I'm making a big (about 110" x 99") string quilt, sewing the strings onto muslin squares so it'll be heavy. Dogs and cats will sleep on it as we sleep under it, so it's going to be a hard-working quilt. What would be best to back it and/or use for batting? I don't plan to quilt it any more than necessary. Should I skip batting and just use fleece for backing? Does that work? Would flannel as batting and basic backing stuff be better? Or---?
TIA
Dogmom
How about making it easy on yourself? For sure, fleece is stretchy and some of it can be shabby. I have a bale of fleece that I ordered and it makes me want to go kick it everytime I walk by. You will want to be able to turn over sometime during the night and you don't want to add much weight. I'd recommend a very nice batting such as Cream Rose by Mountain Mist. That stuff is a real joy to work with and to feel. . . and I vote for just using a pretty cotton backing. There are wonderful sales going on now and you can find something lovely for a good price. Polly
"Liz Megerle" >I back my denim quilts with fleece. It stays in place nicely. Be
Howdy!
While I don't use a foundation under the string blocks I do put a lighter-weight batting there, preferring the Hobbs Thermore batt, and a cotton backing. Fleece? Not here, thanks. A brushed cotton aka "flannel" fabric is soft and durable, and w/ your foundation-pieced blocks should be plenty sturdy w/out batt. If you want it to be hard-working, more than just "minimal" quilting is required. The more quilting the better the quilt takes heavy-duty usage. Don't skip at least quilting thru' each block. Stan's quilt requires more washing (Stan's our dog), the quilt takes more of a beating; a regular batt (poly, this time) and plenty of quilting makes Stan's quilt more durable, holds up to those extra washings. YMMV
Good luck!
Ragm> I'm making a big (about 110" x 99") string quilt, sewing the strings onto
Perhaps you should think about tying this quilt. It is quicker and easier, especially since it will be a heavy quilt.
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