Featured #battgirls // Maika Christensen

Hi. My name is Maika Christensen of A Quilted Marvel. I live in Durango, Colorado. My quilting story began about 18 years ago. I was in college. My extended family began to get together annually for a Family Quilt Retreat. For the first couple years I refused to go because “quilting is for old ladies”.  My mom finally convinced me to give it a try. So I attended quilt retreat one year and loved it! At that point, I probably just loved the people, but the love of quilting took hold soon afterward and has not let go.

 I pieced quilts for about 5 years before I decided I wanted to try my hand at machine quilting them myself.  I was pretty awful, but really enjoyed doing it. So I kept practicing. After a few years of destroying my own quilts, I started in on family members (bless them!). Over time I got better and better until I was ready to do quilts for others.  I absolutely love machine quilting. It is so creative. I am always online looking at what other artists have done, looking for something new to add to my repertoire.

 The best part of the small quilting business I have built is that I do it from my home. I am a stay-at-home mom with two little girls. It is wonderful to be able to do what I love, while not missing out on my children. 

I use my regular Bernina sewing machine to do all my quilts. That’s what I learned on, and that’s what I know. So I have decided not to make the move to a long-arm. The money aspect also help with that decision.

 My family continues to get together each year. This is my absolute favorite “holiday”.  I look forward to it like kids look forward to Christmas!  We meet for four days, completely sequestered from any men or children (unless you have an infant under one year- they are always welcome).  We quilt and quilt and laugh and eat chocolate and quilt…and sometimes cry (darn you directional fabric!). We do not, however, schedule much time for sleeping. But I guess that’s optional. 

The quilting talent is strong in my family *Star Wars reference*. One of my aunts is a machine quilter like me. Another very talented aunt, Jill Finley, owner of Jillily Studios, designs quilt patterns and notions. She lets me quilt a lot of her projects, letting me feel a little bit famous when my name briefly appears in a magazine. My mother excels at all varieties of sewing; she made my wedding dress!

If you are thinking of trying a little machine quilting yourself, or have already started but are struggling, a huge amount of trial and error have lead me to a few quilting tips that I can share:

1. Use a “Sew Slip” or similar product to help your quilt move under your machine.

2. Drop your feed dogs and set your stitch length to 0.

3. Use something to help you grip your quilt. Many people wear quilting gloves or wraps; I personally find these very annoying and not real efficient. I’m embarrassed to admit what I do, but I spray my hands with basting spray! Makes a world of difference when your quilt moves easily. Choose your method, its personal preference.

4. If you are going to put in a lot of hours into a quilt, do yourself a favor and double batt your quilt. It doesn’t add much to the total cost, but it makes the quilting absolutely pop. It shows all your hard work that much better.  I like to either double up on Quilter’s Dream Deluxe loft cotton batting or layer cotton batting with Quilter’s Dream Wool. These are my favorite battings and I stock both in my home.

5. Start in the middle of your quilt and work out. You are less likely to get bunching on the back.

6. My current machine has a larger-than-normal throat space, allowing me to quilt any size quilt without issue. But I started on a basic machine and had to learn to “quilt in thirds” to finish queen and king size quilts. This means cutting your batting into three pieces. Then you only baste the middle section of the quilt.  You quilt that section first (this means that you only have to squish fabric in the throat space; not a ton of batting.) When the middle section is done, you fold back the quilt top and backing fabrics and zigzag-stitch together a length of batting to the middle batting piece (don’t quilt all the way to the edge of the batting so you have room to stitch the next section to it) and baste that section.  Then you machine quilt that end of the quilt. Then you repeat the process on the other end of the quilt. This process allows you to never have to stuff a bunch of batting in the throat space of your machine. I’ve quilted king size quilts this way.

This quilt I designed based on a famous Japanese painting. It was sewn using Quilter’s Dream Deluxe Cotton, layered with Quilter’s Dream Wool. It was juried into the International Quilt Show in Houston this year, which I was quite proud of, even if it didn‘t win anything.

Above is a round robin that I did with my mother and sisters. I also double batted it using Quilter’s Dream Deluxe Cotton  and Dream Wool. 

Keep up with Maika's work....

 Instagram: @AQuiltedMarvel 

Email: maika@familypieces.com

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

Featured #battgirls (November) Redbird Quilt Co./Karen Miller

Featured #battgirls (November)

Redbird Quilt Co./ Karen Miller

Karen Miller, owner of Redbird Quilt Co. in New York, has a serious love for wool and cotton applique quilts. In this #batttgirls blog, Karen shares her experience with using Quilters Dream Wool for the very first time.  

