Friday, January 17, 2014

Batting University (Part 2) Dream Green and Dream Orient Batting



This week we are delighted to continue Batting University with a look at Quilters Dream Green and Quilters Dream Orient battings!  We hope you enjoy a closer look at what makes each batting unique. If you have any questions or you would like free samples, call us toll free, 1-888-268-8664, or email: QuiltersDreamBatting@juno.com 





QUILTERS DREAM GREEN BATTING


Dream Green batting is a soft, cozy, and cuddly batting that is 100% made from recycled bottles.  Each pound of Dream Green rescues 10 bottles that could be added to the landfills! The polyester microfibers are indistinguishable from virgin poly fibers, so it has all the advantages of Dream Poly with added environmental benefits.
Dream Green Batting
The green coloring comes from the recycled bottles - there must be a lot of Mt. Dew drinkers!


Advantages:

  • Made 100% from recycled bottles for the environmentally sensitive quilter
  • Needlepunched poly microfibers mimic cotton fibers, so you get the look and feel of cotton
  • No shrinkage, so quilting will look the same after washing
  • Excellent for both hand and machine 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
  • Breathable – there are no scrims or other barriers that would inhibit airflow
  • Fine denier microfibers bend when in contact with fabric, so they resist bearding


Disadvantages:

  • Green in color, so test when using under white or very light colored fabrics
  • Does not shrink, so you will get no puckering
  • Does not wick moisture away from the body like cotton
  • Is not a natural fiber (man-made)


QUILTERS DREAM ORIENT BATTING

Dream Orient is the softest, drapiest batting available! East meets West with this elegant blend of sustainable bamboo, luxurious silk, botanic Tencel® and strong, stable cotton. One touch and you will be hooked!

Freshly quilted Dream Orient Batting. Lovely drape that begs to be fondled.


Teal quilted pinwheel block is a single layers of Dream Orient Batting. Purple quilted pinwheel is a double layer of Dream Orient batting - even doubled it keeps a wonderful drape.



Advantages:

  • The very softest and best draping batting there is, even when stitched very closely
  • Slight shrinkage (1-3%) upon washing/drying for the slightly puckered look
  • Excellent for both hand and machine quilting
  • Wicks moisture away from the body to keep you cool in the summer
  • Breathable – there are no scims or other barriers that would inhibit airflow
  • Fine denier fibers bend when in contact with fabric, so they resist bearding

Disadvantages:

  • Slight Shrinkage (1-3%) after washing
  • Cost compared with other battings
  • Not recommended for tied quilts
  • Bamboo fibers are short, so can be a bit linty if over-handled
  • Fibers are not 100% from the USA, however, Dream Orient (like all Dream Battings) is made in the USA!

Please come back next week for part 3 of our Month Long Series: Batting University.  We will continue with Dream Angel (flame retardant batting) and Dream Blend for Machines!

 
Happy Quilting!
Follow on Bloglovin

Friday, January 10, 2014

Hello! Do You Quilt?

Happy New Year and Hello!  Here's the face to the Facebook and blog posts you may have read the past year and a half.  My name is Jennifer Griffin and I help Kathy Thompson and the "Dream Team" by coordinating the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS.  I'm just one of many who have a hand in Hopes & Dreams and we will introduce you to everyone else over the course of the coming weeks.

Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge Coordinator Jennifer Griffin
This picture was taken a little over a year-and-a-half ago at a quilt shop in Virginia Beach, Virginia that I worked at and managed for a short time.  Just looking at the quilt in the background, which was the sample for the "Women of Courage" block-of-the-month quilt, brings back such fond memories.  That quilt was pieced together by a wonderful, feisty, 84-year old master quilter named Jerri.  Jerri has since moved to Florida but before she left she took me under her wing, teaching me quite a bit about quilting.  I blame Jerri for my ever growing 'stash' of batiks and overflowing bags of scraps (but hey, I hear I am in good company)! 

During my time at the quilt shop I was introduced to Quilters Dream Batting and the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS.  While the batting is fabulous (my favorite being the Dream Fusion Natural Cotton Select) it is the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS that captured my heart. 

It's not inexpensive to make a quilt.  It's not a quick process either.  Having thousands of them donated so that they can be given to ALS patients or used to help raise ALS research funds is amazing.  I remember speaking to a friend over dinner last summer marveling over the generosity of so many that donate quilts, wanting to be a part of helping spread the word about Hopes & Dreams.

Today, my blessing is the opportunity to do just that.  The bonus to this blessing - each of you.

Wonderful boxes addressed to Hopes & Dreams
I am both encouraged and humbled when a box marked "Hopes & Dreams" arrives at Quilters Dream Batting.  Opening each package is something we all enjoy.  

Quilters Dream Batting Customer Service Queen Neva Bacle unveiling quilts in a Hopes & Dreams box.

Then we read the Entry Form attached to each quilt.  We recognize some familiar names that send in dozens, if not hundreds, of quilts each year.  We marvel at what patterns and fabric you use and look even closer at the quilting.

And we tear up at times and find ourselves whispering, "Awe!".  You send in quilts in memory of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, relative or a friend.  You write such encouraging and heartfelt notes of love, and you do it - making and donating quilts - over and over and over again.

As encouragement and as a little way of saying thank you, we are going to start designing some patterns and share them with you. They may be full size quilt blocks to make a throw or larger quilt, and then they may be little 'happy' quilts that could hang in a small space on your wall or lie on a table next to a table or lamp.

In fact, last weekend I took a quilt class and had some fabric scraps leftover that I decided I would turn into a little quilt pattern for you.  Here's a sneak peak:

Vase and flowers mini quilt (pattern) in progress.
It's all finished but the quilting and we'll get that done this weekend!  Once completed I'll write up the directions, include a printable pattern and hopefully you will enjoy.  As for this finished mini-quilt, I'm going to donate it to Hopes & Dreams in the "Sew Creative" category.  Fabric postcards, handbags and accessories, tablerunners, table toppers, wall quilts, watercolors and more - like this mini quilt - will be sold to raise funds for ALS Research.  All entries will be entered into a drawing to win a $250 gift card and other great prizes. 

I look forward to seeing the UPS man walk in the door.  He may not know the extent of the creativity and love he's walking in with, but we do.

Have a safe, and hopefully warmer, weekend!