Sewing with Minkee

I love Minkee...it's so soft!  Sewing with it is a bit of a chore.  I'm working on Morgan's quilt!  My nephew's soon to be born daughter.  My sister is so excited at the prospect of being a Grandma.  When we went fabric shopping my Mom wanted lots of texture in the quilt, so I'm adding Minkee, flannel, and whatever other textural goodies I can find. 

The problem I've found in using Minkee along with say, a charm pack is that it doesn't behave like the other fabrics...one of those "one of these things, is not like the other" kind of situations.  Well, necessity being the mother of invention, I came up with a solution.  Maybe everyone is solving their Minkee issues this way, and I wasn't aware, but it's working.

Here's how I resolved my dilemma:  Charm square blocks are 5" square, so in order to be able to use the Minkee with charm squares, while keeping a normal 1/4" seam allowance, I've cut 4" Minkee squares, and added 2" sashing on top/bottom, then side to side, with a 1/2" seam allowance, then trim the unit to 5".  This is perfect!  The minkee blocks then can be mixed on the design wall with the rest of the fabric for the quilt. These become framed little log cabin type blocks.

I really hated the thought of wasting fabric with wider seam allowances, just to incorporate the Minkee.  This solution will work for chenille, velvets, or anything that needs a wider seam allowance, and special handling.  Now...I'm off to finish the quilt, before this new little one arrives. 

P.S. Here's a link to some free patterns from Sew Simple magazine.  I came across these, and wanted to pass them on.

One last thing...to those that I promised free patterns to of City News, they will be in the mail in a day or two...I didn't forget...just crazy busy.

Comments

[Lissa]

Morgan is such a cool name.. My middle child is Morgan but its a 'he'.. he was going to be Morgan Jane if he was a girl, but got Morgan James for a boy!!! the minkee fabric is lovely tactile for wee ones!

Lissa

[Jacquie]

Thanks so much for this. It's an inspired idea. Now I can use that pink minkee that has been languishing in my closet. I had a not so nice minkee experience. You said it so well....one of these things was not like the other!

[Tina in Boston]

I am looking forward to seeing the finished quilt!

[Cheri]

And more minkee advice -- don't wear black while you work with it! :)

Your technique sounds like a great tactic, I'll give it a try. I have made small envelope quilts for babies with minkee on one side and flannel on the other, but the minkee slips a lot. I have been thinking of spray basting it before stitching, and then washing it when done.

[Nanette]

I read what you did 3 times but I still don't picture it. When you get done doing the minkee squares post a pic for me please. I use Minkee all the time and it is kind of fussy. I love it for the back of baby quilts.

[Emily]

Thanks for sharing your ideas for working with those difficult fabrics! I'm going to put that sashing idea to work.