Blue Poseidon Cuddle 3 Extra Wide Solid Fabric from Shannon Fabrics is an extra-wide minky plush — 88/90 inches wide, 100% polyester with a smooth 3mm pile — in a rich blue Poseidon shade. It is best for seamless quilt backings, oversized throw blankets, and cozy projects where you want softness without piecing a back.
What Is Blue Poseidon Cuddle 3 Extra Wide Minky?
Cuddle 3 is Shannon Fabrics' best-known minky: an irresistibly smooth, plush fabric with a short, even pile that feels soft against the skin and adds warmth without heavy bulk. This extra-wide version is the same Cuddle 3 quilters already know and love, just wider — listed at 88/90 inches wide, with the product description highlighting 90 inches for seamless use.
At 480 grams per linear yard and a 3mm pile, it has a substantial, cuddly hand that drapes well over a quilt top. The fabric is 100% polyester and made in South Korea. The solid Poseidon color — a deep, watery blue — works as a versatile backing for nautical quilts, baby and kids' quilts, and teen throws, and it shows quilting texture beautifully on the back.
Unlike standard 58/60-inch minky, the extra width means most throw, twin, and many larger quilts can be backed in a single panel. No center seam, no mismatched pile direction, and less measuring and joining before you baste.
How to Use It
Cutting: Lay the fabric pile-side down on a large cutting surface and cut from the back with a rotary cutter for cleaner edges. Minky can shed at cut edges, so shake cut pieces over a bin. Mark your backing 4–8 inches larger than your quilt top on all sides if you plan to longarm or heavily quilt it, to allow for any shift.
Sewing: Cuddle has some stretch, so handle it gently and avoid pulling as you feed it. When you piece with it or bind with it, use plenty of pins or clips, a walking foot if you have one, and a longer stitch length. For quilt backings, baste generously — spray baste, pins, or both — so the plush back stays smooth and does not creep while you quilt. Keep quilting lines from becoming too dense if you want to preserve the soft drape.
Pairing: Pair Poseidon with quilting cotton tops — it is especially handsome behind white, navy, aqua, coral, or gray prints — and with a low- to mid-loft batting when you want warmth without stiffness. It also works on its own, hemmed or bound, as a no-batting throw for a lighter layer.
A Project to Try
Seamless backed throw quilt: Piece a simple throw top about 50 x 60 inches from your favorite cotton prints — large squares or strips show off well against a solid back. Cut one panel of Poseidon Cuddle 3 about 58 x 68 inches, giving you extra on every side. Layer top, batting, and the Cuddle back with the plush side facing out, baste thoroughly, and quilt with straight lines or a gentle all-over design. Trim the backing even with the top, then bind with cotton binding for a crisp edge. The result is a quilt that looks polished from the front and feels like a plush blanket from the back — no backing seam to line up or feel through the quilt.
Care and Handling
Follow the care given for this fabric: machine wash cold with like colors, do not use fabric softener, and tumble dry low with no dryer sheet. Softener and dryer sheets can coat the polyester pile and reduce its softness over time, so skip them to keep that smooth 3mm pile feeling its best. Wash dark and bright quilts with like colors the first time, and avoid high heat, which polyester plush does not need and does not love. With gentle care, Cuddle holds its color and soft hand through repeated washing — exactly what you want in a quilt that will be used and loved daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cuddle 3 minky stretch?
Yes, Cuddle 3 has some stretch, which is why pinning or clipping well, basting generously, and sewing without pulling help keep seams and quilt backs smooth and even.
How much do I need for a throw quilt backing?
For a throw around 50 x 60 inches, 2 yards is a comfortable amount: the 88/90-inch width covers the width in one panel, and 2 yards (72 inches) gives you extra length for trimming and quilting shift.
Can I use this minky without batting?
Yes. Hemmed or bound on its own, extra-wide Cuddle 3 makes a soft, larger-than-life throw blanket. With batting and a cotton top, it becomes a warmer, more structured quilt backing.
Shop the Blue Poseidon Cuddle 3 Extra Wide Solid Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
