Welcome!

Congratulations to our Winsday winner: Bonnie Beauchamp!

This week we hosted a Fat Quarters GIVEAWAY featuring our Fat Quarter bundle of the Hello, my deer collection on our Facebook Page. We wanted to know:

Who is your QBFF (Quilting best friend forever)?

I absolutely love reading your comments!  To see how you have connected with your Quilting best friends and how they help you not only in your quilting but also in life.  Our lucky winner says that her sister in law Christine is her QBFF.  She also mentions that Christine would love the fabric and that the pinks would make her happy… This is just how best friends are.. thinking of the other before themselves.

Bonnie Beauchamp: I hope you and Christine will enjoy your Fat Quarter Bundle.  If you can please email us your mailing address, with phone number, to  marketing@camelotfabrics.com  by August 3rd, 2016.  We cannot wait to see what you create with these fat quarters.  Please send us a picture for our Fan Friday blog!

And a huge thank you to everyone who entered!!

Stay tuned for next week’s Winsday…

Happy Sewing!

I have received a very good comment in our Moody Monday featuring the Fleece and Flannel.  And I think this How To Tuesday is a great place to debate whether or not to use starch on flannels.

First of all, let me remind you that it’s important to wash your flannels twice as they shrink more than regular cotton. Which means that if you do not wash your cottons, than you can simply wash your flannels once.  But I do recommend that you wash your cottons before starting a project.  You might also want to consider sewing with a wider seam allowance since the flannels tend to fray more.  Keep in mind that if you have pre-washed all your fabrics, it won’t be such a big deal.

Now that I got this part out of the way, let’s discuss starch!  flannel tends to be more flimsy compared to cotton and that can be problematic.  If this is the case than I do recommend adding starch to the wrong side of the fabric to help your sewing.  You should add some before cutting your fabric.

I have seen quilters using starch in a block that is just a bit short:  by adding starch and ironing the block we can magically see the block become the correct size, even a bit bigger!  But I advise caution at this point as once the quilt will be finished and washed, the starch will disappear and the block will go back to it’s initial size.  So be careful and use starch wisely.

Final question: which starch to use?  that is even a longer debate.  There are home-made recipes and we can buy some in grocery stores but my favorite is only available in quilt shops and is scent free.  I found out in a class several years ago that I was allergic to most starch… I had to leave the classroom as my eyes were irritated.  Since that day, I only use the scent free and ensure that I sign up in no-starch classes.

I hope this clarifies how to use flannels in quiltmaking.

Happy Sewing!

Here is a refreshing Moody Monday!   I know some of you will wonder why I am bringing up fleece and flannel in the middle of summer?  Has the heat made me insane?   Not at all!

I know for a fact that I am not the only one taking advantage of the summer to start working on my holiday gift making!  When it’s pouring rain or crazy hot outside, I go down to my quilt cave and feel completely fresh while making gifts for my family and friends.

And who wouldn’t love a Pajama pant made out of the lovely Disney Flannel!  So I simply MUST feature Disney new Fleece and Flannel program launching early August in your local quilt shop.

You can also use flannel to make a quilt and don’t hesitate to mix in cotton with flannel to stimulate both your tactile and sight senses.  Imagine a young child’s surprise to feel a pinwheel differently than the rest of the block!  (Oh no…. here I go… must try that!)  Simply remember to prewash your flannel twice compared to your cotton as it tends to shrink a bit more.

And what’s to say about adding fleece as a backing to a quilt?  Make sure you baste it properly so that it doesn’t move during the quilting process (i.e.: use lots of pins) and ensure you use proper walking foot, thread and needle!

What are you planning to make with these? Be sure to check out the full program  in your local quilt shop.  Click here to find the one nearest your home.

Happy Sewing!

What a great way to end the week!  A beautiful smile and a lovely new Simple Life pattern made with our Strawberry fabric collection!

Thanks Amanda for sending us this great picture!

I remember, a few years ago, a friend of mine commented on all the quilting blogs she was reading and I just couldn’t believe how many she was following.  I had replied that I simply did not have the time with the three babies in the house.  But in the next few days I made an effort to start reading one a day. Now that there is no need for diapers, strollers and bibs in my household, I dedicate 20 minutes every morning to blog reading.  And I also spend time writing some of my own blogs too.

I was on holidays last week and that gave me even more time to read up on some of my favorite blogs and I was surprised to see many writing on very delicate subjects.  Now I am not the type to write comments after reading the blog but the ones I read on holidays are still with me. So I want to take the time on this Thankful Thursday to say thank you!  Cause that’s what blogging is all about!