A fat quarter is a quarter yard of fabric that is only half the width of the fabric, so it measures 18" x 22" instead of the normal cut which would be 9" x 44". Similarly a fat eighth is one eighth of a yard of fabric measuring 9" x 22" .... a whole lot more useful than the regular cut 4 1/2" x 44" would be.
Foundations aren't new. Quilters have been sewing pieces on to paper or fabric foundations for ever. Foundations are simply grids or diagrams of the finished block on to which the pieces are sewn. If fabric is used the pieces are sewn to the front of the fabric... usually muslin, which then becomes a part of the quilt. This means an extra layer of fabric to quilt through, so its not a great option for hand quilters. If paper is used the fabric is usually sewn to the back of the paper. This is a little tricky but do-able. The paper is removed when the block is completed. Many of the foundations we sell allow you to work with the fabric in the front, which is a lot easier.
Sewing on to a foundation provides stability for the fabric. It keeps nasty bias edges from stretching. Because everything is drawn out for you the need for super accurate cutting, seaming, and measuring is eliminated. If you can sew on the line, your corners will match. This makes it possible to do miniatures using really tiny bits of fabric that would be pretty close to impossible otherwise. It also means you don't have to be as careful cutting pieces with the grain and can make use of odd scraps.
Unless you're dealing with tiny pieces that you can easily finger press, foundation results are much better if you press each piece as you sew. Unfortunately copiers and computer printers use ink that comes off on your iron and then on your fabric if you iron it. That's why paper foundations are usually sewn on the printed side and the fabric which is pressed is on the unprinted side.
More about Canada/other money exchange rates.
I let the credit card companies do all the work. If you buy something I put through a charge in Canadian dollars to your credit card. When they get it your credit card company converts it depending on the conversion rate on the day the charge is processed. If the Canadian dollar is equal to about 90 cents U.S and your order came to $10 the charge on your credit card statement would be $9. The same would work for any currency. There's a link to a currency converter on most pages.
Do you pre-wash your battings - and if so how?
Usually I pre-wash them. When I'm doing a reproduction fabric quilt I don't. When I want a quilt to look antique I want the batting to shrink inside and give it that lumpy look. I have washed batts in the bathtub - unrolling them as much as possible, letting them soak, gently squeezing out the water, and laying flat to dry. That's what the maker's recommend. However since I don't often have time and space for that - I've also put them in the washer, filled it, let them soak (DO NOT AGITATE!) about an hour, spin the water out and dry in the dryer - with no problems. I'm told though that there are some brands of battings that don't like that treatment. If they separate a bit you can always whip stitch back together.
Do you pre-wash your fabric?
For my personal stuff I only prewash muslin, solids, and Jinny Beyers. I find that they shrink a bit more that other fabrics. If I'm going for the old look I don't even do that. Most fabrics today don't run..... and even if they do it only matters if the colour transfers. If I suspect a fabric may be a problem I test a piece in hot soapy water. Then I rinse it, put it on top of some white or muslin and put something heavy on top of it until it dries. This simulates a wet quilt sitting in the washer.
What kind of quilting software do you recommend?
I use Quilt-Pro. I like it. It installed easily, was incredibly easy to learn, comes with a great easy to read manual for the fancy stuff..... and does what I need it to do. All the graphics on the site are done with it as are all my templates, foundations, and block instructions. And the one time I needed help - I got a call back with a solution within 24 hours.
Do you have a print catalogue?
No.... I find that they are impossible to keep up to date, very expensive to do well and I'm basically against wasting paper..... If you want some hard copy to ponder or send to a non-computer friend - just print off the pages you want.
Plumas is in west central Manitoba a little north of Highway 16 - which is the one that goes to Saskatoon and Edmonton) - between Gladstone and Neepawa. We're about a 2 hour drive from Winnipeg.
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©Carol Wright 1997 All rights reserved.
Revised: May 28, 2007.