We found out on Thursday that the new baby will be grand daughter number 2! My question is about using flannel as a backing for chenille. Do I wash both before sewing together or after? I've not worked with this combination before so I don't want to mess up the fabric. I had heard about not washing chenille before sewing since the edges will fray big time. Could use your help here!
Alice, I have owned a book on sewing chenille and a pattern for a chenille jacket. The jacket made me look like a short, fat, molting duck. Book, pattern and jacket all three are OUT of here. I don't remember if I washed the chenille before construction or not, but I do remember massive amounts of cleaning the filters on both the washer and dryer. Wonder if you'd get anything helpful by Googling: washing instructions chenille? Polly
Alice,
Congratulations on your future GD! :) Is the chenille quilt for the baby, or is this unrelated? I ask because I wonder if chenille is the best choice for tiny ones. My concern has to do with the frayed strings wrapping around wee fingers and the fluff being inhaled or aspirated. Maybe this is a hazard, maybe not; I have no knowledge one way or the other. Does anyone have information on this?
PAT in VA/USA
That's an excellent observation Pat. I have not used chenille either since most of my baby quilts are either cotton pieced or minkee. I'll have to check this out before I get too far into this project.
Boy, did I dol damage shopping at Carter's today buying "little" pink outfits - dresses and "girly" sets. Oh my! We have a tradition in our family that Nana buys the coming home outfits. My mom did it for my kids and I have continued the tradition. I found a sweet outfit and then just kept on going. Oh, the little socks!
If you're going to spend the family fortune on 'coming home' outfits, Alice, you need to take the next step too. When they're outgrown, confiscate them. Clean them and safely preserve them in acid-free tissue and boxes. I only managed that with one grandchild. The new mama won't have time but somehow, you just must. If you decide against chenille, there are some great sales on Minkee this time of year. We have new preemie twin boys - great, great nephews - and I made them blankies of robin's egg blue Minkee. Just lovely. Polly
Whoo-hoo!! A new GD! I don't know about the chenille, but wash the flannel. Hot water, hot dryer. Shrink it as much as possible before putting it a quilt. If you don't you'll be sorry. Flannels shrinks more than quilting cotton. A little wrinkly is a good thing, but golly, flannel shrinks * alot *!!!
TerriLee in WA (state)
Congratutlations Alice
When is the little darling due? We have a new granddaughter due the middle of May, and another DDIL phoned yesterday with the news that their baby due in Sep looks to be a boy! Yep, numbers 33 & 34! The girl will be a first child for my youngest son and the boy is the 5th child for DH's oldest son.
The oldest grandchild, a girl, graduates from high school this June and has been accepted into the University of her choice. for the fall.
DH delights in pointing out we could be GREAT-grandparents anytime now!
Have fun buying baby clothes, Alice.
Marilyn in Alberta, Canada where we got 8 inches of snow this morning
along with their first pair of "real" shoes and their baby teeth (that alw= ays grosses them out!). I will have to look in my basement to see if my DD= stored the coming home outfit for my grandson and "move" it to another are= a for safekeepping. Great idea, Polly.
Well, BIG congrats on your number 33 and 34! WOW! I can only imagine what holidays are like at your house! And congrats on the graduate! How great that she was accepted to the university - and the one of her choice is icing on the cake!
Alice in NJ
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.