quick creative quilting
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Putting the right comforter on your bed can make the whole bedroom look fabulous. Comforters are the most visible of all the bedding pieces, so when you change the comforter you make a large change in the decor of the bedroom itself. But comforters are also very functional as they make for a very warm, and soft bed to sleep in too. But getting the right comforter for your bed takes some thought and preparation, and this article will help you make the right decision when you buy.
The first factor in choosing the right comforter is to make sure that it actually fits your bed. This may sound like a simple thing, but not all mattresses are the same size because of their design. If you have a very standard mattress it will most likely fit into one of the conventional categories like "Full", Queen", or "King".
But many mattresses these days are not standard sizes because mattress makers have gone to adding more features like pillow tops on one side or sometimes both sides of the mattress. This means that the mattress is now much thicker than it would normally be. And that will also affect the size of any bedding that you are now able to put on that bed. That's why it's always a good idea to measure your bed and mattress to make sure that you know what size comforter to get beforehand and won't have to be faced with the prospect of having to return the bedding that you love when you find that it just doesn't look right on your bed.
When considering a comforter look at the TPI or threads per inch too. This figure will often give you a good idea of the quality level that has been put into that comforter. Generally speaking thread counts above 250 produce a soft and comfortable feel and fabric that will last a long time. Try to avoid thread counts below 200.
It's also not a bad idea to look for a comforter that has patterns on both sides. That way you can change the look of the bed from time to time and not just have the same pattern all the time.
If you are in the market for a down comforter, the most expensive kinds will have pure white down in them, but actually a mixture of down and feathers will do the job nicely and is not as expensive. Just avoid so-called down comforters that have a really low ratio of down to feathers. The higher the down ratio in the comforter the more important that the cover be what is called "down proof" because down is so small and can actually work its way through a normal cover. Usually this designation is listed on the comforter package.
Finally, be sure that a down comforter is stitched so that the insulation material cannot move about very freely or shift. If the stitching is not in place the down can shift so that some parts of the comforter do not even offer much insulation at all. This is widely known, and most down comforters will have necessary stitching in place on the quilt, but just make sure before you buy.
Buying a good quality comforter is an investment in practicality and appearance at the same time. Use these guidelines for choosing your new comforter and you should be happy with it for years to come.
About the Author
Duane Jones - All About Bed And Bath provides free information, resources and tips on finding bedding, comforters, bathroom fixtures, tubs, and more for your home at the very best price.
...Author: Duane Jones
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Timely help for quick creative quilting
About Quilting Dutchman's Puzzle is an all-time favorite traditional quilt block. I'm showing an example of a quilt here, rather than the block itself, because this pattern's color value arrangement is split vertically, and deviates from the norm, with a dark background in one half of the block and a light background in the other. The pattern walks you through the construction of two quilt blocks, and although they have the same components, they're sewn together in different ways. Make 35 blocks to assemble a strippy-set quilt like this example (the pattern includes yardages). It's also a very good pattern for scrappy blocks (and a heads-up to Forum Block Party participants -- you might see this again at some point). ©Janet Wickell Dutchman's Puzzle Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 16:28:05. Permalink | Comment | Email this Five Patch Chain Quilt Block Pattern Five Patch Chain is another block that can be used to create dramatic diagonal movement on the face of your quilt. All pieces are cut along the straight grain -- no stretchy bias edges means it's super easy to assemble. The quilt block finishes at 10" square, and I've included a layout example showing 18 Five Patch Chains alternated with Snowballs. ©Janet Wickell Five Patch Chain Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 18:05:31. Permalink | Comment | Email this Double Nine Patch Quilt Block Pattern This colorful version of the Double Nine Patch quilt block is assembled using a slightly different color value layout in the small corner nine patches than is typical of the traditional