Quilting with Minky on a longarm

[Quailed Quill]

One of my regulars wants a quilt done with Minky as the backing, and I've never used it on the longarm before. I've heard it can be slippery and stretchy. Should I expect issues with tension or shifting? Any tips on loading it or stabilizing it would be a huge help.

 

[Orpheus]

Ahhh. Well, learned it the hard way but Minky definitely needs a little extra care. I baste it tighter than usual and always load it with the stretch running side to side, not lengthwise.

 

[Jillian]

Ive done minky and it can be a PITA. Instead, I buy fuzzy (minky) blankets now instead of minky. They don't stretch at all and cost 2/3 less than minky ($20 for a full size [63x96], instead of $60+ for minky.)
Also you can get 120"+ wide on a king size blanket (costs about $30-35) instead of seaming minky.
Color variety isn't as abundant with blankets as minky tho. I get them at Costco or Target. I will also stock up at the end of the season (spring) and buy several. You may have s hard time finding them right now.

 

[Nessah_]

Keep the tension tension but not tight when loading, and don't overstretch it or it'll fight back. If you can, float the top and baste everything down well before quilting, then watch your batting choice, something with a bit of grip can stabilize the layers.