Monthly Archives: April 2014

I Am No Longer a Wool Virgin

If you have ever wanted to make migrating geese, I am here to tell you they are not difficult. You do not need a special tool. This process is a Precision Technique so be sure to use your best skills when cutting, marking, stitching & pressing. Deb Tucker has a Technique sheet that shows you a quick easy and fun way to make these migrating geese in 7 different sizes.

I decided to try (for the first time) Dream Wool by Quilters Dream Batting. Dream wool is made in the USA, from a blend of fine domestic and Merino wool. Dream Wool contains no scrim or resins, it is carded, crosslapped and thermally boned for uniformity and strength. It was like quilting on air

Quilts made with Dream Wool may be machine washed and dried with little shrinkage using cool water and a cool dryer. Of course I did not follow these instructions because that is how I roll. I did wash it in cold water, but I dried it normally, as I would any quilt. It did shrink, but not dis-similar to a quilt with 100% cotton batting.

I love this process for making Migrating Geese and encourage you to try it.

Victorious

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I just finished quilting and binding my Studio 180 design pattern “Victorious” I’m on my quest to branch out and try other battings. Of course my preference is any batting by Quilters Dream. This time I used the “Blend”, 70% cotton & 30% polyester, needle punched onto an ultra light scrim base. It was created especially for machine quilters.

It was very nice to work with. It didn’t stretch out of shape at all. It stitched beautifully. It held its shape throughout the washing and drying process.

Victorious is a beautiful traditional quilt pattern that uses the Deb Tucker V Block tool and the Squared2 tool for units in four corners of the border. The V Block tool was also used to create the diamond shapes in the border. Although, now Deb has created the Diamond Rects tool that could also be used to create the border units.

Dreaming of the Orient, (Batting that is)

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I’m a cotton girl. I’ve always used 100% cotton batting. But, this year this Batt Girl is breaking out of her Batt Cave! Today I quilted my Studio 180 Design quilt “Wish Upon”, but I used Dream Orient by Quilters Dream Batting. This batting is made of bamboo, silk, tencel and cotton. When I opened the package the first I noticed was how luxuriously soft it was. It seemed a little thicker than Dream Cotton Select. It was wonderful to touch.

I have a small house. I was determined to find a way to get a long arm. I bought a queen size “John Watts” quilt frame from Australia. It only weighs 50 pounds, so when I wasn’t using it, it hung on the wall of the garage. I bought a Nolting “Fun Quilter” It weighs 40 pounds. It has a 17″ throat and has a speed and stitch control. After 7 years of lugging the frame in and out of the house, my husband finished the back pork so I could leave it up full time.

For today’s adventure, I have loaded the backing.

I then loaded the Dream Orient. It handled really nicely, didn’t stretch out of shape at all. It feels great.

I have the top loaded. See my tractor seat stool? It is great for rolling back and forth while I pin the backing etc. to the leaders.

I am now ready to quilt. Like butta, I tell ya, smooooth!

Last row done. It looks wonderful. I’m off to trim off the excess batting and sew the binding on. There was so much red in this quilt that when I washed it I put in 10 color catchers (they came out pink, so I’m glad I did). I washed the quilt in cold water and dried it normally. When I pulled it out the dryer, I noticed immediately how soft it was. They say quilts quilted with Dream Orient drape beautifully, and they are right! I am definitely using Dream Orient again.

This pattern is by Deb Tucker. We just had a Studio 180 Design Certified Instructor Reunion. Deb gave this to us as a mystery, but she will making the pattern available sometime this summer. It uses the Split Rects Tool and the Wing Clipper I and the Tucker Trimmer I. I love this quilt.