Microfiber Blankets as Quilt Backings
Back in 2023 I wrote a blog post for Suzy Quilts about using microfiber blankets for quilt backings. As I write this I’m tucked under the Holiday Party quilt with gold backing that is featured in many of the photos in that post. It’s a family favorite and lives year round in our family room. Below are some quick bullet points that outline my main points in the post on Suzy’s site if you are considering using a microfiber blanket as a quilt backing on an upcoming quilt. We have a couple of extra thoughts if you’d like to read on.
Thinking about other winter quilt backings? Check out our Flannel and Minky blog posts here, as well as our comparison chart post here!
-Check with your longarmer
-Buy big
-Match the thread color to the blanket
-Consider skipping the batting
-Be cool with imperfections
-Consider the environmental impacts
Microfiber blankets continue to be a customer favorite for quilts that will be gifted, especially if the recipient is not a quilter. Our studio assistant, Jen, was told by her sister not to bother gifting a quilt to anyone in her family unless it had such a soft, plush backing.
One of the big perks of the microfiber blankets is that you can buy them online and have them shipped directly to TCQ. This is particularly helpful in saving on shipping, if you are in a rush, or are maybe trying to beat TCQ’s holiday deadline. :) We have lots of folks order them directly from Amazon and have them shipped straight to us. It does mean they do not get washed before quilted, but it works well in a pinch. Let me know if you think this is an avenue you’d like to take and we will make the appropriate notes.
If you have major concerns about the environmental impacts, we hear you. It’s something we think about often when are making our own decisions about promoting this fabric and using it ourselves. We are working on a blog post that will address some of these concerns as well as how to care for these fabrics in ways that can help minimize some of the impacts.
The last thing I’d like to address about these blankets is their longevity. In my house, my son has some textural sensitivities and he only sleeps with these blankets. Some of them are attached to quilt tops and some are just the blankets. What I’ve found over the past 10 years is that the back side of these blankets will pill and become less plush. The front side, the side still exposed when used in a quilt, does not pill or lose its softness, though just like any quilt it can show those worn signs of being well loved.
I made this yellow and green Meme’s Lemons quilt at least 7 years ago and it is one of our go-tos for couch snuggles. No pilling, soft as ever, but definitely has that broken in look.
Over the years, we’ve worked a lot with these blankets both for our customers and for ourselves. If you have questions, comments or concerns about using a microfiber blanket for a quilt backing, don’t hesitate to reach out.
