As summer winds down and schools are back in session, our thoughts turn back to our sewing projects and holidays. Halloween is next and I know there are lots of y’all out there that love Halloween. It’s my oldest daughter’s favorite holiday. She goes all out for the whole month of October, several changes of costumes and complete decorations inside and out. I know some of y’all do the same. Have fun and enjoy the “spooky” season. We’ve got lots of great Halloween patterns & fabrics, from the cute kid friendly to the creepy. One of our glow-in-the-dark skeleton panels, now resides in a hospital lab!! I thought that was so clever. The sky is the limit when it comes to using these fun fabrics for your projects.

Here is what we did for the September Grab Bag.

Christmas crowns off the years with all it’s glory. It’s never too early to be thinking about Christmas gifts and decorations. You will find endless inspiration here at the Cottage. We have one of the largest collections of Christmas fabrics in the area & books full of patterns and ideas. We have kits for the ever-popular Folded Star ornament, no sewing required. Get the free pattern for the “Easy Wreath” to adorn your door or hang from the ceiling. Unlock your imagination and surprise your loved ones with an unusual, treasured, handmade gift this year. Christmas panels shown are by Wilmington Prints & Quilting Treasures.

 

 

Keep on sewing and see you soon,

Donette

Wed Sept 5- 1 pm Open sewing workshop NO FEE

Wed Sept 12- 1 pm Open sewing workshop NO FEE

Fri Sept 14 – 10 am  “Creative Stitchers”

(2^nd Friday each month). NO FEE

20% discount on all supplies pertaining to your sampler project at the meeting only 

Wed Sept 19 - 1 pm Open sewing workshop NO FEE

Wed Sept 26 - 1 pm Open sewing workshop NO FEE

I’m getting a constant stream of questions concerning battings. “What’s the best one?”  “Which one is lightest in weight?” “Which one is the warmest”  “Which one is best for babies?”  And so on, the questions are many.

I thought that I would write about battings and give you the information for you to make an informed decision when it comes to the battings for your quilts, etc.  Making a choice of batting depends a lot on personal preference and use. My first response when someone asks me which batting do I recommend, is a question back to them, “How is the quilt going to be used.”

We have a wide selection of battings to choose from here at the Cottage. Each batting type has it’s own loft & width. All are multiple use. We have battings on the roll as well as in individual packages. I will identify each one & describe the benefits & common uses of each.

100% cotton is not completely correct. Most cotton battings have anywhere from 8% - 10% polypropylene that is the “scrim”. The scrim holds the batting together in one piece. This does not interfere with the function of the batting in a quilt. In fact, it prevents bunching and lumping during use and laundering. It also allows for the quilting or tied up to 10” apart. Cotton is breathable & does not retain heat. Cotton is considered a “heavy” batting. Expect 3% - 5% shrinkage on the first wash, pre-washing is not necessary. Use 100% Cotton batting when you need a quilt for warmer weather, for an antique look or if you prefer a heavier weight in your quilt. It’s also good for table clothes and placemats.

This batting is completely 100% cotton. It has been triple washed to remove all possible contaminates. It has the same characteristics as other cotton battings. But because it is truly 100% cotton & triple washed, it has the benefit of being safe for the microwave & persons with sever allergies. Used primarily for the microwave bowls & bags, and premature babies, etc.

100% Polyester batting is a stable & durable batting. It is “needle punched” for stability & consistency, to hold all the fibers in place. It will sustain a lifetime of laundry cycles and rough treatment. (ie: kids dragging it around and loving it to death) It is light weight & retains warmth. It has a slight “tooth” to the surface so the fabrics “stick” to the batting making it easy for quilting. It can be quilted up to 10” apart. It comes in many lofts (thicknesses) allowing for more puffiness is desired. (including the luxurious "Puff Poly")  There is virtually no shrinkage when laundered & pre-washing is not necessary. Use poly battings for kids quilts or when you need a bit of warmth or loft in the quilt.

 

This is basically a poly batting. It is manufactured with recycled plastic bottles. It has the same characteristics as other polyester battings. It is not suitable for light colored quilt tops because of the green color of the batting.

 

A blend of 80% Cotton & 20% Polyester has an antique look.  It is soft and pliable. It can be machine or hand quilted up to 10” apart. It has the cotton breathability and the poly durability. It is machine wash & dryable with a shrinkage of 1% - 5% on first wash. It weighs 4 ounces per square yard. It is stabilized with a needle punched scrim to prevent stretching and bunching. Use with any quilting application.

Silk batting is the cashmere of battings. It is blended with a small percentage of fine polyester fibers. It is carded & resin bonded to resist bearding. It is the lightest weight of all the battings. It is very warm & sustains an even temperature while having a natural ability to breath. It must be quilted no more than 4” apart. Shrinkage is 5% & some manufactures recommend pre-washing. Use silk batting when you want an airy, lightweight quilt. It also makes a good batting for embroidery work.

 

Wool batting is the warmest batting available. It is washed, carded, and resin bonded to resist bearding. It is a breathable fiber creating a comfortable temperature all year. It should be quilted no more than 4” apart. It is hand washable & should not shrink. (quality is everything here) Use when you need a warm quilt for cooler temperatures without weight.

Cotton-Wool blend is 80% cotton & 20% washed wool. It was designed for hand quilting, but can also be used for all other quilting. Requires quilting no more than 4” apart.  It is machine washable with 3% - 5% shrinkage. Use as recommended for hand quilting or when a blend with some warmth is desired. Slightly heavier than 100% wool

 

As with everything in the quilting industry, there are varying levels of quality. The batting in your quilt is the supporting structure for your hard work on the quilt top. You have spent hours of time and many dollars to this point. Don’t compromise with a cheap batting, you get a grossly inferior product. Buy a quality, reputable batting. You will be much happier with the end product.

There is another batting on the market that I do not recommend. It is bamboo. Bamboo is a fabulous, renewable resource for many applications. But because it is such a strong, hard fiber, it requires a large amount of acid treatment to break down those strong fibers to make them soft and pliable. The acid is so embedded in the fibers that it leaches out into the fabrics causing the fabrics to start to deteriorate in a short time span.

 

Little Cottage Quilt Shop    14076 State Hwy 16  Medina, Texas  78055        830-589-2502