Here is the new roster of classes. We have lots of new projects to make the most of your summer in the cool of the air-conditioning.
Kathy Brown is hosting a one-day class on Saturday, July 12, in making a cute wool-on-cotton wall hanging to decorate for Christmas, called Wee Woolies.
If you have been hoping to take a class on paper-piecing a Christmas tree, now is your chance and we have the fun Lil Bits patterns in 3 great sizes, one to fit whatever space you'd like to fill.
Don't forget to mark your calendar for our Annual Shop Hop extravaganza, this time covering two weekends to help with the distance between all of us participating shops. You can buy your passports starting next week! We also have the beautiful collector enamel pins.
You can reach us by phone at 985-845-9554!
We have been putting up photos of the 8 pages of our calendar to accommodate our customers who can't open pdf files on their devices but as you can see farther below, the images can appear slightly fuzzy. So, we have decided to also post the original method of viewing as well, in hopes that this will help everyone be able to read the schedule one way or the other.
We have had customers ask us why chain stores are able to charge less for what appears to be the same fabric and we are posting this article from a long-time representative at Moda Fabrics to help clear the issue.
The Difference Between Chain Store Fabrics and Quilters’ Grade Fabrics
by Jim Salinas
I’m often asked, “Is there really any difference between the printed cottons found in chain stores for $2.99 to $5.99 per yard and those found in quilt shops and the best mail order catalogs for $7.99 to $9.99?” You bet there is!
Premium brands start with high quality greige (gray) goods. Premium greige goods have a thread count of at least 60 by 60 threads, and most have thread counts higher than “60 square.” Higher thread counts produce a silkier hand, less bearding when quilted, longer fabric life and better printing definition.
Most chain store cotton prints are made from less expensive greige goods that have 60 square construction or less. In chain stores, 60 square construction is considered to be the benchmark of high quality. In addition to thread count, fabric quality is also determined by the diameter of the yarns used, the size of the cotton filaments and the length of the cotton staple. Although premium raw materials are more expensive and add to the final price you pay, you get a far superior finished product.
Premium brands typically make use of a higher number of screens (the number of colors used in the print) and more complex and sophisticated engravings. High screen counts and complex engravings require using slower and more exacting flat bed presses than the high speed rotary presses used by domestic printers for most chain store fabrics.
Once the greige goods are printed, they have to be “finished.” The printed fabric is placed in a chemical bath that sets the dye into the cotton fibers. Unfinished or poorly-finished goods bleed badly and have a very coarse, “boardy” hand. Premium brands are finished using more time-consuming and expensive processes that create the silken hand of quilters’ grade fabric in addition to superior colorfastness.
It is, of course, an over-simplification to divide the cotton print industry into chain store brands and quilt shop/mail order catalog brands. Indeed, chain stores often carry a limited range of premium brands. But, generally speaking, chain store offerings are price driven. They cannot easily sell the higher priced fabrics to their clientele.
As a result, chain stores tend to carry the lower priced (and therefore lower quality) cotton fabrics.
Consider also the element of design. Premier designers tend to design for premium fabric companies. The technical aspects of the use of premium greige goods, printing many screens with fine definition, creating a silken hand through more sophisticated finishing processes – all these elements enhance a designer’s efforts. World-class design brings a unique dimension to premium quality fabric. It comes with a price, but it adds immeasurably to the special nature of quilters’ grade fabric.
There is one more point that should be addressed. That is the issue of service and expertise. Most quilt shops and mail order quilting catalogs, the prime sources of premium fabrics, are well staffed with knowledgeable, friendly, quilting experts. Most shops provide classes and expertise unmatched by the chains. Quilt shops and mail order catalogs generally do not sell jobber goods. They offer only first quality, premium brands at fair prices. These firms deserve your support.
In conclusion, there is most definitely a difference in fabrics. You get what you pay for. Premium brands offer a vast quality advantage over cheaper alternatives for just a modest increase in cost, especially when you consider the effort, skill and love that will go into your use of the fabric. -Jim Salinas
We at Bright Hopes Quilting appreciate our customers whose continued support help keep the doors open and our shelves stocked with the top-quality fabrics that make your work last a lifetime.
We are nearing the day of our Yardage Sale which will be held on Saturday, May 31 from 10am - 12 noon.
What's this!? What's this!?
We hear all the time the quilter's lament of having fabrics that are no longer,...... oh what is the word....needed...... and yet, taking up valuable space in our inventories at home. No one wants to just toss it out but surely it can go to a very good use.
In the spirit of 'One man's trash is another man's treasure', we are offering to help you clear out the clutter by hosting a short day 'yardage sale' where all the fabric that has been donated will "sell" for $2.00 a yard and every dollar will go to a local charity and all the remaining fabrics will be given to the Hosanna Quilters to be used in donation quilts.
All of the "sale" fabrics are Cash Only and
in dollar increments to keep it simple.
It really is a win-win-win for everyone who participates.
If you are one who 'gave it up', you have a clearer space to think and create. If you are someone who finds a fabric that is perfect for what you need, you can buy it at a terrific price. If you are a donation quilter with Hosanna, you have some good things coming your way. And, frankly, you can easily find yourself in multiple categories!
We have received quite a good selection of fabrics and have taken the time to measure and price each piece so it will be very easy to "shop" at the tables we will have set up for this. We are still accepting donationsas well, so if you haven't had a chance to got through your stash and have a good clear-out, there is still time.
Now, usually Bright Hopes Quilting is closed on the last Saturday of each month but we will be open inside on this special day so if you need a spool of thread or just want to browse around, our doors will be open .
We have the new roster of classes for you to look over. We think you will find some fun new patterns and if you one of the ones wanting to learn hand quilting, here is the one you've been patiently waiting for.
