Hi Shauna,    
   ³     Is this a 100% cotton or a blend of cotton 80% polyester 20% ?  
   ³     I ask as it is not listed in HH's machine quilting book.   
   ³     I have not yet experimented with the cotton battings yet.  I guess
   ³     I need to find a project that has to have the antique look  :)
I read HH's book while on our camping trip last week.  It was very
interesting and had a lot of good information.  Just looked it up, and
this batt was not in the book.  It is very soft to the touch, and is a
100% cotton batt.  It came in a crib size package.  The next time I put
something in the mail to you, I will include a sample of it along with
the package label.  BTW, I did sign up for the batt class.  It is on July
22nd, and I will let you know how it went.
   ³      That's great to have your teacher available.  Sometimes we just 
eed
   ³      to have someone show us a technique and it seems so much more 
clearer
   ³      than reading it in the book.
I agree.  And sometimes I don't remember every detail from a class, and
it is nice to be able to ask a question or to clarify a point.  (I am
horrible at taking notes in a class.  But I can make lists :) )
   ³      I just put some pins in it the other day and slanted them like you
   ³      mentioned.  Yes, the Keep is great for keeping my small things
   ³      together and away from the small fingers of little ones. :)
   ³      I can just zip it up and put it away until I'm ready to stitch on
   ³      my quilt again.
I am glad that it is something that you can use.  I have really enjoyed
mine.  When it is time to go to quilt group, it makes it so easy to pack
up my gear.
   ³      I have read where pencil was used to mark and remained in the
   ³      quilt after washing so I have not wanted to try marking this
   ³      way.
There are so many ways to mark quilts.  You kinda haveta try out the
different ways and decide what works the best for you.  I am just using a
regular #2 lead in a mechanical pencil.  A harder lead would probably
leave a lighter line.  A thin light pencil line should be hardly noticed
after quilted because the stitches cover the line. I have had pencil
lines that haven't washed out as well as I liked.  But then if I go over
it with an eraser before washing, it seems to help. A few women in my
group love those washout markers. You have to be very careful not to
apply any heat before it is completely washed out in cold water. In my
Jeanna Kimball Applique class she made a very good point.  She said that
you can still see some of the pencil lines in antique quilts (usually
ones that haven't been washed/or washed very few times) and the pencil
marks haven't harmed the fabrics over the years.  I also use a
chalkoliner in white on dark fabrics.  Like on the bowtie, I mark the
lines first in pencil, and there are a few bowties where it doesn't show
at all.  So then I go over those spots with the chalk line.  The chalk
rubs off in the quilting of the line, and any extra rubs off easily with
my finger.  The problem with the chalk is that you can only mark a small
section at a time since it rubs off so easily.
   ³      I would be really challenged to get one full sized quilt machine
   ³      quilted in a year!  I do expect to machine quilt a few smaller
   ³      projects yet this year.  So far I've finished my PAQ1 and a baby
   ³      quilt.
I need to get my machine in for a yearly checkup.  I want to do it before
I start working on the twin size quilt I have all pinned and ready to go.
And since you still have small children tugging at your skirt, I can
imagine it is harder for you to put in a long session at the machine like
I can.  My kids can all dress themselves, fix their own breakfasts and
lunches, and even transport themselves to the movies or whatever. I still
remember when it was otherwise.   Your little guy just turned one didn't
he?  Is he walking yet?
   ³      Well just to let you know also I've started some log cabin blocks
   ³      and hope to finish them later this week.
Don't be in a rush to get them done and in the mail.  I am not in a hurry
if you are not in a hurry for your project.  I let myself get backed into
a corner the last couple of weeks.  I am going up to the lake for the
holiday weekend, so will only be able to work on the eagle.  It is coming
along nicely.  I should have it finished long before my deadline.
Sylvia
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