I purchased Windham Fabrics Essex Flannel for the last quilt I made (only my third, so my experience with it could be skewed because I still consider myself a novice quilter). From what I understand it's a very good quality fabric, but I had a heck of a time with it fraying. I did wash beforehand because that's the way I was taught and also it had quite a few red tones in it that I wanted to make certain the colors wouldn't run. I don't know the answer to what to keep it from fraying. I had to order extra fabric because - and don't laugh too hard at me here - when I figured the yardage for the backing I forgot to include the two borders I put on it. I'd read somewhere that if you safety pinned the selvedges together before washing that would help. I not only safety pinned but I also pinked the cut edges. It still frayed. It turned out really well and my daughter-in-law loves it, but I'm not sure I'll ever make another flannel quilt.

Bunny