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Hi Quilters Dream! Thanks for such a fantastic way to share our projects with you.

I am a brand new customer of Quilters Dream Batting and I'm writing to say that I am completely thrilled with the quilting results and definition using Quilters Dream Wool on my most recent project, Feathered Garden Lattice.

I was invited to create a quilt for a new book release Blog Hop and was a bit dissatisfied with the wool batting I've been using for some time.   I decided it was time for a change.

So I purchased Dream Wool from a friend and longarm quilter who uses it regularly, (Cindy at www.sewitis.com) and I'm happy I did.

Right off the bat (no pun intended), I could tell that the quality of the Quilters Dream Wool was superior to the brand I had been using.  The wool was uniform and did not contain overlapping sections that would throw off the consistency of the quilting.  I was doing a happy dance!

I especially loved the way it quilted on my domestic machine.  It wasn't heavy to maneuver and the needle went through it like butter - really!! 


My quilting style normally includes dense quilting around an applique or focal print and the Dream Wool worked perfectly to make the focal point POP.

Also, for the first time I quilted feathers on several borders of this quilt and the Dream Wool gave them the texture and definition that I DREAM about (ha ha ha).  Seriously -- I love the way this quilt finished and batting plays such a large role in that. 

Thanks for such an awesome product - Dream Wool is now my best friend.  I can't wait to try out Dream Cotton (you have various lofts of cotton?? WOW!).

Thanks again for an awesome product.
Karen L. Miller

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Keep up with Redbird Quilt Co/Karen Miller

Redbird Quilt Co Website: www.redbirdquiltco.com

Patterns: Redbird Quilt Co Craftsy Store

 Instagram: instagram.com/redbirdquiltco

Facebook: facebook.com/redbirdquiltco

Twitter: twitter.com/RedbirdQuiltCo

Pinterest: pinterest.com/RedbirdQuiltCo

Blog: www.karensquiltscrowscardinals.blogspot.com

 Teaching Schedule: http://www.e-quilterscorner.com/

** Don’t miss out on the GIVEAWAY!  Head to Karen’s blog**



Happy Quilting!
The 

Featured #battgirls (October 2014) Simply Quilted/Debbie Yarbrough

Featured #battgirls- (October 2014) 

Simply Quilted/Debbie Yarbrough

Quilters Dream Batting: What inspired you to start/own your quilting business and what inspires you now?

Debbie Yarbrough:  I quilted on my home machine and the quilts just kept getting bigger and bigger but the machine didn't. I decided it was time to purchase a long arm, to offer services now, to grow a home business and have additional income now and in the future. I have been quilting for over twenty years and have had my long arm for little over a year. Before my long arm I quilted exclusively on my home machine. I am self taught and pick up ideas from books, the Internet and other quilters.  I teach free motion quilting for the home machine, free motion for the long arm and ruler work for the long arm at Georgia Sewing and Quilting. I have to give thanks to the owner, Jeanne Soloman, who has been nothing but a huge support and given me endless amounts of encouragement during my quilting career.  I am compassionate about quilting and this always feeds over in my classes. I am so inspired by the many different quilt patterns, and how the quilting only enhances them.

"Christmas In Red" 
Fig Tree & Co - Star Struck pattern
Moda Fabrics-  Winter Wonderland collection
Superior Thread- Magnifico (top stitch)
So Fine Thread- In the bobbin

Quilters Dream Batting: Your favorite thing about quilting and/or being part of the quilting industry?

Debbie Yarbrough: The relaxation I feel when quilting-I am obsessed with it. The quilt featured in this blog, is all free hand free motion and rulers. I absolutely love quilting with rulers and each time I quilt a quilt, I try something new. (The paisley feathers). I do love feathers.  I adore free motion quilting, learning new designs.

QDB:  What advice would you give to someone who’s never tried the Wool batting?

DY: Dream Wool is my favorite! Wool and Dream Cotton are all I use. I love the way the batting defines my quilting. It drapes really nice, it's light weight but warm and it really takes your quilting to the next level and makes it pop! Depending on what I have in mind for quilting, I sometimes will use both at the same time. I recently had three quilts win ribbons and I contribute most of  this to the outcome of the quilting due to the batting I used.

QDB: What do you do in your spare time?

