EQS - European Quilting Supplies
The UK's leading distributor of products for patchwork, quilting and specialised crafts. Also supplying shops throughout the rest of Europe. Enquiry? Call: +44 116 271 0033
Something New In Waddings
25/04/2005
Just when you thought there was nothing more that could be done with waddings, Sew Simple comes out with a mix that is 50% cotton and 50% alpaca! This is not just a gimmick to extract more money from an unsuspecting public but a real step forward for quilters.
Like cotton, alpaca is a totally natural fibre with high insulation properties (it gets very cold in the Andes!). This makes for an extremely soft, warm wadding that needles beautifully by hand and machine. The insulating properties mean that for bed quilts you get the perfect combination of light weight that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. As it is needle-punched it is very stable, does not beard or shift and can be stitched up to 8" apart.
Also available from Sew Simple is an 80/20 cotton/polyester mix. This combines the advantages of both fibres in terms of use and washability. Can be stitched up to 10" apart.
Both come in 90" widths. They are surprisingly affordable: expect to pay about £9.99 per metre for the alpaca mix and £6.99 for the cotton/poly.