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Hand Quilting FAQs with Patti Lee
Hand Quilting FAQs Hand quilting is increasing in popularity, along with vintage-style quilt blocks and modern interpretations of traditional quilt patterns. Patti Lee provides her answers to our FAQs about hand quilting so you can try this technique for yourself with confidence. HAND QUILTING THREADS Q: What thread should I use for hand quilting? A: You can use almost any thread for hand quilting (even metallics!), depending on your skill level. I recommend using heavier threads, such as 12 wt. Cotton (Solids & Blendables®) and Filaine. It’s a lot of work and a labor of love to hand quilt, so you will likely want your thread and stitching to show.…
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National Quilting Day + free quilt pattern & embroidery design
Happy National Quilting Day! I hope you’re inspired on this National Quilting Day to find a free quilt pattern you love and start a new project. Quilt Beginnings If you’re new to quilting, we have a ton of resources for you. The best advice I can give is to simply START. Look for inspiring designs that are simple to make, require minimal fabric investment, and get stitching. Start small with a lap-sized quilt (another free quilt pattern) using a craft batting. Or make one block and turn it into a pot holder or coaster. After piecing the top, layer it with batting and a backing fabric that’s large enough to…
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Cotton Thread & When to Use It
When to Use Cotton Thread & Why Choosing the right thread for your project is an important factor that determines the final look, feel, and oftentimes longevity, of the project. With so many choices, how do we decide? Sheen I think about thread sheen the same way I would if I were choosing paint for a room. Do you want the thread to shine, glisten, reflect light, look slick, matte or textured? These decisions will determine how to choose the right thread for your project, specifically whether you choose between rayon and cotton. Strength When choosing the right thread, decide if you need the thread to hold up to heavyweight…
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Why Blendables are the Bomb for Quilting
“You will love the intriguing results you get with Sulky 30 Wt. Cotton Blendables Thread.” I remember being in a quilting class when I heard this statement. Honestly, my interest was peaked because of the word ‘intriguing’. I would never have described my quilting that way, but gosh, I sure wanted my quilting to be intriguing! So, I got some Sulky 30 Wt. Cotton Blendables Thread and tried them out. Before I tell you my thoughts on them, let me tell you a bit about the thread itself. Blendables are different from other variegated threads for several reasons: They are a masterful blend of different colors within the same range of tone and intensity…
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Why You’ll Love This Cotton+Steel Webinar
Cotton + Steel Webinar Sunshine Pillow Want to add a little extra cheer to your home or office? Maybe you’re looking for a neat gift for a baby shower, wedding, or birthday! Whatever the occasion, the Sunshine Pillow project by Cotton+Steel is your winner. Here’s why… You get to watch how it’s made in a FREE webinar! You get to hang out with Devon Iott, Captain of Creative Communications at Cotton+Steel! (And we all know how cool those gals are!) If this fabric is too bright for you or doesn’t fit the occasion, you can change it out with whatever fabric suits your style! (Like these other fun Cotton+Steel Fabric Collections) You’ll…
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Is Cotton Thread a Good Choice for Machine Embroidery?
This series is written by guest blogger, Pamela Cox. Pamela is an expert embroiderer, designer, digitizer and all around wonderful girl! We are so happy to have her contributing to the Sulky Blog! Cotton Thread and Machine Embroidery Rumor has it that synthetic threads are the best threads to use for machine embroidery. They flow through the machine’s mechanics effortlessly, plus they reflect light and shine just like an angel’s halo! I must admit; this rumor is all true. These threads ARE perfect for machine embroidery! However, there is also a rumor floating around that you should stay away from cotton thread because it will only bring embroidery heartache. And…
