Kids quilts

Easy Quilting - How to Make a Throw Or Quilt in Less Than 3 Hours!
Articles By P.S. Orr

Easy quilting seems to be a misnomer because what is really easy about quilting since this task usually takes many hours to complete, depending on what you're quilting and how big it is. But you can create a quilt project in under 3 hours if you're willing to forego all the hand quilting that is valued by many people. For projects like afghans, lap robes or quilts for kids, producing an attractive item in less time is a value in itself. Here's some tips for easy quilting that you may want to consider the next time you want to create something quick.

1. Determine the size of your project. If you want to create something like a lap robe or bed cover, simply jot down the measurements that you are planning on following. Something simple like a lap robe or afghan will require much less time and planning than a bed cover, although all of these creations can be completed in less than 3 hours if you plan correctly.

2. Determine the material you will use. If you want to create a fast project, simply choose the widest material you can find so that there is no need to piece the top or back of the item. For lap robes and afghans, you can find new material that is 60" wide. Choose to make the item no wider than this and you already have your front or back panel widths intact.

3. Choose the internal batting you will use. For a lighter coverlet, you can use a flannel sheet which is easy to fit in between your two pieces of cloth. If you can pick up some cotton batting, but make sure it is as wide as your cover so that you don't have to piece it, unless you want to.

3. Cut your material for the front panel, back panel and batting. Lay the back panel on a sewing board or floor area. Then place the batting on the back panel. Complete the layering with the front panel on top.

4. Choose a sharp cross stitch or other type of sturdier needle with a large opening in the head portion. Thread it with either 3 to 4 strands of cross stitching thread or use some crocheting thread. Beginning in the middle of the material, sew down into the material and loop it back up, Snip the threads off evenly about 1 inch from the coverlet. Tie in a double knot. Evenly space this same procedure throughout the cover as closely together as you think it needs to be to allow for washing and common use without bunching.

5. Use double sided binding tape material to finish up the cover. Position the binding tape over the edges of the cover so that both sides are evenly covered. Then, simply use your sewing machine to stitch up the edges so they look finished and strengthened.

Voila! There you have a throw or quilt in less than 3 hours. You can use novelty material such as printed cars or fairy tale characters to make a coverlet that you kids will love. Or you can make a simple, but attractive quilt top that will add a new look to any bedroom.

Colorful bedding

Top 5 Children's Bedding For Boys

Want to give your boys room a unique look? Try outfitting it with a unique style of bedding from his favorite shows and cartoons. We have scoured the internet for some unique bedding combinations.

1. Bakugan Battle Brawlers

All of your kids favorite characters can be found in sheets, pillowcases, curtains and comforters to give their room the complete Bakugan look. Several styles are available to choose from the players to the brawlers.

2. Scooby Doo A Scooby Mystery

Scooby Doo is popular and available in multiple colors and styles. These include the mystery motifs to a baseball theme. Full sets are available, including some awesome beach towels. Find just Scooby Doo or the whole team.

3. Batman Power Vision

Batman Power Vision bedding and the Dark Knight bedding sets provide an awesome look for any youngsters room. Add in some curtains and a giant wall decal and you are sure to please. Batman not enough, you also get Aquaman and the Green Arrow.

4. Transformers TransGear Comforter

Transformers are here to stay with two hit movies. Find your kids favorite transformer for his bed. The Transformers have a selection of bright and colorful bedding and accessories.

5. Star Wars

Star Wars is like a staple. From the Clone Wars to Return of the Jedi, all your kids favorite characters are available. Get him Luke or Anakin or even Yoda. These bedding combinations are very colorful. Don't forget the curtains and the wall decals.

Decorate your boy's room in the style he wants. Give him all his favorite characters. Let him show off his favorites to his friends. Many different choices are available online for each of these sets of bedding choices. Don't forget to accessorize with decals, curtains and posters.

( Articles By Terry Preston )

Luxury comforter sets

Get Luxury Comforter Sets at an Amazing Deal
Articles By Charlie Levy

Luxury comforter sets are just as available as the cheap sets are. The better quality ones tend to be very expensive. However, if you take time to shop around, you can be sure to find a much affordable luxury set, even at a lower price than the cheap ones.

There are online stores that sell the exact same product that the high-end department stores are offering, but at a fraction of the price. Many people do not realize this. Just taking a few minutes to do an online search for what it is they want can save people hundreds of dollars. All you have to do is look past the big name department store ads and give the other smaller online shops a chance. I was thrilled to find a discount bed in a bag for two hundred fifty dollars cheaper than what a certain major department store was asking. It was the same exact bedding I saw at that store, brand new and a heck of a lot cheaper.

