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Flannel Fabric

Flannel Fabric

What is Flannel Fabric (Flannelette)?

Flannel fabric is a napped, light cotton, which is soft and fuzzy. Napping refers to the side of a fabric that was brushed to raise the ends of the fibers to create a downy feel to the fabric. This is what creates the softness and also helps retain body heat, making this a popular fabric choice. Most often used for sleepwear and bed sheets, flannelette is an easy to sew and easy to care for fabric, making it a good choice for many sewing projects.

Preparing Flannel Fabric (flannelette) for Sewing

Flannel fabric should be pre-washed prior to starting any projects to ensure that the fabric is pre-shrunk before cutting. Washing also softens the fabric. It is safe to use either cold or warm water, however it is recommended to use cold water to help maintain colors. The fabric should then be placed in the dryer on the hottest cotton setting to ensure maximum shrinkage. The shrinkage factor must be taken into consideration when measuring out the quantity needed for your project. You should always buy more fabric than what is called for to offset the shrinkage and fraying factors. Be sure to remove the fabric promptly from the dryer and iron out any wrinkles. Use a pressing method as opposed to the traditional back and forth ironing motion to avoid over stretching.

Project ideas for Flannel fabric (flannelette)

• pajamas • baby receiving blankets • burp cloths • baby toys • scarves • throw pillows • quilts
• bed sheets: during cold weather, flannel sheets are a popular choice.

Quilting with Flannel Fabric (flannelette)

Dylon spray starch is a product to keep close at hand when working with flannel fabric. Because this fabric has a looser weave it will shift and stretch easily, making it less stable than traditional quilting cottons. Ironing each piece with a little squirt of Dylon spray starch will improve the accuracy of your cutting as well as reduce fraying. It will also help control stretch during the piecing process.

Flannel fabric is tough on needles and rotary cutter blades, therefore always start with fresh ones. If you are sewing a large quilt, you may need to change needles and blades once or twice during your project. A quilt or project with complex patterns made of many smaller pieces is not recommended for this fabric because the same napping, which makes it soft and fuzzy also causes bulkier seams than traditional quilting cottons. Therefore, it is best to choose patterns created from larger pieces.

Smaller stitches can stretch your fabric, therefore it is recommended to quilt with a longer stitch (3 to 3.5). If hand quilting, do not use small, fine stitches, because not only will the fabric thickness cause needles to bend if using a classic rocking quilt stitch technique, but the fabric thickness will also hurt your hands. If you need to un-sew, do so calmly and carefully. Pulling and tugging can stretch this fabric out of shape.

If binding the edges, use larger binding strips at least 2.5 inches wide to compensate for the flannel fabric thickness.

Sewing Machines and Flannel Fabric (flannelette)

Flannel fabric creates a great deal of lint therefore it is important to clean your machine both during and after sewing. Brush away fuzz before too much gathers around the bobbin or above the needle shaft. In fact it’s a good idea to keep a can of compressed air nearby to spray periodically during your sewing project.