Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Batting University (Part 1) Dream Cotton and Dream Poly Batting


One of the biggest advantages to choosing Quilters Dream Batting is that we make so many types of quilt batting (nine and counting. 9!) that there is always a perfect Dream Batting for whatever quilt you want to make. We are thrilled to be able to offer you so many great options in various lofts!  However, the more choices available, the harder it can be to choose the perfect batting for your quilt!

Not every batting is perfect for every quilt, and your choice the foundation of your quilt will affect not only the warmth, but how the finished quilt will look, wash, hang, drape and feel. Not everyone has the same goal in making a quilt. A quilt that will be traveling to the quilt shows will need different specifications from a quilt that will be snuggled by a pizza eating toddler!

I am often asked which type of quilt batting is best, and I answer with a lot of questions, such as:
  • Will you be hand-quilting, machine quilting (longarm or shortarm), or will your quilt be tied?
  • How will your quilt be used?  
  • Do you want to emphasize your quilting?  Do you want a more traditional look or a modern look?
  • Do you need the quilt to keep you very warm? Keep you cool?
  • Be easy to wash and dry? 
  • How important is flame retardancy? 
To help you find the perfect batting for your quilt,, Quilters Dream Batting will be hosting a month long, four installment "Batting University”.


Batting University is about choices, and helping to make sure your finished quilt is perfect for whatever goal you have in mind because every quilt (even that pizza stained one on the back of my couch) is a treasure!   So here we go....




QUILTERS DREAM COTTON 
The original Quilters Dream batting that put us on the quilting map!   We introduced Quilters Dream Batting at Charlotte Quilt Spring Market in the mid 1990's -- a new type of high quality 100% cotton batting unlike any other.... and the response from shop owners, professional quilters, and teachers was incredible!   When we arrived at Charlotte the name of our batting was "Quilters Cotton" - but thanks to a well known teacher and hand quilter swooning "this just Quilts like a Dream".... the name Quilters Dream Batting and our tag line "Quilts Like a Dream" were born!    Listening and learning from our quilters is what we do... and the variety of having four lofts of Quilters Dream Cotton Batting (along with our other great battings) are the results of your requests!

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Quilters Dream Cotton Request Loft (Aqua Label): 
Request Loft is the very lightest weight batting.  
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Quilters Dream Cotton Select Loft (Pink Label)
 The Dream Cotton Select loft is our most popular midloft.

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Quilters Dream Cotton Deluxe Loft (Purple Label)
The Deluxe Loft is exceptionally warm while being exceptionally soft. 

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Quilters Dream Cotton Supreme Loft - 100% USA Cotton
The weightiest of ALL cotton battings - for machine quilting only.   
 

Click here for more Loft information:   Unique Features of Each Loft
 
 

Quilters Dream Cotton Batting:

Advantages:
                        
  • Some shrinkage (1-3%) upon washing/drying for the slightly puckered look.
                        
  • 100% natural cotton a renewable fiber, grown by USA farmers.  There are no scrim, glue, resins or binders in Quilters Dream Cotton - so it is truly 100% natural.
  • Dream Cotton is Available in 4 lofts from very lightest cotton batting (Request loft) to the very heaviest cotton batting on the market (Supreme loft).
  • Beautiful drape – the Request and Select lofts are especially huggable
  • Very warm – cotton has a high thermal value, so it is a great insulator.  The Deluxe and Supreme lofts are extra-extra warm.
  • One of the many natural advantages of 100% cotton is that the fibers naturally absorbs moisture to help keep you comfy.
  • We use one of the longest and highest grade USA staple cotton fiber available.  Using high quality long fibers and state of the art needlepunch manufacturing allows us to produce the ultimate in cotton batting.  This enables you to  stitch up to 8" apart (giving you great design freedom) or you can stitch very close together and keep an exceptional soft 
         lovely drape – excellent for stippling. 
  • Curly natural soft cotton fibers are cohesive and  resist poking through and bearding.

Disadvantages:
  • Natural color of cotton can give beige undertones to white fabric (recommend using bleached Dream Cotton or Dream Poly for white fabrics).
  • Cost compared to man-made fibers.
  • Shrinkage/puckering effect may not be desirable for your quilt style.
  • Can impart a crease/fold line that needs ironed or steamed out.
  • Not recommended for utilitarian tied quilts.
  • Does not dry as quickly as polyester battings.