Many will say that they do not have time to shop on the internet. Just remember and take into consideration the time and effort it takes to actually get into your car, drive all the way to the store, walk from your car into the store, find out where in the store you can find what you are looking for, go get it and then stand in line to check out, walk back to your car and then drive back home. Wow, that in itself can be a round trip of 2 hours. Now, imagine yourself sitting on your couch or in your favorite chair, drinking a cup of coffee and browsing the web for what you want and just at the click of a button, BAM, your done shopping. No gas costs or aggravating traffic or grumpy people to deal with. Nice.

When you are looking for bed comforter sets, purchasing the higher quality will definitely be more economical. These luxury comforter sets are always put together much better than the cheap sets. Because they are put together this way, these sets last much longer eliminating the need to purchase another in the near future. Take the time to make sure that you are getting a quality bedding so you will not be spending more money after a short time.

Of course, if you are going to get an awesome deal on a luxury comforter set, you will have plenty of money left over from the savings to get some high quality sheets to match. Getting discount sheets is just as easy as when you purchase your comforter set. Keep in mind that when you are shopping for bed sheets, high quality fabrics will contain a thread count between 300 and 350.

Stay away from thread counts less than 200. The thread count defines how smooth a sheet is and may be misleading about quality. Be sure the pile is a little thicker or you will be sure to have some issues with wear if they are no thick enough. A high quality fabric such as an Egyptian cotton is the best. It is heavenly to sleep on. You deserve a little bit of heaven when resting your weary body after a hard days work. Besides, the more comfortable you are, the better you will sleep.

Queen comforter sets

Bedroom Decorating Ideas - Comforter Sets Vs Comforter Ensembles
Articles By Janet Massell

The decor of your bedroom is a very personal thing. We all want a space where we can go to unwind that is indicative of our own personality. Bedrooms have become that place to go where you can experience your own personal peace of mind that is yours alone.

In order to do that you need a decor that is a warm and inviting experience for you. That experience is different for everyone. That's why your choice of a queen comforter set or queen comforter ensemble is an important choice. That choice sets the mood for your peaceful getaway.

There are a few different ways to attack the bedding set decision. If you are a person who likes to put together their decor piece by piece, then you probably want to pick a 3pc comforter set that is somewhat neutral in color so that it is easy to pick out curtains and other finishing touches to coordinate well with the bedding set which, let's face it, is the focal point of every bedroom.

If you are a person who just wants to get everything that matches in one fell swoop then you want to get a bedding ensemble that has everything from comforter, shams, bed-skirt, sheets, curtains and even throw pillows. Your room is guaranteed to match. Pretty much fool proof.

Another option for creating a warm space in addition to your choice in a comforter set is, of course, your choice of paint. The best way to warm up a room is with a warm color. By warm, I mean...not pastel. Many people shy away from those darker shades on the wall but let me tell you...it is the best way to create a mood in a room that you can't get with just your coordinates.

Yes, your comforter set or ensemble is the main focus of your decor but to bring it all together you must consider the color that surrounds it. It does not have to be very dark but you may consider a mauve or a taupe if you want to stay more neutral. It's not so much the color as the warm tones that create a warm feeling. Here is the kicker. When you make the moldings and doors white...watch everything POP. You will be delighted with the effect that the contrast creates.

Another little trick that you may want to try (if you are brave enough) and have chosen a neutral color in a comforter set is putting a bolder color just behind the bed. To do this, just tape off the width of your bed from ceiling to floor or just to the height of the box-spring (your choice) with blue painters' tape and paint between the two strips of tape with a bolder color, such as burgundy. When you remove the tape, you will have a perfectly straight line. Then put up a fancy curtain rod at the ceiling line and drape a sheer curtain scarf over the rod. Let it drape down the sides of the bold color on the wall covering the edges where the two colors on the wall meet. You can put a candle wall sconce in the space behind the bed creating the feel of a canopy surrounding a candelabra right on the wall. Your candles (which you should never light) should match your comforter set color. A throw pillow that matches the bold color you've chosen for behind the bed will bring the entire project together. This is a new concept that helps give depth to a room and can be used with or without a headboard.

Either way, creating the ultimate calming space for yourself is always worth every cent you spend on it.

Athena Solutions is committed to bringing new and updated ideas in order to offer an ease to your next decorating experience. Most people can't afford an interior decorator and don't know where to start themselves so we offer simple solutions to creating warm and calming spaces for the homeowner.

Bedding sheet

The Many Fabrics of Bed Sheets
Articles By Donna Randol
Recently I went out shopping for bedding, specifically for a sheet set for my queen size bed. It had been awhile since I last purchased bedding, and I came away from the stores with a head full of questions. I'm not sure what happened in the bedding industry from the last time I bought sheets to this present day. They have so many different types of sheets, and fabrics and thread counts that range from 120 to 1000! What is a person to do? Well, I didn't buy any today. I thought I've got to wrap my mind around the terms they are using and I came home and did some research. I wanted to be prepared to know which fabrics are best for bed sheets.

