Newsletter

Workshop

Our monthly workshop is Wednesday night March 14th
at the Senior Center, from 6:30 – 8pm.

The Next Meeting

We will meet Wednesday, March 21st, at HB Stowe School on Post Office Road, doors open at 6:30pm and the meeting will begin at 7:00pm.

Our quest speaker will be Brian O_ Marbling Fabric Demo and Vending,
plus Nomination of Officers, Raffle and Show & Tell.

Refreshments

Bonnie Clemet, Muriel Capocci, Mary Shaw
Beverages: Vicky Altenhein

Raffle

Debbie Maier, Mary Shaw

Dates to Remember

Sat. March 24, 9am-12noon
GHQG Sharing Day
Bristol Eastern High School
632 King Street, Bristol, Ct.

April 13-14
GHQG Spring Program
NE Utilities,
Berlin Turnpike, Berlin, Ct.
Class on Friday the 13th, 10-4
and Sat. the 14th, 1-4
Singer Quilters perform Sat. the 14th, 10-12:30

May 5-6
Quilts Along The Thames,
Thames River Quilters,
Gales Ferry School,
Gales Ferry, Ct.
Admission $8.00
Quilts, vendors, mini-quilt auction, scissor sharpening, food vender.
Contact Liz Weaver : eweaver928@tvcconnect.net

May 20 - Oct. 28
Shelburne Museum, Collection of Quilts
African American Quilts and Amish Quilts
www.shelburnemuseum.org or 802- 985-3346

June 29 - July 1
Vermont Quilt Festival
Essex Junction, VT
www.vqf.org or 603-444-7500

Tips & Hints

The Difference Between Chain Store Fabric and Quilter's Grade Fabric

The following is taken from an article by Jim Salinas in the Winter 2000 issue of "Spools & Tools. His article takes some of the mystery out of fabric manufacture and why most quilters spend a little more for "quilters fabric."

"Is there really any difference between the printed cotton found in chain store for $2.99 to $5.99 per yard and the printed cottons found in shops for $7.99 to $9.99? You bet there is, and understanding these differences is critical... Premium brands, such as Moda, start with high quality griege goods (pronounced "gray," griege goods are unfinished fabrics in their raw state). Premium griege goods have a minimum of 60 threads on the warp and 60 threads on the woof. Many premium griege goods thread counts are higher than "60 square." Higher thread counts contribute to a silkier hand (feel), less bearding when quilted, increased longevity plus enhanced printing definition.

In addition to thread count, we have the issue of what diameter yarns are used in the griege good construction, the size of cotton filaments used, and the length of the cotton staple. As in all manufacturing, premium components cost more and add to the final cost of the product. The premium brands typically make use of a number of screens (the number of colors used in the print) and more complex engravings normally require using slower and more exciting flat bed presses than the high speed rotary presses used by the domestic mills on most chain store products.

Once the griege goods are printed, they have to be "finished". Finishing is a chemical bath that sets the dye into the cotton fabric. Unfinished goods or poorly finished goods bleed and have an extremely coarse and boardy hand.

As you might have guessed, premium brands are normally finished in a more time-consuming manner. This adds greatly to the silken hand of "quilter's grade" fabrics as well as superior color fastness. The long and the short of it, however, is that consumers do get what they pay for.

	Now you can watch whenever you want in the new Simply Quilts Video Center! Watch full episodes, complete with printable instructions, with new shows added every week.
	Visit our homepage at HGTV.com

Submittals for Our News Letter

If you have news or events, Classified Ads or other information you would like to submit for publication, please Email it to Vicky, or mail it to Vicky Altenhein, 3 Elizabeth St., Enfield, CT 06082, or call 745-4956. The deadline for newsletter submittals is the first Wednesday of the month. (Apr. 4)

    Thou Shalt not Covet your best friend's Stash!

    Thou Shalt keep your collection of quilting
    books smaller than that of the local library!

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