June Product of the Month - Reviews

Vilene Lamifix Glossy is a transparent, fusible coating that you can iron onto fabrics to give them a wipe clean finish and create something like an oilcloth. It can be applied to most fabrics, but for best results use on 100% cotton. As the coated fabric gives protection from getting dirty, it is great for making fabric bowls, cosmetic and toiletry bags, fabric shopping bags and table mats.

For more information on Vilene Lamifix Glossy and details of where to buy, visit www.eqsuk.com


For the June issue of P&Q we asked for some willing quilting volunteers via our Facebook page, to test out Lamifix Glossy for us, review and record their findings. This is what they had to say...

'We found Lamifix to be easy to use, the product stuck to the fabric well in the first instance and the fabric didn’t feel too stiff and had a nice sheen to it. However, as we worked the product into a kindle case, we did find that as we turned the bag the right way round the Lamifix crinkled and slightly bubbled off the fabric despite it being thoroughly stuck down earlier. The photo in P&Q is of my 10 year old daughter Emma with the finished article, which she made for her daddy. We did it in a morning making the pattern up as we went. She chose the fabrics, and the binding, we used felt for the lining and she did virtually everything herself, except the binding. Daddy was really pleased!' Jayne Hollingsworth


'I decided to make a small tote bag with the film on the outside giving it a lovely glossy appearance. It was easy to use but care needed not to leave pinholes. It cut easily and sewed using ordinary machine needle and foot. Working it caused creases, which were permanent. A very useful material that I would use inside rather than outside of bag next time.' Trisha Caulfield



'The iron temperatures need to be hot as adhesion at the edges of the fabric was variable. The first project I made was a mug mat, however the product cracked when I turned it inside out. The second item was a wipe clean breadbasket, which worked well but edges needed binding to secure.' Margaret Smith

 


'I thought this would be ideal to use to make a wipe clean bib for a toddler. The foil took a long time to bond with the calico and went wrinkly at the edges; the overall finish looked shabby. This was a disappointing product to use and I would not recommend it.' Rachel Bushell

If you would like the opportunity to review a product for us visit our Facebook page and look out for our next product review post! www.facebook.com/britishpatchworkandquiltingmagazine

May Product of the Month Reviews - Mistyfuse

Mistyfuse is an ultra-light, paper-less, iron on fusible web. It is incredibly sheer, doesn’t add bulk or stiffen fabric and bonds firmly once cooled. It can be used with all weights of fabric from velvets and cottons to delicate tulles and organza. Since there is no added adhesive, it will not leave any residue on your scissors or needles. It is available in black and white.

 

For more information on Mistyfuse and details of where to buy, visit www.eqsuk.com

For the May issue of P&Q we asked for some willing quilting volunteers via our Facebook page, to test out Mistyfuse for us, review and record their findings. This is what they had to say....

 

'Wow well the possibilities are endless with this stuff, every art and textiles GCSE student needs this. The only problems I had with Mistyfuse was the wind catching it as I shook it out and a bit attached itself to the hot iron, but it did come off easily.

I tried 2 techniques; firstly I used peacock feathers bonded between two sheets of Mistyfuse on top of a piece of cotton fabric and then ironed under baking parchment. The cotton has been left with a chintzy glaze but the feathers have stuck fast. I had no problem free machine quilting through the Mistyfuse area, but pin marks show and do not close over.

The second was the appliqué Liberty hearts. The pink one was done with Mistyfuse, the burgundy with a paper backed fusible, the Mistyfuse backed one feels lighter and softer with no sharp points.' Rachel Bushell

'Ideal for use with a variety of fabrics. I used Mistyfuse to appliqué onto linen. It worked well fusing multiple layers together and still remaining pliable. Sewing through the fabrics by machine and hand was easy. I did miss the convenience of a paper back to trace onto, but overall a very nice product to use.' Margaret Convery

'Mistyfuse doesn't seem as fast to me for design transfer as paper-backed fusibles, especially if you need a lot of different shaped appliqué pieces. It is wonderful for free cutting shapes from prepared fabric. Mistyfuse is ideal for bonding snippets of fabric and thread together and applying to a background fabric, paper or even wood! My favourite use is with the Bernina Cutwork tool. I prepare fabric with Mistyfuse which stops them sliding when stacked for cutting out. The fusible is so fine that I can stack more than with other fusibles. 