When I started researching I found so many different kinds of fabric I put them in alphabetical order. And since I spent so much time on this I thought others might like to use my list. This is what I came up with:

Bamboo: Fairly recent on the bed scene - it is made from the pulp of bamboo grass. This fabric is resistant to bacteria and is hypo-allergenic. It's a great sheet for those suffering with allergies. It is an alternative to organic cotton since bamboo grows quickly while using much less water than cotton without fertilizers or pesticides. These sheets are soft, supple and silky to the touch.

Cotton: The single most popular fabric. Cotton is considered the best all season fiber. It is cool in the summer, and warm in the winder. Cotton breathes well and keeps body moisture away from the skin. You will find many of the popular cotton sheets listed.
Cotton Blend: A common blend of cotton/polyester. It is a blend of natural cotton with synthetic fibers producing easy care sheets. Blends are more durable than synthetic fibers, but they will wear out faster than 100% cotton sheets. And because polyester is not a very breathable fabric these sheets will be warmer than all cotton sheets.

Egyptian Cotton: Often referred to as the sheet for the Queen of the Nile. This cotton is grown along side the Nile River, best known for optimal cotton climate conditions producing exceptional quality cotton. This highly absorbent cotton is strong yet breathable and is known for its superior durability, luster, and silky feel because of its extra long fiber staple.

Flannel: A medium weight fabric in a plain or twill weave that is soft and fuzzy. Flannel is made of cotton with a napped finish on one or both sides. Napping is a brushing technique that gives a raised surface a fluffy soft appearance with a very cozy warm feeling. It is a great sheet for warmth during the fall and winter months. And many moms like flannel crib sheets for their babies.

Italian linen: This fabric is made only in Italy, made from the finest cotton grown exclusively in Egypt. It is a very luxurious fabric and sheets made of this caliber are truly a luxury item for only those who can afford them.

Jersey: These sheets are knitted in a circular, flatbed or warp knitted method. Jersey sheets are not woven so you will not find a thread count listed. They are very stretchy.

MODAL: A relatively new fiber made from the pulp of beech trees. This soft and silky material has excellent draping qualities. It is considered a type of rayon and is considered to be a bio based product, not a natural product because it is heavily processed using a number of chemicals. It creates a soft, smooth, absorbent sheet that breathes well, and will keeps its shape. It is similar to cotton.

Muslin: is considered to be at the low end of the cotton spectrum. This is one sheet you may want to stay away from as these tend to be quite rough. Its thread count ranges from 128-140. It is generally used for less quality bedding items.

Organic Cotton: A natural cotton that is grown without the use of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. To be considered an organic product it has to be certified, and approved by a United States Government 3rd party certification process to ensure authenticity. It holds up well and makes a nice sheet.

Percale: Is a smooth closely woven weave. The way in which it is woven allows air to pass through easily, so it tends to be more breathable. It comes in 100% cotton or a 50/50 cotton/poly blend. It is finer weave then muslin and the thread count ranges from 180-200. Percale is a strong, long lasting fabric and can be finished to have a crisp or a soft feel and it will soften after repeated washings.

Pima Cotton: Named after the Pima Native American tribe. This cotton is grown in the Southwest United States and in South America. It is similar to the Egyptian cotton. The main difference is geographical. It is also made of high quality cotton with a long fiber staple. This cotton sheet has a very soft feel and is very desirable in bedding.

Sateen: Don't confuse this with Satin. It has a more lustrous look, and is extremely soft, although a bit less durable than the standard, percale or pinpoint. It is the weave that gives the sateen sheet is satiny feel. Usually made of 100% woven cotton but occasionally you find it with rayon. A good quality sheet is made of mercerized cotton which will increase its strength and give it more luster.

Satin: Satin is a weave of various materials. Wool, cotton, acetate, nylon, polyester, silk are some of the materials that make up Satin. It is an extremely smooth and sleek fabric, which some people find quite sexy, and others don't like because it is too slippery. Most satins will last longer if hand washed.

Silk: Silk is extremely expensive, and cannot stand too much sunlight. Silk sheets are usually dry cleaned or hand washed and easily tear. They are rated by a "momme weight" which stands for its weight in pounds. Silk bed sheets are usually around a 16-19 momme weight.

Supima Cotton: Supima is a trademarked name for the long staple Pima cotton, grown exclusively in the United States from the finest crops by certified farmers. Supima is an abbreviation for superior pima. Like the Pima cotton it has a very soft feel and is very desirable in bedding.

Synthetic: Polyester is the most common synthetic fiber used in making sheets. Synthetic materials are usually wrinkle resistant, and durable as cotton, however, they are not as soft or as breathable as cotton. It is a man made material and the material will most likely pill. Pill refers to those tiny balls of fabric you see that collect on the surface. Since polyester is not a very breathable fabric the sheets will be warmer than cotton sheets.

