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From: SammyeGail
Date: 08-30-2006, 11:30 AM (1 of 8)
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Hi! I am wanting to make some baby/toddler blankets for my twin boys. I have bought some great fabric for the front, but am wanting to use minkee blankee (or something like that) for the backing. But I have a few questions: Is minkee worth the price? Or has anyone found something just as good thats a better price? Or could anyone recommend a good online store to purchase from? Can I make the minky backing a little wider than the front piece so I can turn the edges around to make the trim? Like when you do quilt backing, I was wondering if it was too thick. Do I need to make little tacking stitches here and there on the blanket to keep the two pieces of fabric together? I have done some sewing in the past, and am in the process of making some bibs, but I have never make a 2 sided blanket like this. My mother and sisters do alot of quilting, but I am wanting to use a solid piece of fabric for the front, so I am concerned about keeping it 'together' or should I be concerned at all? Sorry if this is abrupt, I am a SAHM to 9 month old twins and writing this as fast as possible!! Thanks for any replies, advice, etc.!! Samantha |
User: SammyeGail
Member since: 08-28-2006 Total posts: 19 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 08-30-2006, 01:08 PM (2 of 8)
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I don't have any advice about the minkee fabric but you could make a blanket using a solid piece for the front and another piece for the back. You sew the pieces right sides together around the edges, leave a gap and then turn it right sides out. There is a quilt video that is called "Birthing a quilt (http://easymade.com/video_basic.html)" that explains how you would do this. But with the birthing method you won't have the back fabric turned over to the front. You could do that as well and that method would be called a "mock binding" in quilting. Here is a link to some quilting instructions on how to do a mock binding (http://www.fabriclandwest.com/quilters%20corner/binding_mock.htm). This may help you out. You would just need to calculate how much larger the backing fabric needs to be in order to fold over & under for the size of the finished mock binding that you want. Hope this helps. TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: esrun3
Date: 08-30-2006, 04:25 PM (3 of 8)
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I haven't used the minkee yet but my daughter and I did buy some to make a stuffed animal for the soon to be baby and the gal at the quilt store told us to be sure to use a walking foot when sewing the fabric-otherwise it stretches too much.
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: Skye
Date: 08-30-2006, 05:12 PM (4 of 8)
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I haven't used minkee for a blanket but have made a jacket from it and it is lovely and soft. If you want to use one of the fabrics to self bind I would be inclined to use the cotton "top" fabric rather than the minkee as it is stretchy. I use fleece to back childrens blankets that I have made and I did free motiuon quilt them 'cause I was practicing the technique - great fun and pretty quick to do but with twins tying by machine would be even quicker 
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User: Skye
Member since: 09-28-2000 Total posts: 233 |
From: SammyeGail
Date: 08-30-2006, 08:27 PM (5 of 8)
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Thanks for the replies!! I guess I'll do the fronts facing then sewing the ended together, thats how I've been making some bibs. Skye, What is free motiuon quilting? I do have a walking foote with my new machine but have no idea how its used, lol! Like I said, I am very new to this. I really want to try the minky, I just don't want to mess up the good fabric I got if I goof it up. Here's the fabric: http://www.reprodepotfabrics.com/2dzoogreen.html It would be really great to see minkee IRL, but they don't sell that at Hancock, Michaels or Hobby Lobby, do they, lol? Is it stretchy like a knit? Gotta go, twins fussing Sam |
User: SammyeGail
Member since: 08-28-2006 Total posts: 19 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 08-30-2006, 11:45 PM (6 of 8)
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Minkee is fabulous...your walking foot is placed on the shank, the LEVER On the side is placed on TOP of the screw that holds your needle in place. Thats what causes the foot to 'walk'. Minkee IS stretchy...but it's soooo soft... Free motion quilting is putiing on your darning foot (looks like a metal p with a spring) you drop your feed dogs. (the teeth of your machine) put your pined quilt under the needle, (hooped or not depends on you), wear quilting gloves (stretchy with sticky dotted fingers to capture the fabric.) Slow your machine down till you get use to it and the swirl and more your quilt, fabric like a snake, meander don't meet lines or cross lines...The faster you can do it,the easier it is...it takes some practice...(make sure NOT to hit the pins while quilting...) Use cotton thread match the top thread to the top, the bottom to the bottom. (making sure you can't see either one on either side. Then you need to adjust your tension.) Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: my2girlies
Date: 08-31-2006, 10:08 AM (7 of 8)
| My DD made a blanket with minkee. She just turned it without binding it. She did have to tack it several places after she was done because it "slipped around." (as she put it) The back is sort of slippery feeling. She loves that blanket and it has held up well through many washings. |
User: my2girlies
Member since: 03-25-2005 Total posts: 154 |
From: SammyeGail
Date: 08-31-2006, 05:33 PM (8 of 8)
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Chrys, After reading what you wrote, my jaw just dropped, lol! After I reread it I think I'll get it. I would like to do a mock binding with the minkee, but if I need to just sew the two pieces together front facing front, I'll do that.......would a mock binding to much of a task with minkee? What is a good fabric to practice with thats comparable to minkee? I guess I'll go look for something close to what I think it would be like on sale at Hancocks and get a little to practice with. Would I still need to do the walking foot thing if I just sew the 2 pieces of fabric together and then turn them right side out? Thanks for all the help/tips you all have given!!! Samantha |
User: SammyeGail
Member since: 08-28-2006 Total posts: 19 |
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