**giveaway now closed**

For many of us basting is a chore. A boring but necessary chore. I actually enjoyed basting, all those pins and a couple of hours crawling about... some how it felt like a satisfying job. Since having the 3rd baby though my back is not as strong and when faced with basting my giant feathers quilt I just couldn't stand the thought of it (also I don't have enough pins!!). I did contemplate basting the traditional way with a good old needle and thread, and I got great advice from the ever helpful Helen, but again it is so big I just couldn't face it. Time is also a factor, considering how little free time I have I want things done quickly. Done right but done fast!

what better way to test your basting than have a baby walk over it!!

The solution for me was to use Hobbs Heirloom Fusible wadding from Minerva Crafts. So brilliant. This HUGE quilt took me less than 40 minutes to baste. I stuck a few pins in too, only because I'm hand quilting and know I will be throwing it about so if I hadn't pinned it would have been even less time!

night shot but you get an idea of the scale - that's some of it in front of our piano
I know I would have spent at least a couple of hours if I basted this using just pins. Pressing the iron took far less effort and it looks super neat and nicely basted. I wouldn't have needed to pin if I was machine quilting it or didn't have children attacking it.



Hobbs Heirloom Fusible would be a fantastic product to use when you are short on time, if you want to try an alternative to traditional methods or just like the idea of using something easy. It feels a tiny bit stiff but not horribly so, just enough to tell me it has worked and is stuck together. It is quilting like a dream too:



As a celebration of becoming a new sponsor and to introduce their brilliant products Minerva Crafts are giving away a pack of sewing and haberdashery goodies (worth £20), open to everyone!


They stock such an amazing range of products including fabric and quilting supplies. While I know fabric is always lovely to win, haberdashery is crucial!

**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED**

To enter leave a separate comment for each:

 1. Leave a comment, if you like you could tell me your favourite haberdashery (sewing notion) essential.
2. Like Minerva Crafts on facebook or sign up for their newsletter (at the bottom).
3. Be a follower of Charm About You (GFC, any reader or by email subscription).
4. Share a link to this giveaway - tweet, facebook, pin or blog.

That's four chances to win! ONLY if I can contact you so please leave your email address in the comment (no reply bloggers will NOT win).

The giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway ends Monday 4th November and the winner will be chosen by random.org.

Good luck!

If you need some supplies right now remember to use the discount CHARM10 at the checkout to get 10% off at Minerva Crafts!

*I did not know haberdashery was a UK term and yes it is sewing notions! Here's the Oxford dictionary definition of haberdashery:



noun (plural haberdasheries)

[mass noun]
  • 1British small items used in sewing, such as buttons, zips, and thread.
  • 2North American men’s clothing and other items sold by a haberdasher.
  • 3a shop or a department within a larger store that sells haberdashery.