Well, we have come to the end of my list. I now have a better idea of what I want in my sheets, and I feel prepared to make a decision when I go shopping. I hope you find this list helpful in deciding which fabric is best for you.

Comforters sets

Kids Bedding - Where to Buy Full Comforter Sets and Twin Comforter Sets
Articles By Ginny Sandhu

While you want your kids to have a good night's sleep, they want their room to be completely personalized, including their comforters. For you, keeping your child warm during winter is important, whereas for him how can each item in the room depicts his personal style is of the main concern. This makes it important for you to buy a comforter set of full size keeping your kid's demands in mind.

The best way to personalize your kid's room is by decorating them with bedding which is based on some theme. Sportive or a Disney land themed, you can find twin comforter sets of all kinds. If you want to keep it common and more sober, go for sets which are a combination of different designs, patterns and colors.

But before starting the hunt for the right one, it is always better to consult your child about his choice. This cuts down your list to a specific search and all you will have to look after is the quality, price and place to buy the comforter sets.

Many of us think that buying expensive comforters for kids is not a good idea as the child will soon outgrow it.. For this very reason we avoid few features offered by expensive comforters, looking at their price. One is certainly the quality. When it comes to your kid, you definitely don't want to risk their health at any cost. A good quality bed set is made of fabrics which are kid's friendly. As kids are more sensitive and easily attract allergies, comforters are one such medium through which the chances of falling prey to infections stand high.

The safety of bedding fabrics and fillings is an important consideration. Opt for organic fibers which can do no harm to anyone in anyway. Comforters are to cover your kids throughout the night so make sure the fabric does not attract dust easily. This is something which quality products offer, which means allergy issues are dealt with.

Another concern is the cost. Not to worry much, as you can find high-quality products for your kids, within your budget through online stores. Buying twin comforter sets and full comforter sets online is easy and reliable as the products offered are all branded. The major benefit online stores have is that they offer products at much lower prices than regular stores. Another advantage is that you can find umpteen varieties online which the shop down the street might not.

As you would like to take your kid's opinion as well, the idea of sitting home with your child and browsing through the all possible varieties of bedding and deciding together what suit you both the best, is irresistible. This way you can get what your kid wants and also be sure of their safety, not forgetting the cost part which is also been taken care of.

King comforter set

King Comforter Set Styles - More Than Just One Thickness and Design
Articles By Joseph Anderton


A king comforter set often will contain a sheets set containing a flat sheet, a fitted sheet and pillow cases to match, a king size comforter with bed skirt and often pillow shams and pillows.

When you hear the words king comforter set, it refers to two possible types of bedding sets.

Firstly there is California king, standard king, and eastern king sets. The standard king and the eastern king refer to the same size bedding, but are just called different names by different people. The differences between the standard king (and eastern king) and the California kink is in the size of mattresses they are made for. The standard king mattress is 76 in. wide by 80 in. long, is shorter and also wider than the California king which is 72 in. wide by 84 in. long.

The materials used for the king comforter set vary quite a bit. Satin, denim and wool are frequently used in the making of the comforters, also the pillow cases, the bed skirts, and the shams. Down gives a comforter a very soft feel, although some people may be allergic to the feathers that they are made from. Cotton and damask are also frequently used. There are a large number of choices here and, as usual, as the quality raise, so will the price rise also.

Another choice to consider with a king comforter set is the design. You can get bedding to blend with the particular décor of your room, or you may want a design of your favorite sports team, it is all possible somewhere, but you will have to locate it at a specialty store. The fabric designs are quite varied and include the ever popular stripes, themed prints, solid colors, animal prints and also floral.

The price of the comforter varies with the fabric and the luxurious nature of the bedding. The important thing to realize is the comforter set should be regarded as an investment towards the quality of sleep you will be getting. We spend about one third of our lives in sleep, and the quality of that sleep is partly determined by the quality of the bedding we use. The right pillows, sheets, comforter, play a big role in your sleep's quality. The key is to always purchase a slightly pricier comforter than you may afford because you will receive many times greater value in your sleep's quality.

King comforter set is not only for the cold winter months. Also available are lighter weight set that are specifically made for warmer months, and they are not only lighter but also cooler. They are available where beddings are sold. Since they will only be used during the warmer months, it would be wise to purchase a bag to store them in when not being used. Storing them in this way will prevent them from getting musty.

When purchasing a king comforter set, you would already have considered and chosen the king size, but the other factors of, fabrics, price, design and seasonal use of the set also have to be considered. Choose wisely because you have the opportunity of making the choices that may transform your bedroom into a den of comfort and luxury is that is what you are looking for.