Hello! I've had lots of emails recently about our quilts and patterns, of the how do you do...? variety. So, in the interest of sharing knowledge, techniques, favorites, etc. I thought I'd present a little frequently asked questions post.
So here goes...
FAVORITES
It would be impossible to miss my love of 100% cotton solids, and the best of the best are Kona Cotton Solids! The color is true, the quality of the fabric is wonderful!
I have a question for you lovely folks? Would it be helpful to have a reference list of stores that carry a large variety of the Kona Cotton Solids? If that would be a benefit, let me know, and I'll compile a list for you!
THREAD:
Piecing - Gutermann or Superior 50 wt
Quilting - Gutermann, Superior, or one of my favorites...YLI Silk 100 wt thread. This is what I used on the Jukebox Quilt
Batting - 99% of the time I use Hobbs Heirloom Fusible Batting. It's wonderful, and works perfectly for me. It is such good product, I am not a fan of pin basting, or any kind of basting for that matter, so this works really well.
PREFERENCES:
To prewash or not prewash??? I generally don't prewash, but there are some exceptions...isn't there always an exception? I would strongly recommend prewashing all hand dyes; I found out the hard way about that one. The same holds true for Batiks, especially the reds! Often times my quilts are being used in photos, or for shows; so I want the crisp / not laundered effect. This is my preference, but definitely not a recommendation.
Another great product is SHOUT COLOR CATCHERS - these are wonderful, and I always use them when washing a quilt.
Ironing - steam or no stream? For general piecing I've become quite the fan of finger pressing. But nothing flattens a block like a good burst of steam, though I desperately want to avoid distorting the blocks. So, in the end I choose steam, but I use it with caution.
GENERAL INFO:
Do I belong to a quilt guild? No...I tried once, but the quilt police threw sticks at me (kidding, kinda) so my daughters and I are our own little guild.
What kind of sewing machine do I use? Bernina Aurora 440
Do I have a long arm machine? NO
Would I want one? YES, that's on my dream list!
Do I do my own quilting? YES
Are your patterns available in my particular State?
Our patterns are available through three different options:
- Our patterns are sold through our
pattern store for retail sales
Quilt shops can order wholesale by contacting me - see the pattern store for contact info
Also, they are available through Brewers Quilting and Sewing Supplies for wholesale
Request that your local quilt store carry our patterns if they don't currently stock them
That's all I can think of at the moment...any questions? Anything I didn't cover? Let me know, there's nothing I love to discuss more than quilting!
Cheers,
Cherri