Marlette

Sheila, Thanks for the fusible info. I realized I said SaS2 and forgot the lite part. I was thinking also that doing the center cutout would be better. RaNae recommends using Sulky Rayon for the satin stitch but I think poly embroidery is better for wearability. Have to tell you gals my beginner mistake. I'm using 108" wide muslin for my practice and I put the backing on the takeup roller first..all 90 pins of it. Then I did the top..all 90 pins, before I realized did it wrong!! By that time I had to go get dinner ready and today was my garage sale so I haven't been back to fix it. I made $181.75 in 6 hrs so I'm happy. Now I've got money to but more supplies! Yippeee!!! Thanks gals for your encouragement and help

Thanks gals for all the great tips on battings. I've been quilting for some time now and have usually used Warm and Natural 80/20. I've found it to be satisfactory to all my bed and snuggle quilts. I must admit I haven't snuggled up in one of my own but I've not had any complaints from anyone. I have a hand quilted Amish bed quilt on my bed (it was a gift from my DB) that I'm sure has a poly batt and it is very drapey. We use it all winter and sometimes on cool spring and fall nights. I don't think I would machine quilt with poly tho. Too many other nice batts out there. I like Thermore for table runners and placemats and jackets. I've always used 80/20 on my art quilts with great success. Now, you must know I've done all my quilting on my DM so maybe that makes some difference. I'm sure there there are a lot of opinions but I want to ask what you all would suggest for batting on a king sized pieced and appliqued batik top. The backing will be 100% cooton wide back also pieced since the quilt is 110 wide. I was going to use my 80/20 but I've read so much about the wool batts and also the bamboo being so popular. This is for my son and DiL and I want it to be the best I can do. It will be his first quilt from me. I can't believe that..he's my first born and I never made him a quilt...I'm so ashamed:( Anyway, , you all understand. I have another one ready to be pieced as well for our youngest son and his wife..same size but in 100% cotton, pieced top and back may be batik but I'm not sure yet. Any cautions about that? Also, this pattern is one of RaNae Merrill's Star patterns. It's a big center Mariner star in her Radiance fabrics with smaller circles on the sides and borders. She directs you to use Steam a seam 2 to fuse the star to the background then satin stitch the edges. I'm afraid all the fusible might give me problems in quilting it. I was thinking I might just use fusible on the edges of the pieces or narrow zigzag them down before satin stitching. I also thought the fusing would make the quilt stiff. I've done fusing on wall quilts but I didn't care if they were stiff. I didn't have trouble quilting them on my DM but that's different that on a longarm too. Just got my Gammill Classic plus last Thursday so I'm PPPPPPP!! My first piece for practice was a cheater as recommended by the dealer who came to do the set up and initial instruction. I just ran out and bought a Christmas panel. I didn't think about the fact that it had gold metallic leaves all over the "sashing". I didn't have any trouble but that piece sure is stiff! Thanks ahead for your suggestions.