DY: I volunteer my time for Quilts for Kids, Homeless Veterans,Mothers in Shelters-anyone that's less fortunate than me. My motto is "give until it feels good, not till it hurts". So many forget how an unexpected gift can really brighten someone’s day, no matter the size of the gift.

I am looking forward to the day that I can devote 100% of my time to quilting for others and give up my day job.  

QDB: What has been your biggest quilting achievement?

DY: I just ribboned on three events in a quilt show recently. I actually entered on a whim not sure what I was doing. But I am proud to say I won 1st Place and an Award of Excellence on one of my quilts and took 2nd Place on two others. I am not a competitive quilter so I can't wait to get my quilts back to see what the judges said I need to do to improve.  That was so much fun, I think I have the bug!

"Rose"
1st Place and an Award of Excellence at the Georgia National Fair
Pattern: Fiona by Me and My Sister
Fabric- Moda Fabrics (charm pack)

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"Glimmer"
2nd Place at the Georgia National Fair
Pattern: Sunbeams by It's Sew Emma
Fabric: Jocelyn Ueng for It's Sew Emma

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2nd Place at the Georgia National Fair
Pattern: Found in a magazine
Fabric: Scraps from Moda Fabrics

Keep up with Simply Quilted, Debbie Yarbrough

For longarm quilting services:

 Phone:

 (770)271-7880 

Email: debbieyarbrough@bellsouth.net

Follow Debbie on social media!

 Facebook 

 Instagram (@simplyquilted)

Twitter (simply_quilted)

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Remember we are always here to answer your batting questions and will be happy to provide samples too!

 If you or someone you know is working on a project using Quilters Dream Batting, please submit your projects! Maybe you could be our next Featured #battgirls or #battmen. 

Featured #battgirls (August): Judy Martin & Lana Corcoran

Meet our August #battgirls 

Quilt designer/author:

Judy Martin

Judy began making quilts in 1969 when she was a college student. After that first quilt, she couldn't go into a fabric store without coming home with an armful of fabric for another of her quilt ideas. She jokes that she had to become a professional quilt maker in order to justify her fabric stash. In 1980, Judy wrote her first quilting book as an editor of Quilter's Newsletter. Since 1988, Judy and her husband, Steve Bennett, have been self publishing Judy's books. To date, Judy has designed and published 996 original block and quilt patterns, many of them in her 22 quilting books.  

In November, Steve and Judy published Judy's latest book, Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts. The book has comprehensive information and helpful tips for making Log Cabin quilts, as well as patterns for 15 stunning new variations of this timeless favorite. 

Main Street Log Cabin
Designed & pieced by Judy Martin
Quilted by Lana Corcoran

See if you have what it takes to
become a Master Quilt Maker
Game available soon.

This summer, Steve and Judy's  quilting game was published by Rio Grande Games. The game, Quilt Show, was a winner of the Rio Grande Games Design Contest. Game play is intuitive for quilters, who will love it whether or not they consider themselves gamers. 

Over the years, Judy has made more than 250 quilts; designed several fabric lines and rotary cutting tools; written scores of magazine articles; released several Electric Quilt pattern software products; recorded quilting videos for YouTube and Quilter's Newsletter TV and an episode of Simply Quilts on HGTV; and had a one-woman show of 30 of her quilts at The National Quilt Museum, where one of her quilts is in the museum's permanent collection. Judy Martin Books is active on Pinterest and Facebook, and Judy offers a free newsletter and Block of the Moment patterns on her web site: http://www.judymartin.com. 

Judy does a little hand quilting for gifts, and she likes using Quilters Dream Cotton (Request loft) because it allows her to make small, even stitches. In order to complete quilts in a timely fashion for her books, Judy has them professionally quilted. Because Judy designs and pieces the quilts as well as writing, typesetting, and illustrating her books, time constraints do not allow her to quilt the projects in her books. Instead, she entrusts the quilting to talented longarm quilter, Lana Corcoran. 

Lakeshore Log Cabin.
Designed & pieced by Judy Martin.
Quilted by Lana Corcoran

For years, Judy has specified Dream Cotton (Select) Loft as her batting of choice in her quilts that are finished with machine quilting. Judy usually discusses her vision for the quilting with Lana, but she trusts Lana, listens to her ideas and suggestions, and is comfortable scrapping the original plan if Lana comes up with something better. 

Meet longarm quilter:

Lana Corcoran

It’s hard to believe that I started quilting for others more than 11 years ago. The time has flown by and I’ve enjoyed every minute.

