing my pants made from those right now.

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