Monday, June 16, 2014

WestSide Modern May Meeting Notes

Hi-Lights and Emerging Trends from Quilt Market


  • Cotton and Steel by RJR
    5 designers. Watch for their fabric in September.
     
  • American Made Brand
    Solids by Clothworks in Seattle


Having trouble finding fabric that is truly Made in USA? Look no further. American Made Brand Fabric by Clothworks is here. 100% cotton shirting, grown in America, woven in America, dyed in America, and at a price point you can afford. Now that’s cause for a quilting celebration! Let’s raise the Betsy Ross. But first take a minute to run your hand across some beautifully soft cotton made by your neighbor. It feels wonderful and is only available at independent quilt shops and other fine fabric retailers.

* We'll be getting packets of solids of these at our June WSM meeting! The challenge will be to bring a small quilt to the Fall Open House.


Click here to see the AMB fabrics we have now.

They're doing a blog tour of all 50 states.  Check it out here!




  • Stitchery is in!  We're seeing lots of substantial stitchery on quilts, not red-work style but to accent your quilt.  This book is a good resource and is in our shop and on our website.
http://www.pineneedlequiltshop.com/shop/product/modern-applique-workbook-by-jennifer-dick/





  • Hexagons are Huge 
    Big or small, hexagons are everywhere.  We'll be offering our Sexy Hexies class again this fall.



  • Civil War/Period Pieces are coming back and being used in different ways.  Mix them with large scale prints and solids.
    Here's what we have now!  Reproduction Fabrics


  • Houndstooth is everywhere!  Cozy Cotton Houndstooth




  • Low Volume Prints are being used for backgrounds.
    Here are some starter staks.




  • It's the Year of the Deer! 
    Deer
    are showing up everywhere.
    http://www.pineneedlequiltshop.com/shop/product/wonder-of-winter-flannel-black-deer-in-forest/



  •  Metallics are making a comeback.  Look for subtle dustings and tone on tones. These will mix well with other cottons.



    Batting! Batting! Batting!
    Carol Parks and Janet Murdock gave us all kinds of information about batting.  
    • Did you know that batting is directional and has a top and a bottom?
    • The smooth side goes down if there's a scrim on the outside.
      (Scrim is the binder or thin netting/fabric that the cotton is needle punched through for stability. It is sometimes on the outside and sometimes on the inside of the batting)
    • If the scrim is inside the batting, the ball side goes down.
    • Dark fabrics can show more bearding, so use dark batting.
    • If you want lots of loft and to see definition with your quilting, double batt it.  Put the wool on the bottom and a cotton or poly on top.
    • If you are making an "Art Quilt" or want a flat quilt, use a thin batt or even a flannel, just so the stitches have something to sink into.
    • The crinkled look comes from the bating shrinking when washed.  Check the packaging for shrinkage percentage. Pre-wasehd fabric with non-preshrunk batting achieves the best "pucker".
    • Wool batting is actually the coolest and lightest batt because it breathes.
    • Heat Press Batting Tape is a fantastic product for joining scraps of batt together. "It's the duck tape of batting."
    • Silk and wool batts are nice for hand stitching.
    • The tighter the quilting, the less warm and cuddly the quilt will be.

      New Books just in:
      Click on the book to get more information and look inside.


      http://www.pineneedlequiltshop.com/shop/product/quilt-improv-by-summers-lucie/ 

    http://www.pineneedlequiltshop.com/shop/product/modern-color-by-kim-eichler-messmer/
    http://www.pineneedlequiltshop.com/shop/product/modern-quilt-perspectives-by-knauer-thomas/












    http://www.pineneedlequiltshop.com/shop/product/quilt-lab-creative-side-by-winston-alexandra/











    Show And Tell


    Betsy's Mystery Quilt - She didn't like it until Janet Murdock quilted it.


    Elisa's Fall Leaves

    Janet's Scrap Cross Quilt - with low volume background fabrics

    Carol made a cross quilt using scraps and a low volume background fabric. She calls it  "O-Positive"

    Lauren - used Marcia Derse fabrics

    Mallory's - Pop Rocks