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QUILTERS DREAM POLY:   
Definitely NOT Polyester as Usual!   With the invention of fine denier microfibers (one of the biggest breakthroughs in polyester) came new advantages to using polyester fibers.   In Dream Poly there are over 60 million soft silky microfibers per pound (standard polyester batts uses about 5 million fibers per pound).   Our exclusive blend and needlepunch processing of these revolutionary microfibers gives Dream Poly exceptional hand, beautiful drape, warmth, better breathability and comfort, surpassing all other polyester batts! 
You wont believe it is polyester!
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Quilters Dream Poly Request  (Bright Teal Label/Yellow Daisies)
The lightest poly batting

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Quilters Dream Poly Select  (Bright Pink Label/Yellow Daisies)
Ideal Mid-loft Poly Batting

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Quilters Dream Poly Deluxe  (Bright Purple Label/Yellow Daisies)
Weightiest of the Polyester Battings



Quilters Dream Poly Batting:


Advantages:
  • Needlepunched poly microfibers mimic cotton fibers, so you get the look and feel of cotton
  
  • Available in 3 lofts from very light weight to heavy weight - choices for both hand and machine quilters.
  • No shrinkage, so quilting will look the same after washing, maintain just quilted look.   Excellent choice for modern quilters and modern quilting.
  • Will not hold a crease, even if it is folded up for months
  • Does not absorb moisture, so it dries very quickly and will not hold a stain
  • Less expensive
  • Breathable – there are no scrims or other barriers that would inhibit airflow
  • Very long fine denier fibers – no lint on the machine or in the air!
  • Fine denier microfibers bend when in contact with fabric, so they resist bearding
  • Available in bright white or true midnight Black.
  • Excellent for tied quilts.

Disadvantages:
  • Not a natural fiber (man made)
  • Does not impart a puckered, antiqued look.

Check back soon for Part 2 of Dream Batting University where we will cover Dream Green and Dream Orient batting. 

 Can't Wait to learn more?   For extra credit and more information Click Here:  Additional Quilters Dream Batting product information
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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

ONLY 27,400 QUILTS TO GO!

Yes, you are reading this right.  According to the ALS Association there are 30,000 Americans living with ALS right now.  The Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS would love to ensure that each one of these "PALS" - persons living with ALS - has a quilt.  Like Frank T. in Pennsylvania.


Merrit Holland Spier, Executive Director of the ALS Association Western Pennsylvania Chapter said Frank was thrilled with his gift of a quilt from Hopes & Dreams and so wanted to share this photo with each of you.  The quilt Frank received was made by Athena Mahnke of Belgium - yes, Belgium!  We are delighted that more and more friends internationally are hearing about and supporting Hopes & Dreams, especially when they face double and triple the shipping costs we incur to send their donated quilt(s) to the United States.



To date, you have joined with Hopes & Dreams and gifted a little over 2,600 quilts to PALS in the last four years. In the last month we have shipped 383 quilts that will be gifted to ALS patients this holiday season and requests for quilts are on the rise. Like the special request we received from Angela Frederick of  Belgrade, Montana.


Angela sent a sweet, simple note to our Hopes & Dreams Facebook page wanting to know how to receive a quilt.  In her words, "I have ALS and the quilts look so comfy :)) "  Immediately we asked for her address and a few days later her Hopes & Dreams quilt arrived.  Angela was beyond thrilled.  She shared the above picture of her smiling with her quilt and wrote, "I saw the Hopes & Dreams Facebook page on one of my ALS friends Facebook pages.  When I actually received my quilt I cried.  Just knowing that there are people out there who care is such a Godsend and means the world to me and my family."

Can you imagine the day before Valentine's Day being told by a doctor that you have a disease that is incurable, has no treatment and is 100% fatal?  That is exactly what happened to Angela on February 13 of this year.  Her Hopes & Dreams quilt was a wonderful gift of the heart.

