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

Custom Kits

Here at Seaside, we often do custom quilt kits. For the past two weeks I've been working with a great customer from Texas. She's a beach lover like I am. So we spent some time planning a quilt for her from the White Sands Fabric Collection just released by Northcott. Then she asked to see some other beach collections  that we could make some kits out of. We ended up doing 3 kits and some extra yardage. 

She was so pleased with the way we package our kits.I thought I'd share the photos with you. 

Each part of the kit is separated and labeled. We can also cut kits down to sewing size pieces for a fee. For years now, I have had customers ordering custom kits. Several will just call me and say, "Hey Barb, I want a kit with purple flowers as the theme". And we exchange a few photos and we're done!

So, if you are one of those quilters (and there are many) who don't relish the work of choosing focal sizes, scale, color, and compliment, etc., drop us a line. We're happy to do the planning work with you.

Happy Tuesday,

Seaside 1

White Sands

White Sands

      

 

White Sands

White Sands 

                                                   
                                 





I am reluctant (sort of kidding) to even post these photos of this new collection! It is called White Sands by Northcott and I don't even have it at the shop yet (arriving tomorrow) and it is selling like crazy. 60 yards already gone. 

I love beach fabrics. Almost all of them. But this one is different. It is the very essence of the beach to me. It's tone is soft, yet unyielding in its commitment to conveying that feeling that the beach offers. It is rich in the most humble, gentle way. When I visit the ocean (as I will do soon at my mom's) I am reminded of the smallness of most of the things I fret over. The ocean is enduring, unrelenting, and ever present. This collection of fabrics reminds me of that feeling. Sadly, I think it will sell out long before I get to set aside enough for my own quilt. 

I think part of what I love so much about this collection is the sheer number of pieces that all work together. Colors that you may not have thought would suit each other. Like life really. So many different things compose a life that is rich and full of meaning. Not necessarily always perfect, but made richer by those moments that we all live through. The darker mottled pieces in this collection remind me of those "stormy" moments or seasons. And the lighter softer pieces reflect the easier times. You may think I read far too much into fabric lol, but that's what us empath, fabric junkies do. Fabrics speak to us. They call out to us. "Make me for this person. Or for that person". " Do this with me and not that." 

Here at Seaside, we are happy to "kit up" any fabrics you like. We'll send pictures til we get it just the way it needs to look. As far as this collection goes, we can do one or two more complete quilt kits before pieces are sold out. Message me and we'll talk while we dream of the sea. 

Happy Quilting,
Seaside 1