Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Book review: Girl’s World

by

Girl’s World: Twenty-One Sewing Projects to Make for Little Girls is Jennifer Paganelli’s debut book coming out late April 2011. Jennifer is the creator of the Sis Boom™ vintage lifestyle company. She has had several popular fabric lines with Free Spirit, the latest is Honey Child. Others include Queen Street, Poodle, So St. Croix, and Dance with Me. But back to the book in hand.

The look: Chronicle had me at the front cover. The tone for the book is set by a pretty, barefoot girl in a yellow dress reaching for a butterfly. How delightfully appealing is this scene to the little girl in all of us. Inside, the book is chock full of beautiful girls (ages toddler to tween) in and among things made of equally beautiful fabrics. Nearly a third of the book’s 175 pages holds project pattern sheets (sturdy, not the tissue kind). Throughout the book are outline fabric graphics of girls having fun doing things, like riding a pair of scissors with pigtails flying, (see pages 17, 64).

The layout: The projects are organized into three main sections. They are as follows: Dress-up, Accessories, and Home. The introduction includes a warm welcome from Jennifer where we find out what inspires her textile designs. Following this is Sewing Basket Basics. Oops, I think they meant to say Sewing Room Basics, how else would you store an ironing board and sewing machine into your sewing basket? No worries. A Sizing chart and Glossary of Techniques round out the intro.

The content: Jennifer is spot-on in her choices of projects to include in this book. Classic and trendy, take the Georgia Tulle Ballet Skirt (page 75) for instance. Tulle skirts are way hot now and I spied a plain one recently online for $32. Her version is a dream with the bottom filled with silk flower petals and leaves. An example of timeless charm is the Chloe Paper Doll Overnight Bag (page 101). She’s thoughtful too. Since when does a craft project help your circle of girls affirm each other? Hers does, check out her Girls’ “Ambassador of Goodwill” Badges (page 107). And finally, important to me as a quilter, she includes the Genevieve Patchwork Square Quilt (page 141). It’s fresh and sweet plus easy to sew.

The giveaway: I am giving away a copy of this book to a lucky Craft Gossip reader. Stay tuned for details in a future post.

Editor’s Note 3/27/2011: Go to Giveaway.

Comments

  2. Can’t wait to get my hands on this to sew up some CUTE projects for my 1-1/2 yr old daughter.

  3. Oh how cute,would love to win this and make my Granddaughter some lovely outfits.she loves it so much when her nana makes her outfits

  4. Have twin grand-daughters and could certainly use this book. Thanks for the opportunity.

  5. What a great book; I think not only would it be great fun to try projects out of, but it would look great sitting by my rocking chair in my craft room–a fun read!

  8. This book looks Perfectly Beautiful!!!!!!I would love to share this with my grandaughters!!!!!!!!

Have you read?

How to Choose the Best Batting for Your Quilt Project (Without Guessing)

Batting is one of those quilting decisions that feels strangely high-pressure.

It’s hidden inside the quilt. No one sees it.
 But choose the wrong one? And suddenly your quilt feels stiff, too puffy, too flat… or worse, washes poorly.

I used to grab whatever batting was on sale. Then I made one quilt that felt like a winter doona and another that barely had any drape at all.

That’s when I realised — batting isn’t one-size-fits-all.

If you’re a hobby quilter making a few quilts a year, here’s how to choose batting confidently without needing a textile engineering degree.

What Batting Actually Does

Batting affects:

  • Warmth

  • Loft (how puffy it looks)

  • Stitch definition

  • Drape

  • Weight

  • Durability after washing

It’s the structure of your quilt.

The top fabric gets the attention — but the batting determines how the quilt feels in real life.

The 3 Main Types of Quilt Batting

Let’s simplify this.

1. Cotton Batting

Cotton batting gives a classic, traditional look.

