Minky fabric

[sew&sew]

I want to make baby quilts for my twin granddaughters that are due in June! I love all of the minky fabric that is available now but I don't have any experience working with it. Is it stretchy? Can I applique on it? Thanks for the help!!

[K. McEuen]

Re: Minky fabric

It is stretchy. I'm not sure about being able to applique on it, but a lot of people use it to back baby quilts.

[tfrankum]

Re: Minky fabric

I made one for my grandson with appliqued sheep made of minky and it was backed with minky. Not the easiest to work with. I wouldn't recommend appliqueing on it, but using it as the applique is pretty cool. Gives a little touchy-feely spot for the baby. The minky on the back makes it truly lucious. You can see mine in my album. Yes, it's the pink one. The doctors swore he was going to be a girl - I knew better!

[Pattycake]

Re: Minky fabric

I agree that's it's very stretchy. I don't know that I'd applique on it, but I've used it in appliques and it does give them a very soft feel.

[Simply Quilting]

Re: Minky fabric

I did a two-sided minky babyquilt for a friend of mine. I used two colors and cut them out in 11 inch blocks. I had a total of 40 blocks. Then I used Jenny tutorial to make a rag quilt of just minky. The one thing that I did change was to use 1 inch seam so the tags would be long. I was able to get it done in one evening. I did not use any batting as it was thick and heavy enough without it.

Before warned, you will have minky all over you, your sewing machine and where you cut and sew. Even after I tossed it in the dryer before working with it, it was a mess.

To make it look really nice, I went ahead and washed and dryed it after I had sewed it. It turned out really cool - I used lime green and cuddle brown which are her babyroom colors.The first picture is the "rag front" and the smooth side is the back. Minkee Blankee - Lime Green and Cuddle Brown.jpgMinkee Blankee - Lime Green and Cuddle Brown backside.jpg

[Quiltfreestyle]

Re: Minky fabric

I don't know about appliquéing minky but I quilted a couple of toddler quilts for a friend made out of minky. They were a bear to quilt, tough to keep the blocks from stretching on the frame and it was very hard to see where i had quilted because of the fuzzy texture. It turned out okay & she was happy with the results, but I don't think I'll ever try to quilt that fabric again on my longarm...
Have fun, it is wonderfully soft & cuddly so I'm sure the baby will love it.

[Vonnie]

Re: Minky fabric

I have made several quilts with minkee for the backing. Spray adhesive is your friend.

[Quiltfreestyle]

Re: Minky fabric

I have made several quilts with minkee for the backing. Spray adhesive is your friend.

That's a good idea Vonnie! Not sure how I would use it on a longarm machine since I had to roll back & top on their rollers. May have to think about that one.
My friend used minky for both the top & backing. It was a wonderfully cuddly quilt..

[sew&sew]

Re: Minky fabric

Thank you for the advice! The quilt you made is adorable!

[sew&sew]

Re: Minky fabric

Thanks for all the advice!

[Vonnie]

Re: Minky fabric

That's a good idea Vonnie! Not sure how I would use it on a longarm machine since I had to roll back & top on their rollers. May have to think about that one.
My friend used minky for both the top & backing. It was a wonderfully cuddly quilt..

I have heard that long arm quilters place the minky on a certain way - not sure if the stretch goes horizontal or vertical. Maybe a new question asking other LAer's what method they use on minky.