Once you've chosen your fabric, found your favorite brand of thread and pieced your top, batting is the next great frontier. There are so many choices to make, from color to material, we know it can be an overwhelming process. But! We've got just the answer to all your questions. Join Kris as she walks me through all the variables for batting. She's got some strong opinions and plenty of experience to get you started! Whether you're a new quilter or an old hand, I'm betting you'll discover a new tip, trick or bit of information that will change how you think about this essential material. Happy sewing!

Demystifying Batting

Join us as the Connecting Threads team explores all things quilting. Each season the Connecting Threads host will embark on an adventure of fabrics, threads, and everything quilting. From behind the scenes stories to our favorite tips and tricks, listen in as we chat about our passion for sewing. More information available at our website: ConnectingThreads.com.

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 Today's episode of the Connecting Threads Podcast is all about thread.   Lately we’ve been thinking about the importance of thread in all sewing, but especially in quilting. Thread is much like the laces in a shoe. While absolutely vital, they’re often taken for granted until troubles arise.  With the untold hours spent carefully selecting fabrics, servicing the machine, and choosing buttons and trims, thread often gets passed aside as an afterthought. It wasn’t until Zoey became more interested in bag making and experienced a few unfortunate snapped seams that she realized there even were differences in thread at all! With a focus on utilizing resources, and that includes chatting with others who are willing to share their experiences. Today we're taking you with us to thread school.    First up, Zoey talks to Eleanor who just attended her first quilt show and has come home with some industry knowledge. They check in on her sewing progress, and chat about all the exciting threads of knowledge she’s picked up so far.   Later on, Zoey chats with sewing expert, Diane Henry, to talk all about choosing the right thread for your project and the importance of thread selections regarding color, fiber content, and more. Really, Diane is a thread superstar. An industry leader, she has been known to host incredible informative seminars where she pours pizzazz into this often overlooked subject. She knows the ins and outs of all of the things that make thread exciting and has some of the best tricks to keep thread troubles away.  Grab some spools and wind some bobbins! This episode is an incredible tool to jumpstart you into thinking about thread and hopefully teach you a few new tips along the way.   Mentioned In This Podcast:  Kaffe Collection  Garden Star Pattern  Thread Guide  Request a free catalog  Shop all Connecting Threads Thread  King Tut Cotton Thread  Essential Cotton Thread  Essential Polyester Thread  Omni Polyester Thread  MicroQuilter Polyester Thread  Diane at HandiQuilting  Diane's Website  Diane on Instagram 

The Importance of Thread Featuring Diane Henry

 Welcome to the new season of the Connecting Threads Podcast with new host Zoey!   Zoey is a fabric fanatic and is constantly seeking new skills, supplies, and epic adventures. As a fiber artist, bag maker, and quilter, she spends her evenings and weekends sewing as much as she can muster while her Corgi sits under her desk, snoring. She will grab onto any opportunity to discuss new fabric collections, techniques, or help others find their confidence with a needle and thread.    This season of the Connecting Threads Podcast, we're talking about quilts, quilting and sewing. Zoey will be chatting with some of our favorite people as we explore beginner tips, intermediate skills, and expert level extravaganzas. We’ll navigate through various topics and learn as much as we can about fabric and thread.    In this episode, we'll explore some basics of fabric and precuts. First up Zoey speaks with Eleanor and sets a foundation of information about precut basics.  Later in the podcast, she sits down with Elise to get inspiration about what to do with all the precuts once we have them. From fat quarters to disappearing nine patches, we'll explore what makes precuts so enchantingly charming.    Precuts - often referred to as samplers- are bundles of coordinating fabrics cut to a specific size. Depending on the bundle type, they can be a great way to compile pieces of an entire, or near entire, collection without having to purchase a large amount of yardage. We're big fans of precuts, but understand it can be easy to feel lost in all the insider lingo and measurements and, before long, end up with the wrong amount of fabric or sometimes just too bewildered to begin. Fortunately, there is rarely such a thing as “too much fabric.” We truly want to speak to all quilters, no matter the experience level.     Entirely new to quilting, Eleanor asks the important questions - what is a precut and why are they so useful? Zoey and Eleanor break down different size terminology and what they all mean. Why are some samplers given bakery names and others simply have measurements? Much like Kleenex is to tissues, sometimes there can be little more to a name than ownership. For a new quilter, pre-cuts save both time and potential accuracy blunders while still getting comfortable with cutting tools.    With countless quilts behind her and more fabric in her stash than she's willing to admit to, Elise shares her favorite uses for precuts. A great way to get small selections of an entire collection at once, precuts save money and space. She shares her favorite precut-friendly blocks and patterns, while she and Zoey chat about their upcoming projects.    Mentioned in This Episode:  Guide to Precuts  SewKatieDid Blog  ScribblyGumQuiltCo Instagram  Essential Notions  OmniGrid Mat  Rotary Cutter  Wyldwood Creative   Timestamps: 0:00 Welcome to the Connecting Threads Podcast 2:17 Precut basics 18:59 Meet the team: Hutch 20:30 What to make with pre-cuts 37:14 The credits 

