Flannel brings extra coziness to quilts. However, it can be a little more challenging to work with. Here, designer Darlene Zimmerman shares some tips for working with flannel.

• Choose a simple pattern with large pieces. Bear of the North is a good quilt choices for flannel.
• Use a walking foot (sometimes called an even feed foot) for piecing. This will prevent the flannel from shifting during stitching.
• Use steam to press seams. Press bulky seams open.
• Use a lightweight batting - the flannel alone is quite heavy.
• Quilting can be minimal on a flannel quilt. Tiny hand stitches will disappear into the flannel's loft. Instead, consider tying or using large hand stitches in perle cotton. Minimal machine quilting is another good option.
• Remember to stop and clean your machine frequently. Working with flannel will build up a large amount of lint under the sole plate.
• Due to the bulk of a flannel quilt, a wider than usual binding is required. Wright's Fleece Binding would be perfect on a flannel quilt!
• Consider using flannel to back a pieced cotton quilt. This is the best of both worlds - the warm snuggly feeling of flannel on the back, and the top pieced in your favorite pattern in regular cotton.