Ask Penny Halgren

Category » Quilting Products

There were 29 articles found in this category:

1. Can you mix batik fabric with regular 100% cotton fabric in a quilt?
   Yes, and I do it often. Batik fabric is 100% cotton, although it has a tighter weave (higher thread count) than most other 100% cotton fabrics, making it a little more difficult to hand quilt. Happy Quilting! Penny Halgren www.How-to-Quilt.com
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. What kind of batting should I use for machine quilting?
   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 I would use a low loft batting with some cotton in it. Usin ...
4. How do You Make a Flannel Board?
   With a Quilt as You Go Project, you can even up the blocks by using sashing Add sashing to each block as you attach them to one another, and you will see how your blocks will "square up." Or in an alternative method of Quilt as You Go, when you bring the backing up and finish the quilt top ...
5. Just wonder could you advise me what are the equipment I should buy for a beginner quilter in home use.
   In addition to a sewing machine, I would get a rotary cutter, mat and a ruler or two. The ones I like are a 6 or 6 1/2 inch wide by 24 inch long rotary cutting ruler, a 3 or 3 1/2 inch wide by 18 inch ruler, and a 12 inch square ruler.Cutting Fabric for Quilt Blocks Cutting your fabric is much ...
6. What is the difference between a free mmotion quilting foot and a walking foot?
   A free motion foot is usually a darning foot that allows you to move the quilt in all directions as you sew. A walking foot allows the quilt to be fed evenly under the sewing machine needle in a straight line. When you want to change direction, you would stop the machine and then turn the quilt. ...
7. What do you use to mark your quilt for quilting?
   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 you are traveling, waiting, or ...
8. How can I use silk fabric in a quilt?
   How to Bind a Quilt Learn 6 different ways to bind your quilts with perfection – you'll have smooth and square mitered corners and even edges all the way around your quilt. www.HowToBindAQuilt.com Silk Fabric for Quilts Silk quilts are relatively unusual although not tota ...
9. What rotary cutting tools do I really need for my quilting?
   This fantastic ruler set will make creating star quilts easier than you can imagine. Any size diamond or triangle you want is right at your fingertips, without cutting out paper, gluing it to plastic, and then worrying about cutting your flimsy plastic template and ending up with the ...
10. Should I pre-wash my fabric for quilting?
    The Machine Quilting Adventure Watch every step in making this beautiful quilt beginning with choosing your fabric and ending with signing it so future generations know you made it. Click here to learn more TO PRE-WASH OR NOT? THAT IS THE QUESTION. To tell you the truth, I had not rea ...
11. Why do quilters use cotton fabric for their quilts?
    The Machine Quilting Adventure Watch every step in making this beautiful quilt beginning with choosing your fabric and ending with signing it so future generations know you made it. Click here to learn more Selecting Fabric for Your Quilting Project Cotton Quilting Fabric Most quilt ...
12. I am looking for quilt paint to finish some quilts my grandmother left me
    Sounds like you have some real treasures. I'm not sure, but this site might help: http://www.dharmatrading.com/ I have purchased my fabric dye from here for years, and I believe they have liquid dyes that act like paint. They will be absorbed into the fibers of the fabric, not just lay on top. ...
13. Can I buy bubble jet in Canada, I know I can not have it shipped from the states.
    When I first saw your question, I thought it would be impossible for me (sitting here in Ohio) to help you find supplier for Bubble Jet in Canada, Well, you are in luck.... The link below will take you to Quilter's Fancy Limited which is in Toronto: http://www.quiltersfancy.ca/photo.html Ha ...
14. I want to add a photograph of several occasions to their quilt. How would I accomplish this?
    Photo Fabric - there is photo fabric available at some quilt shops & at Joann's (four sheets run approx. $8 - 9.00). Simply follow the instructions on the package for using ready-made sheets. If you are using your own fabric - a product called Bubble Jet (a liquid) can be used before you cop ...
15. 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 ...
16. 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 ...
17. 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 ...
18. 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 ...
19. I just did some transfers of graphics on my computer to a quilt block using June Tailor's colorfast inkjet fabric sheets without any pretreatment. Are they safe to wash without fading?
    I haven't used that brand of pre-treated fabric, but I have used Printed Treasures. I would imagine they are all pretty much the same. I have had good success with the Printed Treasures. And they are much easier to use because they are perfect for running through the computer - stiff, and no loo ...
20. How do you wash a pre-cut fabric, like charms and the ready made strips from the fabric store?
    You have a great point. Some of the smaller pieces are totally impossible to wash in a washing machine and still have any usable fabric left. Try washing them in a sink - more like soaking them. You can dry them in a lingerie bag or just leave them out to air dry. While this won't really address ...