The Joys of Precuts and How To Use Them

 Kate is a long time crafter, mom, and as of today, former Connecting Threads podcast host. Now that her first project is lovingly on display in her craft space,  she must bid you all adieu as she prepares to mosey on down the quilted road. But before she goes, she managed to sneak in one last chat with her good friends over at Connecting Threads.  On this episode of the Connecting Threads Podcast, we discuss the next step for Kate in her quilting journey as well a little holiday gift talk. First up, Kris and Kate catch up on making each other laugh while chatting about what comes next for a new quilter.  Next Judy and Kris chat about gifts to make this holiday season and also answer the age-old question, "What kind of gifts DO you give other quilters in your life?"  Treat yourself to a nice big mug of hot cocoa, grab your needle and thread, and listen in as we delve deep into all things quilting. Enjoy!            Mentioned in This Episode:Kate's Quilt Pattern  Pre-Cuts  Sewing Gifts   Quilting Kits   Fabric Dive Tumbler   How I Roll Tumbler   Creative Grid Face Mask Template    Timestamps:0:00 Kate's introduction 1:08 Kate talks with Kris 23:39 Kris talks with Judy 34:31 Credits  

Kate's Quilt and Giving

 Kate is a long time crafter, mom, and lover of all things pumpkin flavored. Kate also has some BIG news—She finished her first quilt. She plans on riding this wave of accomplishment well into the new year, while also setting her sights on her next project—definitely something with flying geese. In the meantime, Kate is spending her time chatting it up with the pros about all of some quilt-related queries, in the hopes of gleaning all the crafty knowledge that she can.  On this episode of the Connecting Threads Podcast, we're talking about sewing machines. First up Kris and Judy give us a crash course on everything we need to know about shopping for machines. They also share some of their favorite models, features and accessories.    Next Elise and Kate chat about how to troubleshoot problems that may come up with your sewing machine. If you're like Kate and grumble at the notion of reading manuals, you'll want to listen in as Elise goes over the most common troubleshooting issues. But also, don't be like Kate—read your manual.   So grab your autumnal flavored hot drink, your needle and thread, and listen in as we delve deep into all things sewing machines. Enjoy!   Mentioned in this Episode:Connecting Threads Sewing Machines   Handi Quilter Longarm Machines   Thread Stand   Connecting Threads thread   Superior Threads thread   Superior Thread's King Tut   Cleaning Kit    Timestamps:0:00 Introduction 1:25 Kris and Judy talk about sewing machines 19:03 Meet the Team - Sarah 20:03 Kate and Elise talk about troubleshooting sewing machine issues 41:10 Credits 

Sewing Machines

On this episode of the Connecting Threads Podcast, we're looking behind the scenes to see what's new at Connecting Threads. First we hear from Kris who's telling all about batik fabric production and what makes batik's special.   Next Marketing Director Jennifer Fish is going to help answer some common questions that people ask about us and our website, like "What's the Design Table?" and "What comes in a quilt kit?"   Mentioned in this episode:  Batiks at Connecting Threads  Request a catalog  Quilting Kits  Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:52 Kris and Kate talk Batiks 13:44 Meet the Team - Kris 15:18 Jennifer and Kate chat about features of the Connecting Threads shopping experience 25:28 Credits

Demystifying Batting

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