The Amazing Starr Hand Dyed Quilt Kits~On Sale Now!!

The Amazing Starr Designs Hand Dyed Quilt Kits~On Sale Now! Find them here!
It is hard to describe the stunning kits that my friend, Kathleen Starr produces! The photos are really good, but to see them in person is breathtaking. She is meticulous in design, dyeing, and cutting. These kits take about a month to prepare and are worth every single minute! We are happy to custom dye backings for any kit, just email me with any questions. 

We even have complete kits available~fabrics for the top, backing, and batting!

Kilt Quits

--> Kilt Quits, I Mean Quilt Kits

Are the Scotsmen revolting? Thankfully, no. At the Seaside Quilting Supplies main headquarters, we are usually each doing two or three things at once. This leaves very little room for speech processing. As a result, one of our most common unintentional phrases is “kilt quits”. The phrase never fails to make us laugh, no matter how many times it comes out that way.

We have found that many people who love to quilt, don’t have the time, confidence, or inclination to choose the many fabrics that must work together in the making of a quilt. Quilts by nature are usually made out of many different fabrics. Not only must they work with each other, they must also work with the pattern. A “serious” pattern doesn’t call for whimsical fabrics, and visa versa. Then there is the issue of borders, binding, and backing.

What then, is a kilt quit, I mean quilt kit? Our kits include the pattern, and all the fabrics for the top, borders, and bindings. Some kits include the backing, batting and a thread. These items can always be added to any kit! Kits are listed as a certain size, but most of the time this can be adjusted.

At the shop, we have the advantage of having all of the patterns and fabrics in front of us, where we can stack them up, lay them out, and visualize what the finished quilt will look like. We have many patterns that range from easy to difficult, suitable for any level quilter. And we have the world’s best photographer to shoot the finished kit so you too can visualize what the finished quilt will be!

However, we aren’t so vain as to believe that just because we liked something, you will also. Or maybe you like the top, but need a different color emphasized in the border or binding. All quilt kits are negotiable! We are thrilled to customize kits to meet your particular needs or tastes. Do you have a quilt idea in mind, but don’t see a kit that matches? Just contact us with your specifications, and we will gladly see if we can create it for you. But don’t be surprised if you catch us laughing when we answer the phone!

Batting 101!

Time for a batting primer..To help with all the wonderful batting choices. Read on....

This photo is of the amazing Cotton Stuffing produced by my friends at Quilters Dream Batting. They do not sell directly to consumers but through quality quilt shops both online and storefront.Having used all the battings available here in the US, they are, hands down, my favorite. The quality is ALWAYS there and they have the most amazing customer support staff.

On to the useful information-I am often asked which batting to use for a given project. The choices can be overwhelming. There are cottons, polys, poly blends with cotton, silk, wool, recycled green battings, and midnight black poly battings. These days there are even battings with fusing attached to make projects super easy.

People often believe that the choices reflect the quality of the batting. With Quilters Dream Battings, this is not the case. Rather, the choices represent the weight of the lofts.

Each of the battings listed below is connected to a link on the Quilters Dream site that may have additional information you may find useful.All of the quilters dream products can be purchased on my site through this link: Quilters Dream Battings.

Options are:  Cotton  in 4 Lofts:

request-this is the thinnest loft available. This weighs about 3 oz/square yard and is 1/16" thick.

select-this is the mid loft batting. This weighs about 4 oz/square yard and is 3/32" thick.

deluxe-the loft becomes noticeably heavier here. This weighs 6 oz/square yard and is 1/8" thick.

supreme-this is the thickest of the cotton lofts and weighs 8 oz /square yard and is 3/16"thick.

Polyester Battings~ Available in 3 lofts:
request-same thickness and weight as the cotton request.
select- same thickness and weight as the cotton select.
deluxe- same thickness and weight as the cotton deluxe.

Quilters Dream Puff Batting-A fluffy light batting. This batting comes in only one weight 3.5 oz/ square yard and is 1/3" thick.

Quilters Dream Midnight Poly Batting (Black)- one loft-select and weighs 4 oz/square yard and is 3/32" thick.

Quilters Dream Angel Battings-100% flame retardant fibers-This is available in one loft~select-which is 3/32" thick and weighs 4 oz/square yard

Quilters Dream Orient (a personal favorite of mine)-this is available in only one loft-select and weighs 4 oz/square yard and is 3/32" thick.

Quilters Dream Wool(this is AMAZING wool!)-this beautiful wool weighs 3 1/2 oz/square yard and is 3/8" thick.

Quilters Dream Fusion-This wonderful product is available in an 80/20 Cotton Poly Blend and
in one loft~Select. This is a solvent free fusible batting!

Quilters Dream Green Batting-This batting sometimes strikes fear in people. (totally unnecessarily i might add ). It is made from recycled green plastic bottles and it is so soft you will be totally stunned. It is the palest of green shades and works so nicely in any project. Its weight is similar to the request
cotton, as its thickness.

Quilters Dream Blend Batting-This is a 70% cotton, 30% poly blend of fibers and is a delight to sew on. This comes in only one loft and weighs 5 oz/square yard and is 1/8" thick.



Last, but certainly not least, is the fantastic Sweet Dreams Stuffing! This product, made from luscious 100% cotton fibers is 18" wide and 120"long when unrolled. 

And so concludes today's lesson on battings :)

Happy Quilting and Sewing!


Barb

"Newsy" Things in the Quilting Shop

The news these days can be somewhat overwhelming. We all seem to be so at odds with one another. The chasms get greater each day and I wonder how will we ever overcome the divide and find our way to work together for a greater cause. And as I was pondering all this, the quilt I was beginning to work on offered some prospective answers. Often when we begin to put a quilt together or just begin to plan for the quilt, we have a pile of what may seem to be disparate fabrics in front of us. Someone who doesn't quilt might be inclined to look at the pile and wonder how in the world those pieces would ever make something beautiful, comforting, and uplifting. As the process of "building" a quilt moves forward, what appears to be fabrics, colors, patterns that might never work together end up in harmony. It is the cutting and the placement of pieces and patterns until some continuity appears that reveals the underlying "threads" that allow the quilt to flow into one harmonious piece. On the surface of the quilt some patterns may appear too complex, with too many elements, to ever be able to blend in seamlessly. Both time and effort result in the blending of what previously appeared incongruent. The willingness to move a piece of fabric to somewhere you once thought "it shouldn't go" or to put it beside something you never had considered, often results in a more beautiful plan than could have originally been foreseen. Flexibility and open mindedness to new arrangements present us with the chance for a glorious outcome. It is my deep hope that I may be more open to new ideas..In quilting and life. Wishing you all threads that bring your own chasms together. 


 And in that vein, here are some photos of new things in the shop-to make our gifts of love with which we touch those around us:

We have two new entire collections just in.

The darling "Witchy" by StudioE Fabrics, and Holiday Flair also by StudioE. Both are stunningly colored with rich hues and incredible attention to detail.

Witchy is available here.

                                                          

     

                                     
 Holiday Flair is available here. 

                                             

 I also spent a good bit of time the last few days doing lots of new fabric collections~perfect for the beginning quilter or for the experienced quilter who'd rather sew than figure out fabrics! 

You can look at all of the great collections here. 

 And last but not least, we always carry the amazing Quilters Dream Battings and the stunning Starr Fabrics Hand Dyed Quilt Kits-and they have some brand new ones!