Help sewing Minkee - I am desperate!

[QuiltinGrammy]

I am attempting to make my future grandson a rail fence baby quilt using Minkee fabric. What a nightmare!! I am struggling trying to pin it as well as sew it! I was so frustrated with the fabric slipping no matter what I was doing, that a stopped and applied a lightweight fusible interfacing on the strips. This helped, but the strips still take forever to pin and I am getting poor results with the accuracy of the seams..

I am begging for help! Please, does anyone know the answer to my dilemma? I honestly don't want to give this to my grandson as he graduates from college!! Please, please, please.....HELP!!

xoxox from PA
Edrie

[quilterbee]

When you work with Minkee, iron a featherweight/lightweight fusible interfacing to the back before cutting. This will stablize it so there's no stretch, much easier. After that, it's wonderful to work with and feels great. HTH, Amie

You may want to use a 1/2" seam allowance like your using flannel. That will also help.

[Evie]

I've only tried using it as backing. I wonder if you tried a glue stick along the seam allowance or a quick spray with the 505 spray?

Amie, I hadn't thought of that! Do you need to wash it after it's quilted to make it soft? We used a stabilizer in the t-shirt class that I took. It kept the t-shirt material flat and from stretching. Sounds like a good idea for Minkee. I imagine your cutter gets fuzzy real fast!

[quilterbee]

When you make your cut using the fusible interfacin, you want to cut your fabric with the fusible facing up. Amie

[Caroline1947]

Im glad this post is here. A sweetie sent me some Minkee to make Natalie a quilt and I would probably have had a problem. I will be making it for an Easter quilt. Ill use the lightweight fusible technique.Thanks!

[Spudgrandma]

I don't have an answer, but I do have a question. Where do you buy the Minkee? I cannot find it locally and would like to try some for the back on a baby quilt.

Good luck Edrie, hopefully the suggestions you have received will solve your problem.

Spudgrandma/T-Lynn.... aka/PQ, Spud

[vanhopm]

I order minky dot on line www.chenillemagic.com You can also just google "mink dot fabric" and there are several options.

[Spudgrandma]

Thanks for the info vanhopm. I will have to order some and give it a try.

Spudgrandma/T-Lynn.... aka/PQ, Spud

[sewcarolyn]

I have only used Minkie once and I treated it like stretchy velvet and used tissue paper. You pin tissue paper on the fabric at the seam line on both sides, sew it and then tear the tissue away. the fabric remains soft and the tissue helps the feed dogs smoothly guide the fabric through. Make sure your needle is sharp I use a new needle with each project needles are inexpensive when compared to the frustration they can cause when they are dull.

[grammy65]

Spudgrandma...Keepsake Quilting catalog has a nice selection of Minkee.

Diane