New Pom Pom Maker Sizes

There are two new Clover Pom Pom Maker Packs available, Extra Large and Extra Small. You can make jumbo ones of around 4 1/2" (115mm) diameter or you can make little ones which are only 3/4" or 1" in diameter. Use for decorating scarves, hats, bags etc. The large one has measurements on its arch to help multi coloured pom poms.

Box Making Kits - The Art of Cartonnage

We released a new range of Box Making Kits at the Quilts UK, Malvern Show and these are now available on the website. Currently there are four different boxes to make as well as two sizes of ring binder. The kits come with instructions, excellent thick card and extras such as ticking, brass corners and the ring binders, for example. The fabric is not included but this means that you can choose from our extensive collections to make a truly unique piece. We have included a number of fabrics on the Box Making page which we think go well with the kits. Also on the page is a book binding glue, although any craft glue can be used, we have found this to be very effective and to work well with kits. Shown above is the 1001 Treasure Box.

New Fabrics for Children

We have a number of new fabrics in our Babies and Children section, including two new Paddington Bear coordinates. I note with interest that Paddington Bear is in the news with the release of the latest volume Paddington Bear: Here and Now (review).


There are also new Humpty Dumpty fabrics and some very cute Teddy Bears. We also have available a quilt kit featuring a Very Hungry Caterpillar, the star of the hit childrens book by Eric Carle.

For older children we have some new fabrics featuring Dinosaurs, Wizards and Princesses.
Fabrics are available by the metre or as Fat Quarter Packs

Patchwork Fabric Prewashing Advice

In our Fabric Palettes Catalogue we included some advice on prewashing your patchwork fabrics. I have now put this up on the website and I have included the details below for your information.

Washing patchwork fabrics.
Some patchworkers prefer not to prewash fabric, but prewashing new fabrics generally ensures that there will be no uneven shrinkage and no transfer of colours when the finished piece is washed. These guidelines apply to most 100% cotton fabrics, but we would always advise testing a small piece first as manufacturing processes do vary:

Unfold all fabrics before putting into the washing machine.

Wash light coloured fabrics in tepid water with a phosphate free detergent.

Soak dark coloured fabrics individually in cold water for approximately half an hour and then machine wash in cold water with a phosphate free detergent.

Ensure your washing machine is set to a low spin cycle, Tumble fabric almost dry then remove and press with an iron.

Completed quilts made from light and dark fabrics should only be washed in cold water.