Like many long arm quilters, this is not my first career. My first was as a photojournalist; my last years as a photographer were spent in Washington, D.C., covering the President as a White House Press Photographer with a major wire service. I changed careers after earning an MBA, working with Fortune 500 companies doing business process engineering. Both of those careers have helped me as a quilter. From photography, I learned creativity, artistic composition, balance, and patience. From the business world, I know that successful businesses provide excellent products, services, and value to their customers. I've tried to apply lessons from both careers to my long arm business.

Aspen Log Cabin
Designed & pieced by Judy Martin
Quilted by Lana Corcoran

About 10 years ago, one of my customers brought me a package of Quilters Dream batting to use in her quilt and I've been a big fan ever since. Quilters Dream products are my favorites for my own quilts as well as my recommendation for my customers. It is important that batting is high quality, which means that it is consistent in thickness, is “clean” with no specks of cotton seeds that can leach oil onto the quilt fabric, and doesn't beard. My experience is that Quilters Dream meets all those criteria.

It’s important to me to have options to offer my customers to meet the intended uses of their quilts. For most quilts, customers choose Cotton Select, in either white or natural. It drapes beautifully, no matter how densely it is quilted. 

Those who like a loftier look and want a quilt that “breathes” love, I recommend the Dream Wool. For baby quilts, Dream Angel is the choice for its flame retardant qualities. For show quilts, a combination of Dream Wool on top of Dream Blend gives a look of trapunto without the intense labor of stuffing or cutting batts.

Dream Wool layered over Dream Blend
Designed by Nancy Sullivan Jacobs
Quilted by Lana Corcoran

Whichever one I choose, the quality is always consistent.

There are so many talented quilters. It is a pleasure and an honor when one of them trusts me to quilt their quilts. Over the years I have developed special relationships with many of them, both personally and professionally. Judy Martin, for example, has had me quilt the quilts in her last three books, including 12 for her last book, Extraordinary Log Cabins. I have quilted thousands of quilts for customers, and have won dozens of ribbons, including Paducah and MQX. I’m also very proud of the fact that I still quilt for my very first customer, despite the fact that we are over 1000 miles apart!











You too can get Lana's digitized longarm patterns available for download on Intelligent Quilting's website!

We hope you enjoyed reading about our August #battgirls and feel inspired to try some of their work. We will even send you some 10 X 10 size samples of your batting choice for you to play with. Just give us a shout! Until then, we are always on the hunt for the next Featured #battgirls....will it be you?


Happy Quilting,
The original

888.268.8664
quiltersdreambatting@juno.com

Featured #battgirls (July2014)- Got Kwilts?/Richla Ramsey

I made my first quilt when I was pregnant with my first daughter 8 years ago.  I had to stop working due to complications and decided to take a beginning quilting class.  Several quilts later, I was hooked.  I did my research and decided to start my own longarm business.  Pretty funny, since I am such a tomboy and never liked to sew!  Next to playing tennis, it is now my favorite thing to do.  I have a new studio, 2 Longarms and can't wait until I get "Thelma" and "Louise" working each day.  

This spacious colorful studio is sure to inspire the creative!

Richla's Inspiration:

I am truly inspired everyday by the women and quilts that walk through my door.  I can not believe how many talented and creative women are out there. I'm just waiting for that day when a man brings me a quilt- I know they are out there. I find it amazing that I rarely work on the same quilt twice!  I LOVE what I do! My favorite thing about quilting is how the batting, thread and quilting process totally changes a piece of fabric and brings it to life. I love how my clients always light up when they see their finished quilt and how it changed.  I truly believe that Dream battings make all the difference. 

Her technique:

 I started using multiple layers of batting because I was trying to make a quilt feel like my Grandmas' quilts.  Plus, my family never used the quilts I made because they were too thin. If I could get 3 layers of Dream Woolunder my hopper, my family would be very happy!  

2 layers of batting:
Dream Cotton (on top)
Dream Wool (on bottom)

 I have found that mixing the battings together on a single quilt can change the feel of the quilt and also help me manipulate shapes on a quilt and make it very dimensional. I have many clients who now ask for double layers of batting and are not afraid to mix it up!  

How to achieve this look:

If I decide to mix Cotton with Wool or Puff, I always put the cotton on the bottom.  This allows the Wool or Puff to fill in on the top. I also try to do more dense quilting around the shape I want to accent, so the Wool or Puff will fill in the open area.  The first time I did this, I was concerned because the quilt looked so puffy, but now I love working with double layers. 

