Quilting Fabric - Cotton

When you are ready to make a quilt, one of the things you might enjoy most is going to the nearest store to take a look at all of the different fabrics you have to choose from. There are so many designs to choose from, as well as different types of fabrics. How do you know what to choose?

You should always look for 100% cotton fabric for quilting. This is because it will hold up well, and you won't have to worry about the quilt looking strange in some places after a while. If you use cotton fabric for quilting, and make sure you wash and iron the fabric before you use it, you will have no worries, and your quilt will stay looking perfect.

What happens when you use other fabrics? Well, sometimes after a while the other fabrics will stretch out, so your quilt that once looked perfect might not look so perfect anymore. Also, if you use a mix of fabrics in a quilt, and then wash it, some of them might shrink while others might get into different shapes. If you use all 100% cotton fabrics, you won't have to worry about that.

Another nice thing is that at most shops where you will find fabrics, most of them are 100% cotton, so you will have plenty of choices for making your next quilt. So if you want a whole bunch of choices of nice colors and patterns, cotton is the fabric to choose.

Cotton fabric is also usually less expensive than other fabrics you will find, so that is another nice reason to use cotton for your quilts. Your quilts will end up being less expensive than if you use other fabrics.

As you can see, there are many reasons why you should use 100% cotton when you are making a quilt. If you use cotton for quilting fabric, you will find you have nicer quilts without many problems that other fabrics can cause. You will also have more patterns and colors to choose from, as well as spend less on your materials. Why would you choose anything else?

Jenny Grant enjoys quilting and loves to help others learn how to quilt. She wants to help you make quilts faster so you can make more quilts for friends and family and even earn money from selling them! If you want free tips on quilting, visit the Quilting Advisor

By Jenny Grant

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Grant

Choosing the Right Chiffon Wedding Dress

Chiffon is a chic and pleasing to the eye material. It makes for a miracle wedding dress. It is interesting that, in French, the direct translation of chiffon means cloth or rag. It is the only word with French roots that express the elegance and weightless of this fabric.

A chiffon wedding dress emphasizes the feminine parts of a brides body. Chiffon allows the wedding dress designer to create many floating silhouettes, which look very romantic. It is important to look dreamy and feminine on the most significant and happy day of a woman's life. Windswept panels, multilayer, and couture drapes will give the essential impression to the dress.

Nowadays, most chiffon wedding dress designs are inspired from ancient Greco-Roman chic looks. There are the Helen of Troy inspired models, which will make the bride the most gorgeous among women. Simply wearing the dress makes a woman feel like a symbol of beauty. As remembered, Helen of Troy was not only a icon of men`s dreams, she was one of the main reasons for the Trojan war. It means, wearing a mythically stunning dress - one should be careful to avoid the wrath of the jealous Greek goddesses!

Chiffon wedding dresses are also designed in a trendy vintage style. The glamour look comes from the legendary 1950s, with dresses having embroidered beading in ivory, white or pearl. Details, such as ruffles, couture cuts, hand-draping or beaded silk covering make vintage-inspired chiffon dresses unforgettable. Luxurious accessories, such as bracelets, earrings, and silk wraps will finish the elegant star-look.

Chiffon wedding dresses have different silhouettes, mostly column and a-line. Column dresses make athletic figures with broad shoulders more feminine. A-line chiffon wedding dresses help to slim the figure. Chiffon wedding dresses gently cover curvy shapes with sheer and light fabric and do not add weight or volume to the figure. High empire waist silhouettes make a woman's figure longer and complement any bust size.

Chiffon wedding dresses are also comfortable for brides. Silk chiffon has a light weight and airy structure. Unique features of silk make it cool when the outside air temperature is hot. For most women, their wedding day will be a long one with a lot of actions and emotions. And it is so important to look fresh and relaxed, because the pictures, video and memories of the wedding day will stay with the bride for all her life. The wedding day will be more enjoyable and will leave better memories if the bride wears a dress, which helps to feel excellent in it.

Chiffon dresses are feather light, even if they are designed with many layers and have complicated details and shapes. Its light weight makes them easy for transportation. It is also easier (and cheaper) to iron and clean a chiffon dress, than most of others. Chiffon wedding dresses look great anywhere - on the beach, in the garden or in the city. Silk windswept cascades of transparent chiffon accompany ocean waves in one duet of a seaside wedding. Simple and charming chiffon dresses with floral elements or with clean architectural lines are great for the outside reception in the blooming garden. Roman style chiffon gowns will seem to fit naturally between Italian columns. It makes the chiffon wedding dress a perfect choice for the destination wedding.

By Elena Marchese

How to Find Cheap, Unusual, and Beautiful Fabrics for Quilting

How to Find Cheap, Unusual, and Beautiful Fabrics for Quilting

By Darren Takenaga

Quilters are always on the lookout for beautiful fabrics and supplies for their quilting projects. Sometimes the most unusual and pretty designs can be found in places one wouldn't normally consider.

