Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A 1 minute lesson on Wool Batting


Let's talk batting. I have recently taken to recommending wool batts in quilts. Wool batting is marvelous. It's my favourite. It costs more the a cotton batt or a poly batt.  However, I think one gets a bargain considering all great properties of wool. 

What I have learned about wool....

Wool fiber has a natural crimp due to its unique  structure. This allows the fiber to bend and turn, giving wool an inherent three-dimensional crimp. Because it is naturally elastic and resilient, wool has rapid wrinkle recovery, durability, bulk, loft, warmth and resistance to abrasion.
Wool is a year-round fiber. Wool easily absorbs up to 30 percent of its weight in moisture without feeling damp or clammy. This ability to absorb moisture makes it comfortable in warm and cold conditions. By absorbing perspiration, wool enhances the body’s own cooling system, keeping the skin dry. This characteristic makes wool a versatile all-season fabric.

Wool keeps you warm in the winter by absorbing perspiration, allowing the body to generate heat faster than heat is lost. 


Because wool contains moisture in every fiber, it resists flame without chemical treatment. Instead of burning freely when touched by flame, wool chars and stops burning when it is removed from the source of the flame. Wool is self-extinguishing; it will not support combustion. This is why wool blankets are recommended for use in extinguishing small fires. 
Amazing eh!
Happy Tuesday,
gudrun

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Quilting a 36 patch

The season is the reason I have been absent from the blogosphere :)) I am having
a wonderful summer. I try to spend as much of it outside as possible, and on vacation
as much as I can get away.  I spent two weeks visiting a friend, a couple of weekends
on Georgian Bay sailing, have had friends for weekends and just have not had
time for media. ( Except for the radio.)  I am back, the season is winding down...work waited only
a little while.
 Look at this delight.

I like scrappy and this is great pattern for scraps.  The 9 patch blocks are 3.5" .  This lovely 4x9 patch,  uses a solid soft beige in the plain blocks. The result is surprisingly restful.

 I am off to do a little more gardening, it's perennial dividing and conquering time on southern Georgian Bay.
Happy Sunny Tuesday,
gudrun