New Products and techniques come along almost at the speed of light.  Watch this page for the newest and best.

Current Reviews:

The Oliso Iron

Quilters Fabric Calc

Block Butler

King Tut Quilting Thread

The Oliso Iron

There are many irons on the market but this one is absolutely unique.  It has pegs on the bottom that lift the iron up off the fabric when you take your hand off the handle.  No need to set it on end.  I thought, when I bought mine, that there would be a switch under the handle that would activate the lift system.  Not so!  A slight touch anywhere on the handle is all it takes.  This feature can be turned off if desired.

It has the standard features of other irons:

Dry and Steam Settings

Temperature Control

Spray Button

Horizontal and Vertical Burst of Steam

Automatic Shut Off

Non-Stick Soleplate

Easy Fill System

Instant Off When Tipped Over

When I first started using it, it didn't seem to have enough steam.  I soon discovered (with a burned finger) that indeed it has.  The iron sends the steam down into the fabric, very little comes out from under the sides of the soleplate.  Another thing - this iron has some weight making pressing easy. Once you get used to it hopping up and down when touched and learn not to set it on end all the time, it's a joy. The only thing I would change is the fact that it turns itself off after 8 minutes if not in use.  I would like that to be a little longer but I've adjusted.

Would I recommend it to a friend - Yes!

Back to top

Quilter's FabriCalc

Not just another calculator, this one is special ! 

Estimate material needed by entering length and width of the quilt to find the quilt yardage for the front, backing, drop, batting, binding and borders.  For the borders and binding the calculator figures the number strips needed and the width these strips need to be.

You can enter the number and size of blocks and it will figure the total yardage needed, number and width of strips to cut.

You can choose to see the finished calculations in decimals, yardage, or metric.  A half yard can be .50 or 1/2yd. or 18" or .457 m or 45.72 cm.

You can calculate the number of blocks that you can cut from a piece of fabric in your stash.  For instance:  You want 6" finished blocks, you have a piece of fabric 36" wide X 18" long.  You enter these amounts and it will tell you that's 648 sq. inches of fabric, you can cut 12 squares, cut 2 strips 6 1/2" wide.

Yes, it adds the seam allowance.  You can set the defaults for seam allowance, fabric width and more to whatever you wish.

It can handle squares, rectangles, 1/2 and 1/4 square triangles, and 45 and 60 degree diamonds.  It will figure the diagonal of a square for setting triangles, too. 

You can figure the cost of the fabric by entering the price per yard.

O.K. it'll figure all that yardage but can I use it to balance my checkbook? And will I have anything left to balance after I buy it?  The answer is Yes !!  It's versatile and inexpensive, too.

Back to top

Block Butler Design Wall

Block Butler is a unique and versatile design wall system. It can be used on most flat surfaces such as painted (textured or flat) and wallpapered walls, windows, mirrors and wooden doors.  This new sheet is tacky on both sides but has no adhesive, the fiber has built in tack that will not evaporate or wash away.

So, how do you use it? Press it to a wall, door, or other surface and then use it to hold your fabric pieces.  Great for designing wearable art, arranging blocks for a quilt, or grouping fabrics to judge their effect.  Sometimes you just need to stand back and view your work.

Block Butler will last for many years without losing its tackiness or leaving any residue on walls or fabric.  It can be hand washed and will not loose it's tack. 

Transport your work to class without losing the arrangement !  Just cover it with the plastic sheet that comes with it, roll it up and away you go.  You'll arrive with your work ready to use.

Block Butler comes in different sizes and can be cut to whatever you need.  A 2' X 2' piece would be good for classes.  I got the 4' X 6'  one but may cut it into sections to make it easy to handle.

Another plus:  You can press on it !  Cover it with a teflon press sheet, add your fusibles, cover with another press sheet and fuse.  Block Butler remains unchanged.

I think it's a winner !!!

Back to Top

King Tut Quilting Thread

A new thread from Superior Threads  

My review:

The top part of this sample is free motion stipple quilted with a thin batting.  The bottom part is straight stitching and satin stitching. 

Being a 40wt thread it's suitable for seaming, quilting and decorative work.

I was impressed with the 1 inch color changes.  In the quilting, the quick changes give more color to an area rather that large areas of just one color.  In the satin stitching, the result is striped rather than large color blocks.  This would be good for fabric bowls and boxes giving an interesting edge finish.

The stitching is not as shiny as rayon but does have a slight sheen giving it a depth that other cottons don't have.

I think it's a winner !!!

Back to Top