Hi, All! I?ve got two questions for you knowledgeable people. First, I?ve bought my first jelly roll and matching 5? charm square set (April Cornell?s Sunshine) and would like to know the best way to pre-wash them (or, are you supposed to use them ?as is??). Normally, I wash all my fabric before using it. Could you please let me know what you do about pre-washing? I was originally going to do a squares and sashing kind of thing with them, but now I?m thinking of trying Elisa Wilson?s small circle templates (they look like drunkard?s path) with the charm squares and then doing something with the jelly roll around the sides. Maybe a small border around the center circles section to square it up to an even number of inches and then maybe 2-5 rows of 2? squares and then just bands of fabric. Or maybe seaming some of the jelly roll strips and then cutting some more circles and intermixing plain and seamed fabrics for the circles (quarter circles, really), and then using plain strips as the outside border. Don?t know, still thinking. I?ve tried Elisa Wilson?s melon block templates and was very happy with the results, so I?m sure that the small circle templates will be accurate and as easy to use (fingers crossed as I?m very new to curved piecing, as in, only done it once with the melon templates to make one quilt ;>). OK, second. I?ve heard of Aurifil thread and am a bit confused. Is this cotton thread that can be used for piecing or is it just for machine quilting? Also, it?s a bit thinner than the normal 50 wt. Mettler cotton that I normally use, isn?t it? Is it strong enough for piecing a working quilt, such as a child?s quilt that will be washed and dragged about and used as a tent, etc.? For machine quilting, is it better used for a wall hanging or something that will not get heavy use or is it strong enough for a normal working quilt? Thanks for your help!
Cathy Wilson snipped-for-privacy@library.ucla.edu