2 layers of batting:
Dream Cotton (on top)
Dream Wool (on bottom)

Double layer of Dream Cotton

Keep up with Got Kwilts? Richla Ramsey:

Click HERE for her longarm class schedule.

Visit Richla's Blog for more helpful tips and inspiration.

Follow Richla on Facebook.
Email: gotkwilts@comcast.net

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How about that studio?! I don't know about you but now I have the sudden urge to clean my craft space....maybe. Don't forget to follow and find Richla for more interesting techniques and upcoming classes from the links above! Remember, you can always give us a call if you need samples or have any questions. We are always looking for the next Featured #battgirls , so submit your projects and you could be our next feature blog post! 

Happy Quilting!
The Original

Guest Blogger: Nan Baker from Purrfect Spots is Wild about Bunnies!

Wild about bunnies!

Do you like bunnies? Well who doesn't like bunnies? They are so cute and soft and snuggly plus they make you think of Spring and Easter. And because I love bunnies, I designed a bunny quilt. But these are no ordinary bunnies. These adorable bunnies are the creation of the internationally famous watercolorist, Will Bullas. He has long been known in the art world for his fabulous paintings and many of them are of animals. However, Will has a wonderful sense of humor and that gives his art work a very different twist. He has received numerous awards and you can read all about him and see more of his artwork at by visiting his website.

I have known Will for almost 20 years.  I first used his designs in my needlework patterns featuring cross stitch.  Here are two of them shown in cross stitch.  "Dust Bunnies" is a favorite.

"Dust Bunnies"

Dust Bunnies was featured as a quilted wall hanging in The Quilt Pattern Magazine (March 2014).  Quilters Dream Wool was used in that quilt as well. 

"The Recruit",  in cross stitch is one of the blocks featured in the bunny quilt. No matter whether you are doing cross stitch or quilting, the bunnies are great designs.

"The Recruit"

After working with Will's images in needlework, I was delighted to be able to do a quilt adaptation. The result is my latest quilt called "Bullas Bunnies"!

"Bullas Bunnies"

Not only are the bunnies adorable with lots of personality, but the names that Will has given them are priceless. He has a wonderful sense of humor.

Starting at the top left and going across are:

 Hare Style with a bowtie. Hareball with a baseball – think Spring training. Easter Fashion  - the baby duck and chick have bunny ears. Cottontails and Cute Buns(no comment needed here). The Recruit (shown earlier in cross stitch) shows a baby duck with his bunny ears. Bunnet all decked out in her Easter Bonnet. Honeybun has a bee on his nose. Baby Talk shows cute baby chicks and a baby bunny.

The fabrics used in this quilt are by Hoffman using mostly their 1895 Watercolor Collection. Because of the painted look of the fabrics, it is just "purrfect" to use for the bunnies as it gives them a natural shading. You can add more shading if you want, but many times it is not necessary. The speciality threads that make all the cute expressions on the bunnies' faces are by Kreinik Threads. Working with the threads, you can make the long whiskers on the bunnies plus give them eyelashes and ear fuzz! I even used their iron-on ribbon to make the bee in Honeybun. 

But one question you might ask is how did these bunnies get so fluffy? Well thanks to Quilters Dream Batting, their Dream Wool did the trick. I had never quilted with wool or a "puffy" loft, so I was a little apprehensive. I checked with the staff at Quilters Dream, told them about the quilt and what I was trying to accomplish. Their suggestion was Dream Wool. The quilt measures 46" x 63" just a little larger than a throw. I don't have a long arm machine, just a regular sewing machine so it looked like a monumental task. And with the extra "fluff" I wondered how it was going to work. (Picture 6) 

Well my worries were unfounded. Dream Wool was very easy to work with and not real bulky like I had feared. I must tell you it quilted like a dream (Oh I think that is their saying.) But it is true and if you haven't tried it, I urge you to do so. And if you have any questions their great staff will be more than happy to help you. 

I hope you like the Bullas Bunnies pattern and when you do start making those bunnies, I hope you will share pictures of your bunnies and your quilt. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to let me know. I also would like to thank Quilters Dream Batting for allowing me to share my story about the bunnies on their blog.

~Nan Baker

Website: www.purrfectspots.com
Blog: www.purrfectspots.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PurrfectSpotsDesigns
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/purrfectspots/
 Patterns: Quilt Woman.com