Catherine Redford on Basting, Batting thickness, Domestic Machine and Webinar!

Catherine Redford was born in England where she learned to knit and sew at an early age. After relocating from London to Naperville, Illinois, she learned to quilt and has been stitching ever since. She's an award-winning quilter, an active member of her local guilds, a BERNINA brand ambassador, a popular teacher at local and national conferences, and the co-founder of the Naperville Modern Quilters Guild. Catherine is a frequent contributor to Modern Patchwork magazine and guest on Quilting Arts TV. She is the author of a QATV workshop DVD, Modern Machine Quilting and will be presenting a live webinar on Tuesday, June 23^rd.

My favorite part of making a quilt (after the fabric shopping bit…) is quilting it. From the time I make my first fabric selections to drafting a pattern, through cutting those fabrics into little pieces and stitching them back together, I’m thinking about how I am going to quilt my top.

I think my least favorite part is the basting but it’s so important it’s done right and it does give me the opportunity to see my finished top up really close and personal before it goes to the sewing machine… Basting is definitely an opportunity to listen to something good and think some happy thoughts!

When I first started quilting in 1998 there really weren’t a lot of readily available choices in the world of batting. I was introduced to Quilters Dream in 2003 when I started teaching at a local independent quilt store. With a choice of thicknesses and an ever-increasing choice of fibers I now use it almost exclusively for all my projects.

Working with Quilters Dream Cotton "Request" loft

To begin with I could never remember which was the loftiest loft. Now I just think “R” comes before “S” so Request is thinner than Select… I can always remember that! I use a lot of Request Cotton. It drapes so well and comes out of the bag ready to go. One of the simplest ways to get a large quilt through a domestic machine is to use a lower loft batting and Quilters Dream Cotton Request certainly fits the bill! 

Quilters Dream "Request" batting is the thinnest/lowest loft. 

Quilted using Quilters Dream Cotton "Request" loftWorking with Quilters Dream Cotton "Select" loft

If I want something heavier, such as for a wall hanging, I use the Select weight. I recently purchased king size batts in each weight and the Select one comes in a quite bit bigger bag! That makes a difference when you’re quilting a bed quilt.

Quilters Dream "Select" batting is the mid-loft. Excellent choice for hall hangings. 

Quilted wall hanging  using Quilters Dream Batting "Select"



Working with Quilters Dream Wool

I also like the Quilters Dream Wool. I like to put a cozy flannel fabric backing on my baby quilts but it does add to the weight. Wool batting is lighter and fluffier and balances the flannel. It washes really well. I have machine-washed and dried quilts with wool batting and I’m very happy with the results.

Quilted using Quilters Dream Wool



Join Catherine's webinar!

Now I’m enjoying travelling and teaching quilting techniques all over the USA and I always recommend Quilters Dream batting. I’m excited to be taking part in a live webinar next week. I’ll be sharing lots of my favorite techniques and tips for walking foot quilting on a domestic machine. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and get them answered at the end of my presentation.

Sign up is on line at http://www.shopfonsandporter.com/product/modern-machine-quilting-straight-lines-spirals-and-more .

 Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for one year. You do not have to attend the live event to get a recording of the presentation. You will receive a copy of the recorded presentation in an email that goes out within 1 week after the live event.

It sounds like fun to me. I hope you’ll join me.

Follow me on my blog at http://catherineredford.com or on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/catherineredfordquilter

Every day is an adventure!

 ~Catherine Redford

           

Wrapping up the 2015 Challenge year!!

   My name is Kathy Kent and  since coming to Quilter’s Dream Batting, I have been the one to log in each and every quilt that we receive for the Hope and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).  I am a hand quilter and have truly developed a love and appreciation for machine quilting.   The beauty in the stitches is incredible.   I never knew machine quilts were so gorgeous.   So much more goes in to making the quilts than you could ever imagine:  choosing the fabric, pattern, backing and the batting.  It is truly a gift of love.

Being a quilter myself, you can imagine my excitement when receiving quilts every day by mail!    These quilts are stitched with love in memory of a treasured one or simply just because. Whether machine quilted, hand quilted, tied, large or small, each quilt is unique and special.   My job is to open the packages, photograph each quilt, thank their owner then display the quilt on Facebook.  I then separate the quilts to either be distributed to ALS patients all over the country for comfort or set them aside to be sold with 100% of the proceeds going towards ALS research! 

Sometimes we get a little overloaded with quilts, the table behind my desk is piled high with quilts. 

 Quilters are so generous with their time and passion. We receive quilts from guilds, shops, individuals, professional quilters etc. Did you know that you could be a winner of fabulous prizes including Quilters Dream Batting, fabrics, notions and books by simply donating one quilt? The photo below explains each category and prizes that could be won. 

  

Click HERE to see exactly what our generous sponsors have donated!

The pictures and letters of ‘thank you’ we receive from PALS (patients with ALS), are so heartwarming. Truly touched by your quilts, these patients are so grateful for the gift of love that they receive!  

Teri received her quilt from the DC/MD/VA ALS Chapter

                                               

Bill was thrilled to receive his special quilt which will keep him nice & cozy in his favorite chair. 

Janet from Clenton, MS sent this pic along with a thank you note. She says it makes her feel so  warm :)

    

We will soon begin wrapping up the 2015 Hopes and Dreams Challenge. 

Please keep in mind quilts or creative items MUST be postmarked no later than July 31, 2015. Anything dated after that will be entered into the 2016 year challenge. 

We are still hoping to get many more quilts to pass along to our PALS.  Surpassing last year’s total would be wonderful.  

Thank you in advance for all of your donations and your generosity!!!   Hope to see your quilts in my office soon.    We love our quilters!

Kathy Kent
Hopes and Dreams Coordinator 

Featured #battgirls (June) Emily Hull

Featured #battgirls (June 2015)

Emily Hull

I've been quilting for a few years.  This is the first time I've used Quilters Dream Batting.  This is Quilters Dream Wool. 

 Since this quilt is for my bed I want warmth, a little loft for the cuddly feeling (and to show quilting definition) but without the weight of higher loft cotton batting.  Wow.  I live in an apartment and so have to be creative with basting (done in sections in a table) and quilting space.

Unlike other battings I've tried, the Quilters Dream Wool did not stretch, distort or shred while in the basting/quilting process.  In the past I've had difficulty with higher loft cotton battings being very heavy and therefore feeding unevenly in the quilting process.  I'm almost done with my stitch in the ditch for this and its been a dream.  Just floats under the needle light as air.  It really is a quilters dream.  I'm so glad I picked this batting and I'll definitely use it again.

This quilt features piecing, applique and reverse applique.  Its reclaimed cotton (from old garments or leftovers from other quilt projects) on the front and flannel on the back.  Some of the designs are from "48 hour appliqué quilts" and some are my own.  

Contact info:

Emily Hull
Zionsville, IN

e.hull1999@gmail.com