design. The block finishes at 11-1/4" square, and can be assembled quickly by strip piecing (most) rows. © Janet Wickell Double Nine Patch Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 20:17:40. Permalink | Comment | Email this Lincoln's Platform Quilt Block Pattern Lincoln's Platform is a traditional patchwork quilt block with a central area surrounded by continuous squares -- sort of a block with its own built-in border. This version of the quilt block finishes at 14" x 14", and can be assembled with quick piecing techniques. I've included a layout suggestion, with blocks sewn together in horizontal rows. © Janet Wickell Lincoln's Platform Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 19:36:33. Permalink | Comment | Email this Double Four Patch Blocks in Pink and Orange This Double Four Patch design is the second quilt block pattern for March. Stitched in focal fabrics of pink, rose and orange, it's sure to be an attention-getter. The block finishes at 8" square, and is simple to assemble. It's also the design we're using for this month's Block Party event in the Quilting Forum. Double Four Patch Pattern © Janet Wickell Double Four Patch Blocks in Pink and Orange originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 11:16:29. Permalink | Comment | Email this Kicking Off Block-a-Day March I introduced a new block pattern each day last March, and plan to try it again this year. Now, there might be days I get behind, but I'll end the month with 31 new patterns. Day 1's quilt block is a variation of the design that's often referred to as Broken Dishes. Its center, made from four half square triangles, is the layout that typically comes to mind when we hear that name (although the color value layout shown here differs a bit). The block finishes at 15" square, and would make a fantastic scrap quilt. Kicking Off Block-a-Day March originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 15:07:02. Permalink | Comment | Email this Book Review: The Tsunami Quilt In 1946, coastlines throughout Hawaii were hit by a tsunami generated by a massive earthquake in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. Less than 5 hours later, waves as tall as 55 feet came onshore in Hilo and other parts of Hawaii, killing 159 people and devastating shoreline areas. Hopefully, residents will have plenty of warning to evacuate the coasts ahead of the tsunami expected from the earthquake in Chile. In Laupahoehoe, the focal point of The Tsunami Quilt, schoolchildren ran towards the ocean to pick up fish after one of the waves retreated, unaware that another would follow, and pull them into the ocean. Focusing on the losses at Laupahoehoe, Anthony Fredericks uses a family's history and tradition to explain the events of 1946 to children. Colorful illustration by Tammy Yee tell the story in pictures. Monument at Laupahhoehoe Book Review: The Tsunami Quilt originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 11:16:35. Permalink | Comment | Email this 5" Fool's Square Quilt Block Pattern Are you ready to go smaller? At 5" square, perhaps this doesn't fit into most definitions of a miniature quilt, but it is half the size of the traditional Fool's Square block. The smaller size is perfect for a wallhanging and also makes a nicely-scaled baby quilt. Sew an alternate block between Fool's Square (a plain square, a Snowball, any five-patch) or sew them side-by-side. You'll find that color-play is best when side-by-side blocks are not identical -- make them scrappy or sew them in a couple of themes for best results. Janet Wickell 5" Fool's Square Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 06:10:03. Permalink | Comment | Email this Make An Easy Pillow Cover I'm not big on sewing zippers -- I've had a mental block about them since about 1963. So I've avoided making pillow covers, because I like covers that can be removed when it's time to wash them, something that's critical when you have a house full of felines like we do. This quick and easy pillow cover method solves the problem by eliminating the zippers and replacing them with a simple, fold-over back. Start looking through your UFO bins for quilt blocks, and then grab some backing fabric. You'll finish this easy throw pillow cover in no time. Photo © Janet Wickell Make An Easy Pillow Cover originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 06:00:45. Permalink | Comment | Email this Thread Tips for Quilters Thread Tips is one of the many references inspired by readers when I asked what type of information everyone would like to see covered on About.com Quilting. Entire books can be written about threads, their content and their uses and the techniques required to sew with them, so treat this as a simple introduction. I hope it will help beginners become more familiar with the massive selection of threads available to quilters. Thread Tips for Quilters originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 17:58:54. Permalink | Comment | Email this Newsfeed display by CaRP |
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