Skip to content

Top Navigation

AllPeopleQuilt.com AllPeopleQuilt.com
  • Quilt patterns
  • Bags, pillows & gifts
  • Holiday quilts
  • How to quilt
  • Tips
  • Magazines & More
  • Quilting News
  • Shopping
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletter
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore AllPeopleQuilt.com

AllPeopleQuilt.com AllPeopleQuilt.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Free Patterns for Baby Quilts

      Free Patterns for Baby Quilts

      Little ones and expectant parents will love a handmade crib quilt! These cuddly quilted projects will be treasured for years to come. Read More
    • 35+ Free Quilt Patterns for Beginners

      35+ Free Quilt Patterns for Beginners

      Learn how to make a quilt with easy patterns that will teach you the basics! Each one is simple to assemble and uses basic shapes.  You'll be proud to display the finished projects in your home or to give them as gifts. Read More
    • Free Table Runner Patterns

      Free Table Runner Patterns

      Take advantage of these free patterns for runners to add quick color and style to your home. They are a breeze to assemble and will let you dress your tables for any holiday or season! Read More
  • Quilt patterns

    Quilt patterns

    See All Quilt patterns
    • Baby quilts
    • Bed quilts
    • Quilt Blocks
    • Quilt throws
    • Table runners
    • Wall quilts
  • Bags, pillows & gifts

    Bags, pillows & gifts

    See All Bags, pillows & gifts
    • Bags and purses
    • Gifts
    • Pillows
    • Pincushions
  • Holiday quilts

    Holiday quilts

    See All Holiday quilts
    • Christmas
    • Halloween
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
    • Winter
  • How to quilt

    How to quilt

    See All How to quilt
    • Quilting basics
    • Cutting
    • Piecing
    • Finishing
    • Organization
    • Machine quilting
    • Hand quilting
    • Appliqué
    • Embellishing
    • Videos
  • Tips
  • Magazines & More

    Magazines & More

    See All Magazines & More
    • American Patchwork & Quilting
    • Quilts and More
    • Quilt Sampler
    • One Million Pillowcase Challenge
    • Quilting podcast
    • Quilt designers
    • Pattern Corrections
  • Quilting News
  • Shopping
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletter
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. How to quilt
  3. Quilting basics
  4. Sewing With Plush Fabric

Sewing With Plush Fabric

American Patchwork & Quilting Editors June 14, 2013
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Sewing With Plush Fabric
Sewing with plush fabric can present challenges. But, overcoming them is fairly easy and the results (soft and cuddly quilts) are definitely worth the extra effort.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Working with Plush Fabric

Sewing With Plush Fabric

Plush fabric quilt backing makes quilts extra snuggly. But, they also present some challenges that you wouldn't normally have with cotton or other fabrics. Long-arm machine quilter, Nancy Sharr, offers the following tips for working with plush fabrics. The adorable fabric in these stitched samples are from A.E. Nathan Co.'s Coral Fleece collection.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Working with Plush Fabric

Working with Plush Fabric

After cutting plush fabric, machine-dry the pieces for a few minutes to remove the "fluffies" or "pills."

Plush fabric stretches across the width, but not on the length.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

2 of 10

3 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Prepare Your Machine for Plush Fabric

Prepare Your Machine for Plush Fabric

Use a new needle.

Clean your throat plate, feed dogs, and bobbin case often.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Piecing Plush Fabric

Piecing Plush Fabric

Watch the nap of the fabric, especially if you want it to smooth out in the same direction.

When sewing plush fabric to another type of fabric, put the plush fabric on the bottom.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

4 of 10

5 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

More Piecing Tips for Plush Fabric

More Piecing Tips for Plush Fabric

Plush fabric tends to curl when piecing, use a slightly larger seam allowance, from 3/8 to 1/2 inch. Press your seams open.

Use a longer stitch length, such as 3.0, when piecing plush fabric.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

5 of 10

6 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Quilting Plush Fabric

Quilting Plush Fabric

Use a walking foot.

Keep your bobbin case clean.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

More Quilting Tips for Plush Fabric

More Quilting Tips for Plush Fabric

Set your stitch length to approximately 8 stitches per inch when quilting plush fabric. This allows the thread to sink into the fabric.

Use a lightweight, low loft batting.

Try to avoid the corner intersections when quilting, the thickness of the seams is very difficult to get your hopping foot over, it may jam your machine, or break your needle.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

7 of 10

8 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Long-Arm Quilting: Plush Fabric on Quilt Tops

Long-Arm Quilting: Plush Fabric on Quilt Tops

Only stretch the top enough to smooth it out.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

8 of 10

9 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

More Long-Arm Machine Quilting Tips

More Long-Arm Machine Quilting Tips

Use a new needle; a titanium 80/12 should work well. The titanium needles stay sharper longer, and don't get as hot as other needles.

If possible, load the plush fabric so that the selvage is parallel to your leaders. This will help reduce the stretching of the plush fabric. If you cannot load parallel to selvage, don't crank the leaders super tight, just tighten them enough so the back is smooth.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Binding Plush Fabric

Binding Plush Fabric

Cut your binding strips slightly wider (about 2-3/4" wide) when binding quilts that have plush fabric.

Machine-baste the edges of your quilt before applying the binding to provide more stability and make the binding application easier.

  • Fabric-Free Quilts
  • Traditions Remembered
  • Quilting Design Gallery

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By American Patchwork & Quilting Editors

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 10 Working with Plush Fabric
    2 of 10 Working with Plush Fabric
    3 of 10 Prepare Your Machine for Plush Fabric
    4 of 10 Piecing Plush Fabric
    5 of 10 More Piecing Tips for Plush Fabric
    6 of 10 Quilting Plush Fabric
    7 of 10 More Quilting Tips for Plush Fabric
    8 of 10 Long-Arm Quilting: Plush Fabric on Quilt Tops
    9 of 10 More Long-Arm Machine Quilting Tips
    10 of 10 Binding Plush Fabric

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    AllPeopleQuilt.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithAllpeoplequilt is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright AllPeopleQuilt.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.allpeoplequilt.com

    View image

    Sewing With Plush Fabric
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.