"I had symptoms for about four years and the cold makes me weaker and my muscle spasms increase," writes Angela.  "Right now I have trouble walking and using my arms and hands.  The quilt keeps me warm, and it's more special then using a store bought blanket.  I will also use it for outings in my wheelchair when it's cold out.  A lot of people do not know what ALS is and when an organization like yours has people making quilts for us, it is very special to us.  Merry Christmas and God Bless to each of you."

So, we have 27,400 quilts to go to ensure all 30,000 people living with ALS right now have the same warmth and love and hope that Angela and Frank now enjoy. With your help we would love to reach a goal of 1,000 donated quilts in this our 5th year of the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS.  Want to know how you can participate?  Visit our Hopes & Dreams website or give us a call toll-free at (888) 268-8664.

Merry Christmas to all and numerous blessings in the New Year!

Your grateful Hopes & Dreams coordinator.



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

383 QUILTS TO PALS!


The boxes have started to arrive at ALS Chapters across the country filled with Hopes & Dreams Quilts.  We shipped out close to 400 quilts in the last few weeks to the delight of our ALS friends.


Our friend Merritt Holland Spier, Executive Director of the Western Pennsylvania ALS Chapter sent pictures of them opening boxes.  They are always so thrilled with your Hopes & Dreams Quilts.


Merritt writes, "70 quilts - all different - all made with love from Quilters Dream Batting sponsoring Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS for people living with ALS.  We will make sure they get to those in need!"

And in the mail today - a Thank You!

 
Brenda Edelman, Director of Patient Services, of the Greater Philadelphia ALS Chapter, sent a thank you for the beautiful quilts that will be going to "PALS" - persons living with ALS - in the states of New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.  On the phone Brenda exclaimed, "When these boxes arrived I got so excited!  All of the staff is coming in on Friday and we make opening the boxes an event here and it's as much you giving us a gift as it is when the quilts are given as gifts to our patients during our Christmas visits and Christmas parties!" 

You can give the gift of a quilt this Christmas to a family member or friend and help find a cure for ALS.  You can purchase a Hopes and Dreams quilt by visiting the Hopes and Dreams Storenvy shop and by visiting the Richard Stravitz 30th Street Art Gallery located at 3004 Pacific Avenue (corner of 30th Street and Pacific Avenue), in Virginia Beach.

If you're a quilter, consider making a Hopes & Dreams quilt and be entered to win fabulous prizes from our wonderful sponsors.  You can download a printable Entry Form on our Hopes & Dreams website.    

2014 is the Fifth Annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS and with your participation we hope to make it the biggest year ever!

Your Grateful Hopes & Dreams Coordinator
 




Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Puff Twin Giveaway! Mini Comforter Tutorial w/ Dog Under My Desk

Guest Blogger: Dog Under My Desk ~ Puff Mini Comforter Tutorial & FREE Puff Twin Giveaway!

Puff Mini Comforter Tutorial by Dog Under My Desk

Since having the chance to play with Quilters Dream Puff, I can say it is by far my favorite puffy poly batting. It’s so much softer and more flexible than some of the stiffer high-loft poly battings, even those labeled “soft”, and you can quilt it up to 10” apart rather than 2-5” that other poly battings require. It’s about 1/3” thick, so you can easily add a second layer for more loft and still be able to quilt it on your sewing machine.


Since the craft size package is about the size of a yard of fabric, I just had to make little mini comforters for the pups. My dogs always prefer to snuggle in a blanket, even if it’s on top of their dog bed (or MY bed!) and it’s nice to have little blankets that are easy to wash and don’t take up a lot of room to store. These would also be super quick kid gifts! They are the perfect size for toddlers to drag around. They are also a great stash buster. If you don’t have a two yard cut, just add an extra seam instead of the fold and use two complimentary one-yard pieces!


Continue reading Erin Erickson's Puff Mini Comforter Tutorial at Dog Under My Desk>>>>>>>>>>

Want to make a Mini Comforter for the furry friends in your life?

Post a Comment below telling us your pets snuggle habits.
Do they sleep on the floor? Have their own bed . . . steal your bed?
Let us know below.

This Friday Dec. 6th we will select one random post to receive a FREE Puff Twin from Quilters Dream!


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