Hi Bestie,
Softness worth slowing down for.
Let's turn that favorite Cuddle into a cozy throw, a plush pillow or a wonderfully soft quilt back. Make something they'll reach for every day.
1. A cozy couch throw
Pair a favorite color with a touchable texture. Try a two-sided blanket or a Stitch-and-Flip project using a tested pattern. Two layers of Cuddle with no batting is the quickest version, and the embossed textures (like the bubble dot above) give you the look of quilting without a single quilting line.
2. A plush pillow
Give a reading nook a little Cuddle treatment. Choose a rich texture and follow your pillow pattern for construction. An envelope back in a coordinating solid makes it washable and lets you skip the zipper.
3. A softer quilt back
Choose Cuddle for a soft finish. Confirm your quilt size and ask your longarmer about backing allowance and preparation. Extra-wide Cuddle 3 means no backing seam at all, which is exactly why one of the most common backing mistakes never comes up.
Corey's Cuddle sewing game plan
Follow the nap. Brush the fabric with your hand. Keep the pile running in the same direction when laying out your pieces, or the finished project will look like two different colors in the light.
Cut with care. For longer-pile Luxe Cuddle, mark on the wrong side and cut the backing carefully to avoid trimming the plush fibers.
Support the layers. Use a walking foot when possible, pin generously and guide the fabric without stretching it.
Test before you stitch. For Luxe Cuddle, Shannon recommends a 90/14 or 100/16 stretch needle, a 3.5 mm stitch and a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Follow your pattern and test on scraps.
Sewing guidance: Shannon Fabrics.
Why minky needs a stretch needle and a longer stitch
Cuddle is a knit, not a woven. A sharp universal or Microtex needle can pierce and break the tiny knit loops in the backing, and those broken loops become runs and holes after a few washes. A stretch needle's rounded point pushes the loops aside instead. The longer 3.5 mm stitch does something similar: fewer needle holes per inch means less perforation along the seam, and the seam can flex with the fabric instead of puckering. That's also why the 1/2-inch seam allowance matters: it gives the plush somewhere to go when you press the seam open or to the side.
Yes, we have Cuddle blankets!
All the cozy. No sewing required. If you want the softness without the project, ready-made Shannon Cuddle blankets make an easy gift or your own favorite spot on the sofa. Browse Shannon Cuddle Blankets.
Choose what you love. Create at your pace.
Happy Quilting!
From Corey.
Find your color in the Shannon Cuddle & Minky collection. New to buying Cuddle? The New 3-Step Super Simple Way to Buy Shannon Cuddle and Minky explains how we organize it, and Get Cozy with Cuddle covers the tools that make it easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shannon Cuddle fabric?
Cuddle is Shannon Fabrics' brand of minky: a 100% polyester plush fabric with a soft pile and a knit backing that stretches slightly across the width. It comes in solids, prints, embossed textures and extra-wide widths for quilt backs. The complete Cuddle guide covers every type we carry.
What needle and stitch length should I use for Cuddle or minky?
For Luxe Cuddle, Shannon recommends a 90/14 or 100/16 stretch needle, a 3.5 mm stitch length and a 1/2-inch seam allowance. The stretch needle's rounded point slips between the knit fibers instead of cutting them, and the longer stitch keeps the seam from rippling. Always test on scraps first. For thread choice, read Don't Let the Wrong Thread Ruin Your Minky Project.
How do I keep minky from stretching while I sew?
Use a walking foot when possible, pin generously (every 2 to 3 inches), and guide the fabric rather than pulling it. Sew with the Cuddle on the bottom against the feed dogs when pairing it with cotton. Our post Stop Pulling Your Minky explains why pulling is the number one cause of wavy seams.
Can I use Cuddle minky as a quilt backing?
Yes, and it is one of the most popular ways to use it. Choose an extra-wide Cuddle 3 so there is no seam, confirm your quilt size, and ask your longarmer how much backing allowance they need and whether they want it pre-trimmed. Many longarmers prefer to load minky with the nap running top to bottom. See the Cuddle 3 Extra Wide guide.
Does Cuddle fabric shed when you cut it?
Longer-pile Cuddle (like Luxe) sheds along cut edges. Mark on the wrong side, cut only through the backing with scissors or a rotary cutter so you don't trim the plush, and shake the pieces outdoors or give them a quick tumble in the dryer on no heat before sewing.