Some of the best places and tactics to find fabrics include the following.

Swap meets or flea markets are a fun place to shop. On occasion you will find sellers liquidating bolts of materials. Usually these materials are unused and were excess inventory or closeouts. Last Sunday I found a vendor with a selection of 30 different types of materials in bolts of 30 and 40 yards. He was selling each one at fifty cents a yard.

At garage sales, you will find quilters selling excess materials and tools. You may also increase your chances of finding quilters selling items by going to neighborhoods that have a larger population of retired folks. Retirees seem to have more time for quilting and seem to sell off their items regularly. Garage sales in mobile home parks seem to yield good finds.

Online auction sites can reap a great supply of fabrics without leaving your house. Watch out for shipping costs. I like to search for auctions that are in or adjacent states. After the auction, I email the seller requesting a reduction in shipping because of same shipping zone.

Storage auctions are a little bit more hit and miss than the others sources listed above. Check your local newspaper for storage auction dates and times or call the various storage unit facilities and ask about auction dates. The best part is that before the bidding begins, the door is opened and you are allowed to look inside.

Quilting shows are really competitive. Usually the last day, you will find blowout sales and bargains. The sellers don't want to leave the show with excess inventory.

Estate sales can yield some surprising finds. Look in your paper for estate sales. Similar to garage sales, I've found the best luck in retired residences or mobile home estate sales.

International trips can be fun. I have found great bargains and really beautiful fabrics in faraway lands such as India, Thailand, and Africa. You can even pay for your trip by purchasing extra fabrics and selling it at a quilt show or local quilting guild.

Classified ads can be a way to have people calling you to sell their excess fabrics. You can place a classified ad in your newspaper of penny saver paper stating that you are buying fabric.

This list should help with getting your creative juices flowing. I am sure there are many other tactics to finding quilting fabric. Just keep your eyes, ears, and mind open to opportunities. Happy hunting!

Darren Takenaga is publisher of Quilting Kingdom Ezine. It is Free and each issue contains tips, articles, resources, and anything else of interest to quilters. You may subscribe at: http://www.quiltingkingdom.com/subscribe.htm You are also invited to visit the Quilting Kingdom website at: http://www.QuiltingKingdom.com and http://www.MakeHawaiianQuilts.com Email: darren.takenaga@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Takenaga

How to Find Cheap, Unusual, and Beautiful Fabrics for Quilting

How to Find Cheap, Unusual, and Beautiful Fabrics for Quilting

By Darren Takenaga

Quilters are always on the lookout for beautiful fabrics and supplies for their quilting projects. Sometimes the most unusual and pretty designs can be found in places one wouldn't normally consider.

Some of the best places and tactics to find fabrics include the following.

Swap meets or flea markets are a fun place to shop. On occasion you will find sellers liquidating bolts of materials. Usually these materials are unused and were excess inventory or closeouts. Last Sunday I found a vendor with a selection of 30 different types of materials in bolts of 30 and 40 yards. He was selling each one at fifty cents a yard.

At garage sales, you will find quilters selling excess materials and tools. You may also increase your chances of finding quilters selling items by going to neighborhoods that have a larger population of retired folks. Retirees seem to have more time for quilting and seem to sell off their items regularly. Garage sales in mobile home parks seem to yield good finds.

Online auction sites can reap a great supply of fabrics without leaving your house. Watch out for shipping costs. I like to search for auctions that are in or adjacent states. After the auction, I email the seller requesting a reduction in shipping because of same shipping zone.

Storage auctions are a little bit more hit and miss than the others sources listed above. Check your local newspaper for storage auction dates and times or call the various storage unit facilities and ask about auction dates. The best part is that before the bidding begins, the door is opened and you are allowed to look inside.

Quilting shows are really competitive. Usually the last day, you will find blowout sales and bargains. The sellers don't want to leave the show with excess inventory.

Estate sales can yield some surprising finds. Look in your paper for estate sales. Similar to garage sales, I've found the best luck in retired residences or mobile home estate sales.

International trips can be fun. I have found great bargains and really beautiful fabrics in faraway lands such as India, Thailand, and Africa. You can even pay for your trip by purchasing extra fabrics and selling it at a quilt show or local quilting guild.

Classified ads can be a way to have people calling you to sell their excess fabrics. You can place a classified ad in your newspaper of penny saver paper stating that you are buying fabric.

This list should help with getting your creative juices flowing. I am sure there are many other tactics to finding quilting fabric. Just keep your eyes, ears, and mind open to opportunities. Happy hunting!

Darren Takenaga is publisher of Quilting Kingdom Ezine. It is Free and each issue contains tips, articles, resources, and anything else of interest to quilters. You may subscribe at: http://www.quiltingkingdom.com/subscribe.htm You are also invited to visit the Quilting Kingdom website at: http://www.QuiltingKingdom.com and http://www.MakeHawaiianQuilts.com Email: darren.takenaga@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Takenaga