A pressing issue

Well pressed seams are a key component to a great quilt top.

Pressing, as defined by the sewing dictionary (modified by me to apply to quilting) is, using an iron to press fabric. Pressing is not moving back and forth on fabric with the iron. Pressing is done “as you go” while creating a quilt.

We invest a LOT of time in our quilts.  Take the extra time to press seams, as you sew them, and you will be well rewarded.

I’ll let you decided if you are going to press them open or to one-side, use steam or spray starch, a Black and Decker iron or a Rowenta…

Choosing the right batting

Inspired by the quilts we see in magazines and shops, we often replicate the colour choices and quilting designs.  We select quality fabrics, pre-wash them and lovingly press them  But, are we giving our batting the same careful thought and attention?

Although batting is on the INSIDE, it still matters!  And colour, definitely matters!  Most fabrics are translucent.  So, the batting colour will affect the finished quilt.

Bleached batting is the best choice for those quilts with predominately white or white-on-white fabrics.  Using a cream/natural coloured batt will make your whites look yellow or your pastels look gray.

Black batting should be used anytime your quilt top is predominately black or dark colours.

Cream or natural battings work well for the majority of quilt tops.

I carry all three options of Hobbs 80/20 batting – 80% cotton and 20% polyester.  This batt can be quilted up to 4″ apart, has minimal shrinkage (3%), has more loft than a typical 100% cotton blend and drapes wonderfully.

Loft or fluffiness!  If you like a fluffy quilt, this is a great option –  Hobbs Polydown.  A superior choice for polyester.  Using fine fibers that are siliconized and resin bonded (sounds technical, but what it mean is the fibers won’t shift or come apart) this batting quilts easier and is more washable than other products.

Fiber content – Cotton?  Wool? Polyester? Silk? Bamboo?   How do you choose?  Answer this:  what is the intended use for this quilt?

Do you want your quilt to look antiqued or puckered after it’s washed?  100% cotton batts shrink the largest percentage.  A blend of cotton and polyester offers less shrink than cotton.  Select a batting that lists estimated shrinkage at 3% if this is the look you are after.

Preventing puckering means choosing polyester.

Fiber content is tricky.  There are many manufactures of batting and each produces a batting with different characteristics.  Consider the weight of the batting and how it drapes.  If you can, drape the batting over your legs and see how it falls.  Do you need to ‘mash’ it down or does it fall over your curves?

Personally, for my quilts, I use Hobbs Washable Wool.  I LOVE everything about it.  Wool breathes and acts as a natural insulator making it very comfortable during every season of the year (how could so many sheep be wrong?).  It offers a bit more loft than Hobbs 80/20 (my #2 batting choice and #1 choice of the majority of my clients).

 

Home alone for the weekend…

My family left me home alone last weekend and I got productive.  SEW productive!

For some reason, I am mad about getting rid of scraps at the moment.  This pattern is called Autumn Posies – although my colours aren’t very fall-like.  I found an ample quantity of fun & bright scraps, matched them with a “white” Moda grunge fabric and ta-da!

The posies are to have a yo-yo center  after I longarm quilt it (maybe – if I’m motivated) .

First quilt is a Home Ec. project

I love that Molly decided to make a quilt for her high school Home Ec. project! This is her VERY first quilt and she did a fantastic job. I’m happy to hear that students are interested in learning to sew (still) and that learning to quilt is encouraged too!

We finished the quilt with a design of daisy shaped flowers and feathers called “splat”.

Which edge-to-edge design is cheaper?

Neither.

I’ve been asked if a meander or stipple is cheaper than doing daisies or a geometric design and the answer is no.  Why?  First, when it comes to edge-to-edge, the work involved for me to measure and load your quilt doesn’t change based on pattern design.  The only difference is clicking a different file.  Second, I don’t want you to feel pressured to pick the “cheapest” design or that your choices are limited.  I want you to pick a design you love, one that suits your quilt and personality.

When it comes time to select your quilted pattern and make batting choices, consider what you have already invested in that quilt.  I know that every quilt top has it joys (and frustrations) and deserves to be finished with a design that enhances it.  That’s why I encourage you to pick what you love and offer all edge-to-edge designs at the same rate.