Viola Cuddle 3 Extra Wide Solid Minky Fabric is a 100% polyester plush fabric from Shannon Fabrics, 90 inches wide in a soft purple viola shade. It is best for seamless quilt backings, oversized throw blankets, and cozy projects where you want warmth and softness without piecing a backing together.
What Is Viola Cuddle 3 Extra Wide Minky Fabric?
Cuddle 3 is Shannon Fabrics' smooth, short-pile minky plush — the fabric quilters reach for when a quilt needs to feel as good as it looks. It has an irresistibly smooth surface and a gentle warmth that makes finished projects instantly inviting. This version is the extra-wide release of that same Cuddle 3 fabric: instead of a standard width, it comes 90 inches wide, so a single cut can cover most quilt tops edge to edge.
The solid viola color keeps the focus on feel rather than print. A soft, muted purple works beautifully behind floral quilt tops, pastel baby quilts, and modern quilts that need a calm, cozy reverse side. Because it is 100% polyester, the fabric is durable and easy to maintain, which makes it a practical choice for quilts and blankets that will be used — and washed — often.
In this extra-wide format, minky also solves a real construction problem: no seams down the middle of your backing, and less waste when finishing larger projects like throw blankets, tablecloths, or curtains.
How to Use It
Cutting: Lay the fabric flat, pile side down, and cut from the back with a rotary cutter or sharp scissors. Minky can shed a little fluff at cut edges, so shake cut pieces outdoors or over a trash can before bringing them to your machine. Mark cutting lines on the back of the fabric, where they will not show in the pile.
Sewing: Cuddle minky has some give, so pin generously or use clips along seams, and consider a walking foot to help the layers feed evenly. Lengthen your stitch slightly and sew with the minky on the bottom when you can, so the feed dogs help move it. When using it as a quilt backing, baste the quilt sandwich well — spray baste, pins, or both — so the plush layer stays smooth while you quilt.
Pairing: Viola pairs naturally with white, cream, grey, and soft floral quilting cottons, and its purple tone sits comfortably alongside other Cuddle solids for two-tone blankets. Because the backing is plush and warm, many quilters choose a lighter batting — or skip heavy batting altogether for a lighter throw — depending on how warm they want the finished piece to be.
A Project to Try
Make a seamless-backed throw quilt. It is the project this width was made for:
- Finish a throw-size quilt top, roughly 60 by 70 inches.
- Cut one piece of Viola Cuddle 3 a few inches larger than your top on all sides — the 90-inch width means no piecing.
- Layer top, your chosen batting, and the Cuddle backing with the pile facing out, then baste thoroughly.
- Quilt with simple straight lines or a loose meander, keeping the quilting spacing open so the plush stays lofty and soft.
- Trim, bind with quilting cotton, and shake out any loose fluff before the first wash.
The result is a quilt that looks polished from the front and feels like a plush blanket from the back — the kind of throw that never makes it back to the linen closet.
Care and Handling
Care is simple, following the guidance on the product listing: machine wash cold and tumble dry low. Washing before heavy use also helps release loose fibers left from cutting. Avoid high heat, which can damage polyester pile, and store finished pieces folded loosely so the plush keeps its soft hand. With that basic care, its durability makes it well suited to everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does minky fray?
No — minky is a knit plush, so cut edges do not fray like woven cotton. They may shed a little fluff right after cutting, but the edges will not unravel in the wash or in use.
How much do I need for a throw quilt backing?
For a throw around 60 by 70 inches, one yard of this 90-inch-wide fabric gives you a 36-by-90-inch cut, so two yards provides plenty of length with width to spare and no seam in the backing.
Can I use Cuddle minky for baby projects?
Yes. Its super-soft texture is why it is a favorite for baby blankets and plush toys, and in this extra-wide cut one piece can back a baby quilt or be divided into several smaller projects.
Shop the Viola Cuddle 3 Extra Wide Solid Minky Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
