Hi Guest, Welcome to the quilting forums, register now —or—

Results 1 to 10 of 10
Like Tree5Likes
  • 5 Post By Jean Sewing Machine

Thread: How is Minky different from flannel?

  1. #1
    BellasQuilts's Avatar BellasQuilts is offline Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Central coast of California
    Posts
    4,126
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default How is Minky different from flannel?

    I've not seen minky fabric yet, but have seen lots of flannel. What is the difference?
    Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
    Maya Angelou

    ~Megan~

  2. #2
    Jean Sewing Machine's Avatar Jean Sewing Machine is offline Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Missouri, but not close enough to MSQC!
    Posts
    16,926
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: How is Minky different from flannel?

    Minky is polyester, 58-60" wide, very stretchy along the crosswise axis, super soft and has a slinky feel. It does not shrink when washed. it sheds when you cut it. It comes in mostly solids, some with dimensional dots on it, and some prints. Most colors and prints are baby and kid oriented.

    Flannel is cotton 42-44" wide, usually shrinks when washed, is soft but can pill, comes in many, many colors and prints for all ages. It "rags" well if you don't finish the edges, hence is good for quilts or projects where you want a fringed ragged edge. You can use it for a batting for lightweight quilts. Always prewash it before quilting to take the extreme shrink factor out of the equation which could badly distort your finished project after it's washed. There is some flannel that is soft and is polyester, mostly used for children's sleepwear. I wouldn't use it for quilting.

  3. #3
    BellasQuilts's Avatar BellasQuilts is offline Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Central coast of California
    Posts
    4,126
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: How is Minky different from flannel?

    Thank you, Jean. The "go to" person as always. So your preference in a baby blanket would be Minky due to the shrinkage factor?
    Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
    Maya Angelou

    ~Megan~

  4. #4
    Jean Sewing Machine's Avatar Jean Sewing Machine is offline Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Missouri, but not close enough to MSQC!
    Posts
    16,926
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: How is Minky different from flannel?

    Quote Originally Posted by BellasQuilts View Post
    Thank you, Jean. The "go to" person as always. So your preference in a baby blanket would be Minky due to the shrinkage factor?
    Since it is slippery and stretchy, it is tricky to sew and get things flat. I would rather deal with a fabric that is preshrunk and I know I can control it, so I would say I prefer flannel. That being said, I know minky would make a wonderful soft baby blanket/ quilt. It is just a bit tricky to work with. I would say use a simple pattern like a square matrix quilt, and let the emphasis be on the pretty soft fabric. MSQC has minky precut squares in solids and prints. Some peope have successfully created quilts with alternating minky squares and flannel squares. Maybe someone will "show and tell" one that they've made.

  5. #5
    Cat n bull's Avatar Cat n bull is online now Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    1,858
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: How is Minky different from flannel?

    Minky is thick, INCREDIBLY ridiculously soft fleece type fabric. It now comes in a very wide variety of prints, colors and textures. The embossed ones are so beautiful!

    Flannel is only a fraction of the thickness. Jean explained flannel so well, and I am sure you have an idea of what it feels like form experience.

    I like minky for a baby blanket or quilt back because you just can't find anything softer or cuddlier. It is wonderful in a rag quilt! It does not fray into threads the way flannel does, it makes little soft edges, just wonderfully soft.
    Cathryn

  6. #6
    Jean Sewing Machine's Avatar Jean Sewing Machine is offline Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Missouri, but not close enough to MSQC!
    Posts
    16,926
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: How is Minky different from flannel?

    I will add that minky curls along the widthwide axis, so take that into consideration when cutting and sewing the seams. Make your seams wider and pin them. I made dozens of infinity scarves last year and that has been my experience with minky. Also, have the dust buster nearby and vacuum up the fuzz after you cut or you will look like a chia pet! Quoting the ever wise Jenny Doan!
    I will add that minky curls along the widthwide axis, so take that into consideration when cutting and sewing the seams. Make your seams wider and pin them. I made dozens of infinity scarves last year and that has been my experience with minky. Also, have the dust buster nearby and vacuum up the fuzz after you cut or you will look like a chia pet! Quoting the ever wise Jenny Doan!

  7. #7
    Cat n bull's Avatar Cat n bull is online now Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    1,858
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: How is Minky different from flannel?

    I do not find minky hard to work with at all! It does stretch, but not like micro fleece. My machines have dual feed, definitely use whatever version your machine has.

    Here is a pic of minky in a rag quilt. The dotted fuzzy fabric is minky. The other lighter purple is chenille. The deep purple at the top is stretch velvet (now THAT is a true PITB to work with stretchy fabric!)


    this is the closest picture I got. You can still see it does wonderful in a rag quilt!
    Cathryn

  8. #8
    Vonnie is online now Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    2,920
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: How is Minky different from flannel?

    I love minkee! I have only used it to back a quilt.

    Fall of 2012 I made a lap quilt for travel. I used old jeans cut into 6" squares and left over minkee. I used a 1/2" seam allowance and spray basted it. It's been washed a couple of times and you can't tell it because it held up so well.

    I have backed larger quilts with it too. What I did with those is I did the small quilting with just the top and flannel for the batting. Then sandwiched the the top/flannel to the minkee and just did a couple of major out lines of quilting. It had a large center medallion and I stitched around it, then around one of the borders then used the back as binding. Some like to do a larger meander quilting. My youngest calls this military quilting because the design reminds him of the fatigues the military wears.
    Vonnie

  9. #9
    BellasQuilts's Avatar BellasQuilts is offline Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Central coast of California
    Posts
    4,126
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: How is Minky different from flannel?

    Thanks for all the super information! I thought I might try it out first as the back of a quilt, but knew nothing really about it. This is superb information, ladies, thank you so much!
    Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
    Maya Angelou

    ~Megan~

  10. #10
    vchale's Avatar vchale is online now Senior Member
    Missouri Star

    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Winchester MA
    Posts
    1,215
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default Re: How is Minky different from flannel?

    I made a rag quilt with the ultra cuddle from Joann's. I think it's similar to the minky. On the back I used flannel. I can get a picture when my grandson wakes up. The cuddle is messy to work with and I did not prewash the flannel. This was my first rag quilt and I think it turned out pretty well. I used the color catchers since it is red and black and did not have any issues.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •