Shannon Fabrics Supports the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS

Greetings from Shannon Fabrics! Can we just say how much we love Quilters Dream® Batting?  In fact, almost all of the quilts that are made by our Cuddle® Specialists are made with Quilters Dream Batting. It’s easy to work with, soft, fluffy, warm, and it makes our applique quilts especially fluffy! We made this cute elephant quilt with Dream Puff. Shannon Fabrics is also so proud to be a sponsor of the Quilters Dream Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge forALS which raises awareness of ALS-Lou Gehrig’s Disease, provides quilts to ALS patients and raises funds for the cause. 

  

Quilters Dream® Batting is amazing. We especially love the Dream Puff for Cuddle®. It is light and lofty. It doesn’t add weight. And it is 1.5 times warmer than down. We used Quilters Dream Puff for our Elephant Quilt and it turned out great.

Since the majority of our quilts use a “quilt as you go” method, using batting like Quilters Dream Puff makes our quilts look extra fluffy and plush, and here at Shannon Fabrics, we are all about the extra softness and yummy goodness! Here is an example of one of our applique quilts…pattern will be available from the Shannon Fabrics website soon!

You can find Shannon Fabrics at many local quilt shops and fabric stores, and online at fabric.com, theminkyboutique.com, and fabricdepot.com. You can also view our Store Locator to find online shops and shops near you.

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening! Join our mailing list. Subscribe to our blog, Sewciety. Connect with us on social media too on the following: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Google +, and Flickr.

Thanks for letting us visit with you today. If you’d like to find out more about the Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS, click here.

Making The World a Softer Place™

Hugs from your friends at Shannon Fabrics

Featured #battgirl Toby Thompson

Toby Thompson

 Toby Thompson

     I began quilting after graduating from college in 1976 inspired by my grandmother's hand quilting. After my first-hand stitched quilt,  (completed with her help), I pivoted to machine quilting.

     In those days, my favorite was making log cabin quilts.  Just a few years after that however, my career path & children took all my time and sewing went on hold.  30+ years passed.  I retired from teaching in 2015 & had inherited my mother's Bernina machine in 2013.  

     The machine intimidated me until this past fall when I desired to make each of my 3 grandchildren (ages 1, 3 & 5) a cozy, flannel quilt for Christmas to wrap them in my love despite our being 525 miles apart.  Yes, 3 quilts to make simultaneously after 30+ nonsewing years!  Because I was so "rusty,” every step in the process required a lot of thought, research, and input  from more experienced folks - selecting patterns, fabrics, batting, techniques, & even basics of how to use my mother's machine, starting with how to load the bobbin!     

 I chose two baby quilt patterns that I found online (Fluffy Pinwheels and Lazy Logs) and enlarged them both.  I selected flannel fabrics online and from an incredible Amish fabric store, Miller's Dry Goods, about 50 miles from me in Charm, OH.  Acquiring all the fabric, cutting, piecing & sewing 3 quilt tops took time!  As much of an accomplishment as it was to finish three quilt tops, I knew I was a long way from being finished and Christmas was quickly approaching.  I wanted to finish each quilt with a warm, lofty batting & either hand-tie or stitch-in-the-ditch to a minky/cuddle fabric backing to keep the quilts flexible and cozy for the children to wrap up with and read their beloved books.

 

     The batting choices in today's marketplace are overwhelming!  I was leaning toward another well-known brand's cotton batting until I read on the internet about Dream Puff batting by Quilter's Dream. I even called them to discuss the appealing description of Dream Puff for my project. I received super-helpful, personal advice & was even provided a list of stores in my area code that carry Quilter's Dream Puff, which included the Amish fabric store where I had bought some of the fabrics. Whew!  

     The quilts exceeded my hopes of being soft, lofty, warm, & cozy. My grandchildren love them, and I've made my presence in their daily lives much more frequent than the miles allow.  I'm getting ready to make another quilt, but only ONE quilt at a time. lol 

Oh, Fransson! Aviatrix Medallion Quilt-Along: Thread and a Prayer

One of my favorite designers is Elizabeth Hartman over at Oh, Fransson!  I have both of her books and really love her style (she's also a Janome girl!)  So I was checking out her blog a few weeks ago, eagerly awaiting the release of her next book, Patchwork City.  I noticed a post about the Aviatrix Medallion Quilt.  I loved it.  Clean, modern, angular lines and it looked like a great skill builder quilt.  Then she announced a quilt-along (QAL) for this pattern.  I had to participate.

I will be posting every Wednesday my progress with the QAL.  Finishing with my choice of batting as well as posting the finished project.

The fabric selection process was a bit difficult for me.  I have trouble committing to a pallet, and I always end up second guessing my color choices.  Thankfully, I work with some very talented, crafty ladies.  Their input was invaluable.  I followed Elizabeth's suggestion and headed over to Design Seeds for some inspiration.

The bulk of my fabric selection was purchased at Hawthorne Threads with a few additions from Pink Castle.

To be honest, my piecing skills are not the best.  I'm constantly looking for projects that will test my skills and ultimately make me a better quilter. Elizabeth wasn't kidding when she said the middle block is the most challenging!

The middle diamonds were not impossible; I just lowered the speed on my machine, went slow and used the fabric guide that came with my Janome 7700. I had no idea my Janome came with a fabric guide until I saw Elizabeth's.

The part that gave me the most trouble was adding the grey background pieces.  Everything sewed on nicely, but when I tried to square up the diamonds to the grey background, it became apparent that my diamonds were a bit wonky.  And you know how things go from there.  With each additional piece added, my wonky block became flat out wacky!

The end result is a 14 1/2" wavy block with points that mostly match up and are held together on a thread and a prayer. :)  If I'm up to it this weekend, I'll give it another go and make a second medallion.

Wavy Block.

Completed block.

Most of the points match.

SEAMS....don't judge me too harshly :)

Have you participated in a Quilt-along?  Who was the designer?  Any quilting tips so my blocks don't end up so wonky?  If so, tell me in the comments.  

If anyone is interested in trying the center medallion block, Elizabeth posted a larger 24" version on her blog. Head over to Oh, Fransson!  and check it out.

The City Quilter & Grand Central Station Centennial Quilts

Quilters Dream Batting is found exclusively at independent quilt shops and specialty quilting businesses! Please join the #BattGirls in celebrating and supporting our local quilt shops. They are the heart and soul of the quilting industry.

Nestled In the heart of Downtown Manhattan, you will find a rare jewel!

An oasis for New York City quilters and tourists alike, with over 150 classes a year, 4,000+ bolts of fabric, and a gallery displaying beautiful art quilts for sale. City Quilter's dedicated shop owners, husband and wife team, Dale Reihl and Cathy Izzo epitomize the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of NYC small business owners. 

In addition to the overwhelming duties of their shop, Cathy and Dale have taken it even a step further! With Cathy's design concepts, they have developed a fabric line inspired by 'all things New York'. Be it the spired architecture, the famous skyline, the city lights, clock towers, the lines and signs of the subway system, or the bright yellow cabs; New York City icons are artistically captured in City Quilter's beautiful unique fabric lines.

So when Dale, discovered that 2014 is the celebration of the 100th year anniversary of Grand Central Station, he knew the City Quilter had to be a part of this historic event. With creativity and inspiration flowing, Cathy went to work on designing a line of fabric that captures the grandeur, history and beauty of Grand Central Station, even down to the detail of matching the Pantone color of Grand Central's famed aqua dome celestial ceiling!

Coincidentally, Dale noticed that American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine (APQ) was celebrating their 20th anniversary. Realizing this was a perfect fit, Dale presented his idea to APQ of honoring Grand Central's Centennial with a national quilt challenge. APQ embraced the idea as did the NY Transit Museum and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. With everyone 'on-board' the Grand Central Station Centennial National Quilt Contest began.

Using City Quilter's newly designed stunning Grand Central fabrics, eighty quilters from 20 states, submitted an array of beautiful impressionistic quilts that pay tribute and idealize Grand Central's Centennial in ways that only quilters can!

Of the eighty unique quilts entered, the top thirty finalists' quilts are on display from now until July 6 in the Grand Central Station museum.

 

The quilts made such an impact that NYC news, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal wrote articles featuring the event (don't you love when quilting makes the national news)!

So, if you are in New York City or planning a NYC trip, be sure to take time to add Grand Central Station's quilt exhibit to your itinerary.

From there, a shopping trip to the City Quilter quilt shop is a must. City Quilter is the only shop in the world that sells their exclusive fabric lines.

While shopping at the City Quilter... don't forget to purchase your favorite quilt batting ... because you guessed it - Quilters Dream Batting is available at The City Quilter.

Meet Dale, Cathy and their amazing staff at the City Quilter located at 133 West 26th St in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, NewYork. In addition to classes, fabrics, quilt gallery, gifts, patterns,notions and Quilters Dream Batting... City Quilter is also an authorized Bernina and Handi Quilter dealer.

Can't get to New York City? Don't worry, the fabrics are available for sale on the City Quilter website at www.CityQuilter.com and a link to City Quilter's and APQ fabulous Grand Central Quilt Exhibit is below!

www.Cityquilter.com

More Photos of GrandCentral Station Quilt Exhibit

Wall Street JournalArticle: Piecing Together a Grand History

#cityquilter #grandcentralquilts #battgirls #quiltersdreambatting #bernina #handiquilter #AmericanPatchwork

 

Colorado Quilts of Valor- BIG BLOWOUT BLOCK DRIVE

When Alycia Quilts approached us to be a sponsor for the Quilts of Valor (QOV) Big Blowout Block Drive, owner of Quilters Dream Batting, Kathy Thompson couldn't resist. Having a personal story of her own about the special meaning of receiving the gift of a quilt:

At just 32 years old, my beautiful son, Josh was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)...(a)cruel, fatal untreatable disease...Josh's life completely depends on life-support. To help raise awareness of ALS, we started the annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS... the generosity of quilters donating quilts for the benefit of ALS patients has been truly amazing.

...one day, about two years ago, UPS delivered a small package to Josh's home... Inside this package was a small brown and green lap quilt... The quilt is tied, it is not pieced. The quilt front is a single piece of fabric with imprinted verses of religious hymns. Attached to the quilt was this handwritten note: "Dear Josh, I am 88 years old and I wanted so much for you to have this quilt. This quilt comes (with) prayers of love, courage and hope... and I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I will think of you every day".
When Josh read the note--he cried.

Head over to Alycia Quilts to participate in the QOV block drive.

There is still time to participate in the Quilts of Valor Big Blowout Block Drive!
Remember for every 5 blocks sent in, you get 1 chance to win a variety of prizes. Quilters Dream is offering 2 different prizes. the first is 3 twin size batts, and the second in 2 twin size batts. You will love them all - I promise!!

"My Quilt Dreams are..." **Batting Contest**

***This contest is now closed**

 

 

We want to hear from you!! The responses have been great so far. Don't miss out on your chance to win FREE batting! Click on our FACEBOOK page and leave a comment with your quilting dream to be entered in the drawing.

 

Happy Dreaming and Quilting

Post by Quilter's Dream Batting.

Post by Quilter's Dream Batting.