Preparing for winter II

mamaninie

candie_gill wrote: »

I have had the sewing machine out tonight, my patchwork quilt is well on its way now. Hoping to have it completed for september time, not sure how to back it. Any ideas?

I always back mine with sheets as I find even buying them new its the cheapest way to buy the fabric. I only use 100% cotton not polycotton as depending on what you have used on the front you don't want the front to shrink more than the back with washing - cotton will shrink more than polycotton. Also I find that polycotton goes bobbly with lots of use. You want a reasonably good quality thread count as otherwise the batting/wadding inside will bobble through eventually especially if you've used polyester batting. Pre-wash and iron before you sew it up anyway.

Try the charity shops - although the prices round here are not good - often dunelm mill plain bedding in the sale is cheaper and better quality. Depending on what you've got in your stash or can find on the market etc, you could also do wide strips of contrasting fabric sewn together for the backing. Don't forget to use the best-quality fabric you can get for the binding around the edge as this is where the wear is.
Have fun!
xx

chirpychick

i ordered my foil sheets for behind the radiators yesterday, our energy monitor turned up today.

so another thing to cross off the list.

has everyone else forgotten about preparing now that the sun has come out? :rotfl:

candie_gill

mamaninie wrote: »

I always back mine with sheets as I find even buying them new its the cheapest way to buy the fabric. I only use 100% cotton not polycotton as depending on what you have used on the front you don't want the front to shrink more than the back with washing - cotton will shrink more than polycotton. Also I find that polycotton goes bobbly with lots of use. You want a reasonably good quality thread count as otherwise the batting/wadding inside will bobble through eventually especially if you've used polyester batting. Pre-wash and iron before you sew it up anyway.

Try the charity shops - although the prices round here are not good - often dunelm mill plain bedding in the sale is cheaper and better quality. Depending on what you've got in your stash or can find on the market etc, you could also do wide strips of contrasting fabric sewn together for the backing. Don't forget to use the best-quality fabric you can get for the binding around the edge as this is where the wear is.
Have fun!
xx

Thankyou will bare all that in mind I have to unpick an entire row asit went on wonky, serves me right for cutting corners lol! Will get there in the end though, eventually....

candie_gill

chirpychick wrote: »

i ordered my foil sheets for behind the radiators yesterday, our energy monitor turned up today.

so another thing to cross off the list.

has everyone else forgotten about preparing now that the sun has come out? :rotfl:

Noooo, im still preparing lol! Going to do the foil thing too, should stop the walls absorbing the heat and reflect it back into the room.

I have a few ongoing jobs im doing atm too, sewing a patchwork quilt, got some fleece to line my bedroom curtains with too. Also need to sew up the holes in our winter socks, aswell as all my jumpers etc. Also need to check for draughts when its a windy day, going to seel them with caulk. Then i have to find thermal curtains for my LO's room.. list is endless lol!

muffin_man_7

What sun it's chucking it down here although it was nice on monday til gone 6 came out of mrA and it was raining yesterday was too hot for me give me banging headache
now trying to get washing dry i'm an airer down leg snapped off won't buy one like that again

i've got loads of those foil blankets i i use sticky hooknloop to put it up at the window and it did help didn' t do it winter just gone cos we had d/glazing put in by council and i thought we wouldn't need them i was wrong they will go up again this year even if i hide them in the curtains

bizzylizzy

I have been thinking and reading about window quilts....... I'm sure I can make some fairly simple ones but I am confused about how to fix them up, and how to "open" them during the day.
I am renting, and we have plastic windows so an array of nails or hooks won't be a good idea. I am wondering if I could sew some cheap fleece blankets together to fit the window glass, and then hang the top over the net curtain wire. I would have to take them down in the day, just fold them up and store them somewhere ready for the next evening. Would that be insulating enough?

oldtractor

bizzylizzy,yes,fleece blankets draped over net curtsin wire works just fine. This is what I do at my single-glazed bedroom window. it fits behind the curtains which I draw closed in front. its important for the fleece to hang below the windowledge to stop the cold air coming from under,so get one plenty long enough. Last winter was so cold that upstairs I left them up during the day.

helen_jelly

I've ordered gloves, hats etc from Sports Direct and I've finished making the first set of curtains [for our room]. I've cut down old curtains and resown them to fit.

Also covered our headboard in the same material [not preparing for winter - just quite pleased with myself]

I'm off to !kea tomorrow - its their first day of sale and am looking for more material to start making the rest of the curtains

Helen

angelaloveschocolate

Anyone got this radiator booster? http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/MoneyMagpie_Radiator_Booster_Offer.html Was wondering if anyone thought it was worth buying now while it is on offer?

Jolaaled

angelaloveschocolate wrote: »

Anyone got this radiator booster? http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/MoneyMagpie_Radiator_Booster_Offer.html Was wondering if anyone thought it was worth buying now while it is on offer?

I don't have one, but would be interested too, if anyone has already tried them.

Also:
Can anyone advise if these are any good?:

http://www.nigelsecostore.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nigelsecostore.com%2facatalog%2fsitemap.html&WD=letterbox&SHOP=%20&PN=The_Ecoflap.html%23aECOFLAP#aECOFLAP

THANKS