Last week, a customer came into the shop, and as I worked with her, she exclaimed, "I feel like I've found my home! I went into a shop to buy minkee to bind a quilt, and the workers thought I was crazy. But, I walked in here and saw you had TWO quilts with Minkee binding. You're my kind of shop!"

 

We love working with Minkee. We use it to make baby quilts, to back quilts, and even to bind quilts! Recently, we've started offering kits to make Stitch 'n Flip quilt-as-you-go kits. Everyone who comes into the shop loves the look and feel of the quilts. They're soft, cozy, and heavy--just what you would want wrapped around you on a cold night or when you're feeling under the weather. But, people are often a little unsure about working with just that much Minkee. So, here are some tips for working with Minkee to keep your sanity long enough to get the most luxurious feeling quilt you'll ever own or gift.

First, before you even start working with the Minkee, take it outside and shake it out. When Minkee is cut, it sheds. The good news is, once you get your quilt sewn together, this is not an issue.

Next, before you start sewing, do a quick clean of your machine. Each machine is slightly different, so consult your owner's manual about how to clean your bobbin case and the "innards." Depending on what you are doing with the Minkee, you may need to clean your machine again during the project. You will definitely want to clean it after completing the project.

Use a slightly longer stitch then normal. The stitches will sink into the Minkee, which makes Minkee an exceptionally forgiving fabric to work with. It also ensures an absolutely gorgeous backing fabric, though. Look at how the stitches just sink into the fabric.

We currently have three Stitch 'n Flip Minkee kits in the shop. These quilt as you go kits are a fairly easy project, which result in maximum coziness. The Transportation Stitch 'n Flip is shown finished above. Click on the pictures of the kits below to view and purchase these kits.