The pictures below show original projects where Mistyfuse was used; A cushion where the hexagons were stacked and cut before fusing and stitching and Russian doll appliqués where again the various shapes were stacked for cutting.' Rosalind Pollock

'Mistyfuse was very fine, with no evidence of glue, and having followed the basic instructions one piece of fabric fused very well to another whilst not making the overall fabric too rigid and inflexible. Don't think I shall be using conventional fusible in the future.' Louise Bennett

If you would like the opportunity to review a product for us visit our Facebook page and look out for our next product review post!

www.facebook.com/britishpatchworkandquiltingmagazine

Emma

P&Q Cruise to Norway

Were you one of the lucky people to go on our first cruise last year to Norway?

 

A great time was had by all by the sound of it! Angela Price, who organised the cruise with Jim West of Sew Many Places, put together a lovely video showing what went on. We also had a report on the cruise in our October issue last year.

 

If you would like to treat yourself, Angela has just emailed me to advise there are still a few places left for this year's cruise which runs from 17 to 25 May!

What could be better? Patchwork and quilting classes as you sail across the North Sea to Norway? Cruising up and down the fjords with inspiration around every corner?

 

This year we are lucky enough to have Judi teaching with us again. She will be teaching her 'Along the Waterfront' workshop which is a pieced and foundation pieced class inspired by the scenic waterfront of Alesund, which is one of the ports of call on the cruise.

Pam Holland from Australia has her Illustrative Quilting class where she will show you how to draw and quilt with a sewing machine!

Linzi Upton's class, 'Northern Lights' is a Nordic-inspired workshop which includes curved piecing and finally we have Stuart Hillard (of Great British Sewing Bee fame) teaching you how to make the Clamshell Accessories Case from Clover.

 

If you would like to find out more you can email Angela at angela.price@traplet.com or telephone Sew Many Places on 02393 880068.

 

So if you want to have a holiday with a difference with like-minded quilting ladies.........what are you waiting for?!

 

Joanna

 

Weekend Homework

Dear lovely readers, we have a little bit of homework for you to ponder and think about over the weekend!

 

You may or may not be aware but our November 2014 issue is our 250th issue! Can you believe it?! And we want our readers to be involved in celebrating this milestone in as many ways as possible. We will be introducing an exciting Make It Competition in the March issue which will be out in a few weeks and we'll post more details about this shortly.
But this weekend, we want you have a think and a thumb through your old issues of P&Q (because we know you all keep them!) and let us know what have been your favourite projects over the years; whether it's one you have enjoyed making or one that really caught your eye and meant to make but have never got round to it! Big or small, quilt or cushion, we want to know about it.

 

You can either comment on this post, tell us on our Facebook page or on Twitter, email us or write to us.

 

We've already made a list of the ones we think have been popular but the magazine is for you, our readers, so it's up to you to tell us what projects have been your favourites.

 

We can't wait to hear from you!

Joanna & Emma

 

 

We have a winner!

Our random number generator, aka Judi who just happened to stop by the offices this morning, has picked the number

3

 from the comments we received when we asked you for your quilting resolutions for the new year. So congratulations go to Monika from Germany for her comment about wanting to learn to longarm quilt.

Why not take a look at Monika's blog? We love the those Flower Garden blocks and you are obviously a fan of P&Q, hope you had a great time on the cruise last year!

 

I raided our box of goodies last week and this delightful little book by Carolyn Forster will be winging its way to you shortly.

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

Joanna