It's Quilting Time

As the U.S. suffers from a December blast of cold it's time to pull out the quilt projects!  Put on a pair of fuzzy slippers, make a cup of hot cocoa, then sew away.  Before you know it, you'll have a quilt done and be ready for the next cold spell.  Happy sewing, happy quilting.  Stay warm and be happy!

It's Giveaway Wednesday--Here's the Quiltmaker's Treasure Hunt

Lot's of chances to win, amazing prizes.  Over $29,000 in prizes and 29 winners. To enter go to:  http://www.quiltmaker.com/contests/treasure-hunt/index.html

Good luck and I will continue to search for more sewing/quilting giveaways.

Another Giveaway---From Angela Walters

Hey all, it's not always easy to find one giveaway for the week so to find another is like a treasure chest of gold.  This one is from Angela Walters as part of the launch of her new fabric line, Legacy, being shipped to stores. Go to her blog and watch her video then make a comment for a chance to win.  It's really that easy.

To enter:  http://www.quiltingismytherapy.com/2013/09/27/legacy-has-shipped/

It's Giveaway Day--Follow the Link and Enter to Win!!

2013 National Sewing Month Giveaway!

I have found another great giveaway.  Prizes include a Babylock sewing machine, threads, fabrics and more. To enter:  http://thesewingloftblog.com/2013/09/22/national-sewing-month-2013-giveaway-time/

Tip of the Week--Choosing the Right Thread for Your Quilt

Ignorance can be bliss, right?  Not in the world of making a quilt that is archive quality.  This Tip of the Week topic is about using the right thread for the right moment when creating a quilt.

Creating the quilt top and piecing things together.  

This is the foundation and primary focus of your quilt project.  When you join seams you potential create ridges from your seaming and the thread that are holding the pieces together.  For this reason a fine thread is appropriate.  A good start would be a 50 weight thread that will blend into the seams when pressed flat.

In a quilt that is archival quality it is important to use 100% cotton thread as this will out last your polyester threads if you are using cotton for your quilt top.  The polyester can potential wear down the cotton fabric and tear through it.

Quilting the pieces together.

When selecting a thread for the quilting (bringing your sandwich of top, batting and backing together) use a heavier weight thread, say a 50 weight, to create strength and durability in your finished piece.  When doing hand quilting the threads made for this are generally coated....in old days women often ran their thread through a cake of beeswax to give the thread strength.  Do not use thread made for hand quilting in your sewing machine.  The coating can potentially gum up your machine, which is not a good thing.

Whether you are machine or hand quilting the selection of color can make a huge difference in the final quilt.  If you want your quilting to blend, use a neutral color like a light grey or something that is a predominate color in the quilt top and back.  If you want high contrast use a complimenting color thread that will stand out and be noticed for the color it adds to the entire quilt.

Regardless of the type of quilt you are creating, take as much time and effort in selecting the right thread type, weight and color to ensure the best results possible.