Ask Penny Halgren

Category » Layering the Quilt

There were 18 articles found in this category:

1. What is a scrim?
   A scrim is a really thin layer that is added to one side of batting to help it stay together. In the old, old days, quilts needed to be quilted really close together because the batting would actually separate inside the quilt. With a scrim, that won't happen. It is like a thin layer of interfa ...
2. Should I pre-wash batting?
   The Machine Quilting Adventure Batting can make a difference in your machine quilting. Discover how to choose batting for your quilt that will show off your machine quilting AND be easy to work with. Click here to learn more It depends on the type of batting. Batting that will not shrin ...
3. How Do I Make Sure my Quilt top is Flat?
   The Machine Quilting Adventure Batting can make a difference in your machine quilting. Discover how to choose batting for your quilt that will show off your machine quilting AND be easy to work with. Click here to learn more Q: Hi- I made my first quilt a queen size patch quilt. Looks ...
4. What can I do with my left over batting?
   Joining Small Pieces of Batting Now You Can Travel and Not Give Up Any Quilting Time Have you ever taken a long car trip, gone on a cruise, or had a bunch of appointments and wished that you had a portable quilting project? Now you can learn how to make a quilt one block at a time while ...
5. How did I get a wrinkly table runner?
   Hi Penny:: I recently made a table runner approx. 40 inches long.... the finish seemed to be wrinkly and didn't have a flat appearance.. I have an old machine without a walking foot... could this be the problem?? any assistance you can be, will be greatly appreciated.... Thank you much,, Joni Gr ...
6. How do I put backing and padding on the back of the wall hanging I just finished?
   Thank you for contacting me. Take a look at this video: This is a large quilt, but the process will be the same for smaller pieces. Hope that helps. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
7. What is the best batting for my quilts?
   Batting is really determined by the end use/desired results of the quilt being made. If you're looking for light-weight warmth, Warm and Natural Batting is wonderful. If you're making a wall hanging (you don't need warmth and you don't want it to be heavy), a very light cotton or polyester/c ...
8. Can you give me some ideas how to square up my quilt and how to keep them squarer next time.
   Squaring Up Your Quilt Once your piece is quilted, you need to make the edges even and square before adding your binding. It is easier and more accurate to trim the quilt sandwich if the three layers are sewn together at the edge. Otherwise, the bottom layer can shift and you end up with edges ...
9. Should my backing and warm and natural be cut about 2 inches larger than the quilt top?
   Yes, I cut the batting and backing at least 2" larger than the top before I quilt. After it is quilted, you will trim the excess off and then add your binding. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com
10. What is the percentage of size shrinkage after quilting a piece, using different types of bats or fillers?
    Polyester batting will not shrink at all. 100% cotton batting can shrink up to about 5%, and most of the cotton blends will shrink about 3%. That includes the 80-20 cotton-poly, such as Hobbs Heirloom or the Fairfield cotton-poly. The new Fairfield bamboo batting also shrinks about 3% since it i ...
11. Exactly how does one soak batting?
    Actually I put mine in the washing machine. I just fill the washer with warm water, put the batting in and let it soak for about 10 minutes. (Make sure it is all wet!) Then I drain the water and let it spin. Then I put it in the dryer on a warm cycle for about 20 minutes. The batting manufacture ...
12. Why do I need a walking foot for sewing machine?
    A walking foot is helpful for machine quilting because it allows all of the layers of your quilt to feed through the machine at the same time. The regular presser foot that comes on your sewing machine works with the feed dogs (the little teeth that are on the machine under the fabric. The feed ...
13. Do you have any suggestions on the measuring correctly of the quilt backing?
    I usually don't measure the backing too closely. Maybe this video will help: http://www.graspr.com/videos/Layering-Your-Quilt-1 Once the quilting is finished, I trim the backing and batting so they are even with the quilt top. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com
14. Natural battings like cotton and wool have been on the market for years. What makes bamboo batting so special?
    The antibacterial property is pretty special if you’re doing baby quilting. The bamboo batting we offer is a blend of 50% bamboo and 50% organic cotton. It combines that nice antibacterial property and the silky softness of bamboo. It also offers the characteristics quilters desire in the ...
15. How to attatch the fabric to the batting do i sew all the way through the batting or just a little bit in to the batting?
    The batting of a quilt is actually like the filling in a sandwich. The backing is placed right-side down. The batting goes on top of the backing and the quilt top is placed right-side up on top of the batting. Three layers, from bottom to top - backing, batting and then quilt top. You ...
16. Can i make a quilt flannel one side and cotton on the other?
    Certainly! That sounds like a fun idea - you would have one side be all cuddly and warm for the fall and winter, and the other side be a quilt for spring and summer. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com www.TheQuiltingCoach.com www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com
17. Bamboo thread/batting
    After wearing several pairs of Bamboo socks that got holes in them in 2 wears, i am not convinced that bamboo is a good fibre to work with? Comments please, have you used it alot Penny? Greetings - I have not used any bamboo fabric, and just recently bought some bamboo batting. It feels great, b ...
18. What is knife edge binding?
    Knife edge binding is a method of finishing a quilt where you simply fold the seam allowances on both the quilt top and backing so they are inside the quilt. In one way, this might be one of the easiest ways to finish a quilt, because you completely eliminate the need for adding a binding strip ...