My plan for Tuesdays is to highlight some sewing technique I have learned or want to learn or to tell you about one of my favorite tools. I think I'll keep it simple with this first one, but maybe next week I'll share a little bit about my newly acquired quilting software, EQ7. I'm still poking around and trying to figure things out, but I'm excited about it. Angela from Cut to Pieces made this super amazing pillow that she designed in EQ7. You can click through to see more detail pictures and hear more from her about it.
Anyway, I'll share about two items that I have recently splurged a little bit on and am glad I did. The first is Aurifil thread.
I'd read so many bloggers raving about Aurifil and how it doesn't create lint and how it is awesome. I started out using Coats and Clark from JoAnn's and thought that having a ton of lint in your machine was normal. Then I bought some Guttermann thread and it was better, but I went to the AQS (American Quilters Society) show in Des Moines a couple weeks ago and Aurifil had a booth, so I just had to get a spool to try. I really like it. It's true. I haven't noticed lint. What I have noticed that I don't remember other people saying is that it lasts longer. A full bobbin with Aurifil has lasted me much longer than any spool of thread I've purchased. It's too bad I tried, because now I won't be able to go back. Sometimes fabrics go on sale for really great prices, but I have a feeling that I'm probably not going to find any super bargain sales on Aurifil. But I'll rave about them some more on my blog if they want to send me some! :)
The second thing that I had read about people loving and using is Best Press.
I had been using regular spray starch, which took the wrinkle out, but left flakes and stickiness. Then I saw this article on the Sew, Mama, Sew blog and saw that both Jacquie Gering and Elizabeth Hartman use Best Press. These ladies make some amazing quilts and know what they are doing. So while browsing my local quilt shop, I spotted some and thought I'd try. Again, I was not disappointed and probably cannot go back to something else. And again, this product will probably never be found for super cheap. Best Press, I'll rave about you, too! :)
Okay, that was probably boring information for some people. Hopefully somebody who read this found it helpful! Anyway, wanna see something I finished today?!
It's a journal cover! I love that little elephant. And the balloon dog. I plan to make several more with different styles and fabrics to hopefully sell at a craft fair coming up on December 1st with my awesome quilting/sewing friend Crystal. More news on that another time. Some might be Christmas presents, too. So if you are a friend or family member, oops. You might now know one of your gifts. But you can probably expect more than a journal cover.
Hancock's has Best Press and you can use JoAnn's 40% off coupon there. So snag that deal!
ReplyDeleteI also like Aurifil thread and Best Press. I think the Aurifil threadis finer and that is why a bobbin of it lasts so much longer. Your projects are very nice. I would like to make a journal cover - did you come up with your own pattern or is there a tutorial you would like to recommend? Enjoyed your post!
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