The beautiful "When Bali Met Sochi" quilt is now on display and Mary G did a fabulous job. She will offering a 2-part class in piecing it in May and a Little Something jacket class in June.
Check it out and give us a call to reserved YOUR place!
For some time now, Bright Hopes Quilting has been closed on the 4th Saturday of each month (and the odd 5th Saturday) but starting in the month of April, we have added the 4th Saturday of each month as OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!!
As on the other Saturdays, our hours are 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.
To really KICK THINGS OFF, the 4th Saturday this month we are hosting a day of Quilting for the Brave: a new drive to make 168 quilts by September (ish) and donate them to returning soldiers right here in Louisiana. Anyone reading this post is invited to participate in any manner they possibly can.
Our First Stay and Quilt day is Saturday, April 26. We will be working in two shifts (morning and afternoon) to accommodate people who cannot take all 5 hours to sew. You may bring your fabrics and sewing machine and do the piecing; you can bring a friend and share the fun of running to the ironing board; you can bring with you Red, White and Blue 'strings' and foundation and make a bunch of 12.5" string blocks..... however you would like to participate. You know, you can even donate 100% cotton fabric for guilds to make up the quilts.
So, what is this all about?...... members of the Louisiana National Guard are deployed in Afghanistan and will be returning this fall and our goal is to wrap every one of them in a quilt as they step back onto Louisiana soil. The 'rules' for the quilts are few.
1. The colors used should be Red White and Blue and Yellow if you wish as it signifies Welcome Home and the fabric must be 100% cotton.
2. Each finished quilt should measure at least 60" x 72" inches. or larger.
3. If the fabrics you choose have a floral theme, please keep it subtle.
4. Please attach a label identifying who pieced and quilted it.
5. If possible, include a pillowcase to keep the quilt protected until it is given.
You can make any quilt design you would like. There are plenty of free patterns online and we have ideas at the shop and bundles of fabric and easy patterns if you would like to buy some. Nothing needs to be elaborate or difficult. These are 'labors' of love and should reflect a giving back to those who have given to our country.
If you have any questions, you can leave a comment of give us a call. Drop in and see how the stack begins to grow in a couple of weeks.
From the title of this post, you probably gather that this is focusing on something lots of us already do and many want to learn.
With the advent and availability of the modified "long-arms", we are able to move from machine quilting on our standard machine over to the rails and tables more easily. Having a brand-name high-end machine is terrific if 1. you can afford it and 2. have the space required to set one up and 3. the time to actually use it.
The Handi-Quilters, Tin Lizzies and others have solved this dilemma for many and every month we hear more people getting them and this can be an exciting time in quilting.
However, one thing that never seems to change is that of tension control and how to achieve it. I have been using my machine now for 7 years and occasionally get it bang on and other times just struggle so in an attempt last week to verify what I thought I knew, I came across this video about tension in both the bobbin and the top-thread.
I don't know where Jamie Wallen has been these past 7 years but they say, "When you are ready, the teacher will appear." This certainly came true for me over the weekend. While buzzing around YouTube learning about my machine, I saw this video on the sidebar and thought, "What does he have to say about the topic?"
Now, while I do dust out the bobbin area on my machine between every new bobbin and brush out the bobbin case as well with each new bobbin, it never occurred to me that lint might catch under the tension arm on the case! And when you watch how he tests the tension by hanging the bobbin case from the thread? This part was what I had learned last week (after 7 years, mind you). How gratifying it is to know that despite what the manual said, the tension I achieved (finally) resembled what this man says more than the manufacturer.
If you have a long-arm, modified or one of the really big guys, and have struggled with tension issues, I urge you watch this video (twice). I learned a few more things about tension and control and where to locate the 'hook' in the batting. VERY GOOD INFORMATION!!!!
Now, those who do like to play with the free-motion quilting and are willing but intimidated by feathering or curls would learn a lot from his other videos as well. Here he explains how he sets up and stitches feathers.
Karen Hansen has another splendid video explaining What To Quilt On Your Quilt that is worth the hour invested in the watching. I really like that she says, "DO what you CAN". I think those are words to live by.....
With all of this good information comes the added obvious final word: Practice.
Practice should be fun not stressful, and with more practice it becomes more fun. Before you know it, you will be doodling feathers and curls on scraps of paper, the backs of envelopes and the shower door.
Our own Mary Green teaches basic Machine Quilting on Saturdays every other month or so and is teeming with experience, ideas and lessons to get you started on the road to machine quilting. If you would like to learn more and when her next class will be offered, drop us a line or give us a call.
Our Armed Forces have given so much and over the past decade we have seen sacrifices from all branches. Here locally in St. Tammany Parish, our National Guard unit has recently been deployed in Afghanistan and is scheduled to return this fall. Carol Miller and quilters from across the border in Mississippi surprised the 131 members of Bravo 155th in Poplarville a few years ago and we are going to do it again with the Covington, LA National Guard. As they step back onto Louisiana soil, our goal is to wrap every one of the 168 soldiers with full-sized quilts of Red, White and Blue. We are already underway and ask anyone reading this blog post to donate either a block (or more) or an entire quilt. The restrictions for this project are relatively few.
1. Every finished quilt must measure at least 60" x 72" and larger is fine.
2. You may use any pattern you like and the colors, RED, WHITE and BLUE. Yellow may be used as it is the color of Welcome and if you use florals at all, please keep it at a minimum.
3. Please use low-loft batting.
4. Include a label listing the piecer and quilter so the recipient knows who made their quilt.
5. LAST but NOT LEAST, please try to keep it a surprise...
As time goes by, we will post the progress both here and in our newsletter.
Drop by the shop to see examples of quilts and get ideas for making one (or more). "Many hands make light work" and we have great ideas for making these men and women feel welcomed back home.
