AboutConnie Hester Expertise Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/
BS,MS
See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
I bought flannel as the background because it was on sale at Joanns and have already cut it to the specified size, not taking into account that the seam allowance is greater for it (I didn't know about that until I started poking around more online and found that other peoples quilts unravel). Is there a way to still use 1/4 inch seam for the flannel but double stitch it? I am debating if I should just go and buy cotton background since the flannel is now too short and I won't have to worry about it coming apart. I know this quilt will probably be going through the wash a lot since he is just learning how to potty train. I wonder if I should just use the flannel as a border to expand the quilt.
For the applique, I've bought cotton and flannel prints to use. Are there any special rules about using flannel applique? Can I just use fusible web to attach it and satin stitch around it like with cotton or should I fold the edges under first and then satin stitch?
I hope I didn't ramble on too much. I would really greatly appreciate your input. Thank you so much!
Olivia
Answer Unfortunately, flannel continues to shrink, has inconsistent stitch count (thus distorting easily during use and washing - as well as contributing to the fraying of seams), does not provide a crisp edge against which to applique turned edges, allows batting to "beard" through the surface, and generally wears out and looks bad after little use and washing. The sort of use this quilt will get would destroy it fairly quickly. I wouldn't use it anywhere on the quilt that I was not prepared for raveling, bearding, and distortion. Oh, and I haven't addressed the possibility of pilling.
Using fusible web would be the only way to use flannel if you did not want to get the results already mentioned. The flannel would still need to be pre-washed in order to get some of the shrinking out of the way first. Using fusible web will however make the appliques stiff. Some people cut out the inner areas of fusible web (before pressing into place) so as to apply the fusible web to only about 1/4"-3/8" of the underside edges of the applique pieces.
Some people like the frayed look and do raw-edge applique on purpose, simply stitching one or two rows of straight stitches about 1/4" inside the raw edges of the appliques.
