Backing for String Quilt?

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

I back my denim quilts with fleece. It stays in place nicely. Be
warned, it's stretchy when you're quilting.
I recommend using the real thing from Malden Mills. I can drive there
but they're online at maldenmillsstore.com. The fashion fleece from
your local fabric store does not hold up well. It goes flat and pilly.
I've remade several of my early quilts by adding a layer of real
fleece over the fake stuff.
Liz

dogmom wrote:
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
warned, it's stretchy when you're quilting.
I recommend using the real thing from Malden Mills. I can drive there but
they're online at maldenmillsstore.com. The fashion fleece from your
local fabric store does not hold up well. It goes flat and pilly. I've
remade several of my early quilts by adding a layer of real fleece over
the fake stuff.
Liz

dogmom wrote:
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

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!

Ragmop/Sandy --working on a string-pieced tablerunner
http://www.hobbsbondedfibers.com/Retail.htm

On 12/28/06 6:09 AM, in article ,
"dogmom" wrote:

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

Perhaps you should think about tying this quilt. It is quicker and easier,
especially since it will be a heavy quilt.

--
Boca Jan
Florida - Land of the Hurricanes
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/poo_de_doo/myphotos


"dogmom" wrote in message
...
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