Fossil Fern Fabric by Benartex is still available - 120 colors

At the same class with Master Machine Quilter, Diane Gaudynski, we heard Fossil Fern Fabric by Benartex was no longer available. We know it is still available, because we still carry all 120 colors. Diane listed Fossil Fern and Gradations fabrics on her supply list as well as Aurifil 50W-2ply Cotton Thread and we carry all three.

A few years ago, now, Benartex did reduce the number of colors from 160 to 100. At that time they produced a 5" square packet of the 100 which is still available. Then they added back 19 colors which they needed for their color story program. We even have a club where you can receive 10 colors each month until you have all the colors in the size of your choice - minimum 1/4 yard.

When you need a Fossil Fern Fabric, we are your best source. We are rarely out of a color and when we are it is rarely more than two weeks before it is back in stock. If you are trying to match a color, experience has taught us, with 120 colors, it is best, if you send us a sample. We will return it too!

Over 14 years we have proven that Fossil Fern fabrics are very useful. After taking Diane's class, we realized how their light weight proves to be an advantage for whole cloth quilts and backings, especially when you are machine quilting. Much less weight to manipulate through the machine. Add a lightweight batting, such as wool and lightweight thread, such as our 140 weight, Fine Cotton Thread or 50 Weight Aurifil or 100 weight Silk (heavenly, and you will love the difference it makes in guiding it through the machine.

We love using many different, even odd fabrics in a quilt, so the idea of making a quilt out of one line of fabric wouldn't normally enter our head. With the Fossil Fern line, it did. With 160 colors from which to choose and all the variation in each piece, we thought it could make a fabulous quilt if we just had the right pattern. Simple Gifts by Mary Sorenson turned out to be the right pattern. While Patty Henry and Joyce Cambron made it, we offered it as a Block of the Month (and still do). As it turned out it has won a lot of ribbons, including Best of Show, Applique and First in its division locally and because the fabric is still available so is the kit.

After we finished Simple Gifts, Kate White was anxious to do Sunday Blues by Dinah Jeffries and it too turned out to prove the Fossil Fern yielded fabulous results. If you click below be sure to scroll down to see all the blocks from our version individually.

To see the Simple Gifts quilt, Click here.

To see the Sunday Blues quilt, Click here.

To see the Fossil Fern Category, Click here.

To check out our Fine Thread, Click here.

Four Seasons BOM - Free Pattern

The Four Seasons Block of the Month features the Rock Candy Collection designed by Mark Hordyszynski for Blank Quilting. Like us, you may already be familiar with his name as he was the designer of the very popular Fairy Frost fabric for Michael Miller Fabrics. This collection is similar but a larger scale and we find it more interesting. It is also softer, so whatever gives it texture, there is less of it.

There are over 40 different colors of the Rock Candy in the 54" x 69" finished quilt.

The day we were looking at the fabrics and pattern, 2 co-workers and 3 customers wanted to make it, so, we thought we better offer it. It is more reasonable than most BOMs, because the pattern is FREE with the Block of the Month.

Whether done by hand or machine the result is gorgeous. Definitely an heirloom piece. About hand-applique, if you fear it, all it takes is emmersing oneself in a project like this to become totally comfortable. On the other hand, if you fear machine applique, the same can be said. We have two really good DVD's to learn either or both. The first is Hand and Machne Applique the Karen Kay Buckley Way and the second, by Sharon Pederson is Machine Applique for the Terrified Quilter.

Here at The Cotton Club, Kate studied with Karen and then watched the video and she said the DVD was as good as taking the class.

To see the BOM Online, Click Here.

To see the DVDs mentioned above, Click Here.

This next week I will be taking a Machine Quilting class. I, Cheryl, am a wannabe machine quilter, so I am going to emmerse myself for a week and see what I can do. I will post again when I return!

Texture Magic

Art Quilter Alert! Texture Magic is like shrink wrap, it shrinks under steam. When it is layered with fabric, stitched and steamed it shrinks up to 30% and creates a new textured fabric.

To get us going, there are several new patterns using this product in a baby quilt, purse or tote, but we think the art quilters of the world are going to find ways to use it in their work that will surprise and delight us. It adds texture, loft, visual depth, and luminosity. We can't wait to see its use expanded. That is what is wonderful about the quilt world. A product is often made for one reason and then, used for many.

To see Texture Magic in use, Click Here.

Serrated Scissors

Here at The Cotton Club, we have long been fans of serrated scissors. We love the way they HOLD on to what we are cutting. After a visit from teacher, designer and author, Karen Kay Buckley, we have another reason to love them. They make her top 10 list because the serrated edge prevents the fabric from raveling - just like a pinking shear only micro-sized. Of course! And for appliique, what could help more! From left to right, her favorites are: 3 1/2" Gingher Serrated Embroidery Scissors, 7" Serrated Scissors by Clover and 5 1/2" Serrated Scissors by Clover. To read more about these scissors Click Here.