It:

  • Lays flatter

  • Shrinks slightly when washed (creates that lovely crinkled look)

  • Shows quilting stitches clearly

  • Breathes well

Best for:

  • Heirloom quilts

  • Wall hangings

  • Summer quilts

  • Hobby quilters who love that soft, natural drape

If you prefer a quilt that feels traditional rather than fluffy, cotton batting is usually the safe choice.

2. Polyester Batting

Polyester batting has more loft and puff.

It:

  • Resists shrinking

  • Is lightweight but warm

  • Dries quickly

  • Holds its shape well

Best for:

  • Bed quilts

  • Utility quilts

  • Quilts that will be washed often

  • Gift quilts for busy households

If you’ve ever wanted that slightly “puffy” stitch texture, polyester delivers that beautifully.

3. Cotton-Poly Blend Batting

Blended batting gives you the middle ground.

It:

  • Offers more loft than cotton

  • Shrinks less

  • Still feels soft

  • Adds durability

For hobby quilters who want flexibility without overthinking, blends are often a very practical option.

Loft: Low, Medium, or High?

Loft refers to thickness.

Low loft:

  • Flatter finish

  • Easier for domestic sewing machines

  • Ideal for detailed quilting

Medium loft:

  • Balanced

  • Good stitch definition

  • Great for everyday quilts

High loft:

  • Puffy texture

  • Dramatic quilting lines

  • Best for larger-scale quilting designs

If you quilt on a standard home machine, low to medium loft is usually easier to manage.

Scrim vs No Scrim (And Why It Matters)

Some batting includes scrim — a light stabilising layer that holds fibres together.

Scrim batting:

  • Is more stable

  • Easier for machine quilting

  • Less stretching

No scrim batting:

  • Feels softer

  • More flexible

  • Often preferred for hand quilting

If you’re primarily machine quilting, scrim can make the process smoother.

How Batting Affects Stitch Definition

If you love seeing your quilting lines clearly, batting choice matters.

Cotton:

  • Shows stitching crisply

Polyester:

  • Creates raised stitching

High loft:

  • Makes stitches pop dramatically

If you’ve ever wondered why your quilting doesn’t look like the photos you admire, batting could be the difference.

Washing & Shrinkage Considerations

Cotton batting shrinks slightly after washing, creating that soft vintage crinkle many quilters love.

Poly batting resists shrinkage and keeps a smoother appearance.

Neither is wrong — it depends on the look you prefer.

For baby quilts or gifts, many hobby quilters appreciate predictable washing results.

Common Batting Mistakes

  • Choosing high loft for detailed block quilting

  • Not checking recommended quilting distance

  • Using thick batting on a small domestic machine

  • Ignoring fibre compatibility

Always check the manufacturer’s recommended stitch spacing. Some battings require closer quilting lines to maintain structure.

What Should Hobby Quilters Start With?

If you’re unsure, start here:

For traditional quilts:
 Low loft cotton batting.

For everyday bed quilts:
 Medium loft cotton-poly blend.

For puffy stitch texture:
 Low to medium loft polyester.

You don’t need five types on hand. Choose based on project purpose.

Where to Compare Quilt Batting Options

Batting can be surprisingly varied, and seeing fibre type, loft, and recommended stitch distance clearly listed makes decision-making much easier.

Specialty quilting retailers like Fat Quarter Shop’s batting collection allow you to compare cotton, polyester, and blended options side-by-side so you can choose based on your specific quilt rather than guessing.

The Bottom Line

Batting is not just filler.

It determines how your quilt:

  • Feels

  • Washes

  • Drapes

  • Ages

For hobby quilters, understanding just three things — fibre type, loft, and project purpose — is enough to choose confidently.

You don’t need to memorise every product line.

You just need to match the batting to the quilt’s job.

This article is part of our Ultimate Guide to Quilting Notions for Hobby Quilters, where we break down essential tools without overwhelming you.

Next in the series:
 Rotary Cutters Explained: Sizes, Blades, and When to Replace Them